I do as I’m told, not wanting to start a fight I know I can’t win.
One twin by herself? Maybe manageable.
But together? It’s a lost battle.
When I come back downstairs dressed like a civilized human being, I find my sisters have laid out a spread of fruit and pastries, along with a tall glass of iced tea, across my dining table.
“Thanks,” I mutter as I sit down.
The twins exchange a look that puts me on edge.
“We don’t have much time, so we’re going to get straight to the point,” Rain announces as she rearranges her braid over her shoulder. “And before you deny it, yes, we know this is going to hurt like a motherfucker.”
I lift the iced tea toward my mouth, ready to chug the whole thing.
Then Rain looks at me, her gray eyes suddenly glossy.
“Ugh. Fucking hormones.” She groans before pointing at her twin. “You tell him, Ruru.”
Ruin straightens in her chair, calm in a way that’s almost eerie.
She folds her hands neatly on the table.
Then, in the gentlest voice, she says, “Penny is getting married today.”
I’m not sure how the glass lands on the table with a thud without breaking.
My ears ring, the whole room suddenly muffled around me.
All I can do is stare at Ruin, whose face has gone completely unreadable. Clearly, her therapist instincts have kicked in.
“Miles?” she asks gently.
“What the fuck did you just say?” I ask through my teeth.
“Penny is getting married today.” Ruin confirms I didn’t mishear.
So many questions pop into my head, I don’t know where to start. Thankfully, my sister’s clearly slipping into therapist mode because she keeps talking before I completely lose my shit.
“She’s marrying her childhood friend.”
I close my eyes as an image of the prick who came to see her flashes through my head.
Is that why the cocky asshole showed up? Did he know we were fucking around when he came?
And if she was engaged the whole time… why the hell wasn’t she wearing a ring?
“Miles.” Rain snaps her fingers in front of me, getting me out of my doom spinning.
“I don’t know much,” Ruin continues. “The wedding announcement came out of nowhere. They both run in the same circles in Charlotte, and from what I found on social media, not only are the families thrilled about the union, but high society is already calling it the wedding of the year.”
“That may be, but I don’t think someone excited to get married would look like this in the pictures,” Rain says as she shoves her phone in my face.
The second I see Penny, tears sting my eyes.
She’s wearing a flowy, flowery dress at what looks like some kind of garden party. Her makeup is flawless, the dress is obviously expensive, but it isn’t her style. Long sleeves. High neck. Safe.
Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.
