“So,” he said slowly, “maybe if he was that impressive, you should hear him out. If you don’t believe the twin story, ask for proof, but don’t run away without answers.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m not running.”
Maverick looked pointedly at my phone with its jumble of missed calls and messages.
I groaned. “I’m not ready to feel like a fool again. I swore I’d never end up in this situation again, and I’m so fucking mad at myself.”
“Again?” Jamie prompted.
I winced. “It’s a long story.”
“Good thing we’re here all night,” Maverick said, sitting back, arms crossed.
“What about Damon? Don’t you want to go love up your hunk of a man?”
“Not until I know you’re okay, Sy. So spit it out.”
I turned to Jamie. “Hank isn’t going to want to hide out in his bedroom all night.”
Jamie waved it off. “He’s got snacks and a movie. He’s fine.”
I dropped my head back against the sofa, too drunk and tired and full of cookie to think of a way to divert them.
“Just tell us,” Maverick said. “You were there for my freakout about Damon.”
“Yeah, and you watched me fret over my straight friend who I thought would never want me,” Jamie put in. “We’ve all been there.”
“Not like this.”
Maverick and Jamie exchanged a look. Wordlessly, they moved in a little closer on each side of me. Maverick laid his arm across my middle, squeezing gently. Jamie rested his head on my shoulder.
“We’ve got you,” Maverick said.
I swallowed hard. “I was engaged.”
Beside me, Jamie gasped in shock. Maverick just squeezed me a little tighter, silently offering to hear me out.
“He left me at the altar. In front of all our friends and family.”
“Oh,Silas.”
I pushed to my feet and took a few steps away. “I don’t want to talk about this. It was a long time ago, and he was an idiot, and I deservedbetter.”
“Of course you did!” Maverick said. “I can’t believe you never told us.”
I shrugged. “I moved on before I met you guys. And besides, I dodged a bullet. I have fun with men. A lot of fun. I don’t need more than that. I’ve got my career. I’ve got my friends. I’ve got my family.”
Jamie made a pained sound. “You deserve a good man.”
I snorted. “Yeah, because that’s really working out for me, huh? The first guy I let my guard down for and this bullshit happens.”
“I’m sorry,” Maverick said, so sincerely I wanted to cry, and I didn’t fucking cry over men anymore. That was the old Silas. The new and improved me moved the fuck on.
“Silas,” Jamie said tentatively. “Unless he’s really committed to this lie and using AI, Brysondoeshave a twin.”
I turned. “How would you know?”
He held up my phone where a new text had just come through. A photo of two guys, identical, standing together. Then another photo popped in.
