Chapter 7 Musical Chairs Beds
Chapter 7
musical chairs beds
“Could you have been any ruder?” Autumn whisper-yelled.
“Under the circumstances, that greeting was tame. Trust me.”
“Tame?” Autumn jerked back, releasing herself from Summer’s death grip. “You didn’t even say hi. You grabbed me by the arm and dragged me into our bedroom. I didn’t even get a chance to introduce Randy to Mom and Dad.”
“Since when do we bring boys to the family retreat?” Summer hissed.
“Since I found love,” Autumn said with a dramatic sigh while spinning around, only to fall gracefully on the bed with her hand pressed to her forehead—nearly missing banging her head on the upper bunk. Summer was surprised an ark full of forest creatures didn’t appear to join her in song. “It was so romantic, Summs. There I was watching Tay-Tay live onstage, and our eyes locked over our Bic app. The one that mimics a cigarette lighter, you know? And it was like— pow .” Autumn made firework fingers. “The most beautiful man I’d ever seen wearing glow-sticks around his neck and singing ‘Wildest Dreams.’ You’d have loved it. It was the most perfect cute-meet in history.”
“You mean meet-cute.” And it did sound cute, dang it. But that wasn’t breaking news, because Autumn had accumulated a grocery list full of perfect meet-cutes—and not a single one had progressed to more than a month. Her twin had the attention span of a gnat when it came to love. No doubt this was going to be like all the others—with her sister going squirrelly at that four-week-fling expiration date.
God, what Summer would do to experience even one of the situationships her sister fell into. Sadly, her twin didn’t even realize how lucky she was.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Autumn said. “He’s different. He’s worthy of going in your guide.”
Cupid’s Guide to Love was a journal full of swoonworthy moments, relationship tropes, and hero archetypes—a real how-to-find-a-partner based on commonality and love language—and it was Summer’s.
Summer had collected these tips and tricks from her vast knowledge of 1990s rom-com flicks, classic cinema, and romance novels. It was the difference between finding happily-for-now and finding that one, true happily-ever-after. The difference between Summer living a lonely life as a party of one or a blissful existence with her person.
Her guide was gold—or it would be as soon as Summer nailed that meet-cute. So for Autumn to try to claim part of that felt like all of the other times her sister had outshone her. Not that it was intentional spotlight-stealing, but the result was the same—with Summer feeling like nothing more than the glue holding her sister’s extravagant life together.
Summer pressed her fingertips to her forehead and reminded herself to be patient, and that this was just Autumn being Autumn. But she couldn’t. Maybe it was that her sister was in “love” and this was the first Summer was hearing about it. Or maybe, and this was more likely, it was the emergence of that pompous, entitled bag of dicks downstairs who was ruining her life—and her vacation.
“Fine. What makes him worthy?”
“He asked for my number that first night,” Autumn began, and Summer had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.
“ Clichéd .”
“I asked if he was going to call. You know how I act all disinterested and they cling to me like saran wrap?”
Oh, Summer knew all right. Autumn would be dismissive and feign boredom and men ate it up. Maybe that was Summer’s problem. She was too eager to find love. Or at least she acted too eager. But she believed deep down that when someone found their other half there was no need for games and tactics.
“Anyway, he said not only was he going to call me, he was going to marry me!”
That was romantic. So romantic. Had her sister actually found the elusive love at first sight? Summer believed with all her heart that love at first sight was real—that was how her grandparents had met, and her parents—but Autumn wasn’t even looking for love. She’d made that clear. Then again, love was supposed to change everything, right?
“How do you know he’s the one?” she asked, genuinely curious. “You’ve never believed in love at first sight.”
“I believe now. The way he looks at me is like right out of one of your romance novels. Swoonworthy. You’re right and I’m wrong . .. This should make you happy. You thrive on being right!”
The only thing that brought Summer more joy than watching the 1999 twist on Pygmalion , She’s All That , with a bowl of pickle-flavored popcorn was being right. So why wasn’t she happy?
Autumn looked up at Summer. “Love is the real deal. And Randy is the real deal.”
Still not convinced, Summer crossed her arms. “What do you even know about him?”
“Everything I need to know.” Autumn’s brow folded in on itself and she sat up. “What is your problem?”
“His family is entitled, arrogant, selfish—”
“You forgot gorgeous .”
No, she’d left that part out on purpose.
“And how do you even know that?” said Autumn. “You met them five minutes ago.”
“They own BookLand.”
Autumn’s mouth slowly unfolded into a guppie pose as Summer watched her process the situation. She knew the moment her twin connected the dots. “That Wes is your Wes?”
“He’s not my anything except my cross to bear. He’s out to ruin my shop and you’re inviting him to our family vacation.”
“I had no idea.”
That was an even bigger problem. “How could you not feel my fury building the moment he got out of the car? You always feel my fury.” It was their twin powers at work. But apparently they’d found their kryptonite—love.
“I’ve just been so caught up with everything, I wasn’t paying attention.” Autumn took Summer’s hand and she felt some of her anger dissipate. “I’m sorry, Summs.”
She pulled Summer into a big hug and Summer felt their heartbeats align like they always did. Recognized the comforting scent of grapefruit mist and hairspray. Her body sank into the embrace as Autumn rocked her back and forth.
“He seems so nice,” Autumn whispered.
“That’s all a front, don’t be fooled. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
“Have you considered that maybe, you know, you’re doing one of those fast-to-judgment things and being paranoid?”
And there went the warm fuzzies.
Summer jerked back. “Me? You’re saying I’m the problem?”
“So he sells romance novels? So what. You’re the one always going on and on about how romance makes up over half of the books sold in the US. What kind of a bookstore owner would he be to eliminate romance from his offerings?”
When it was put like that, Summer almost sounded like a Karen of a neighbor. Then she remembered the parking issue, having her baby almost towed, and shook her head. “Nope, he’s a sneaky, slimy bookstore owner. The store isn’t even open yet but he’s moved the romance section to the front of his store in the window facing my shop.” As if he were flipping her the bird 24-7. “So when my customers pass his window, that’s what they see. He’s going to undercut me at every turn. And since when do you take a guy’s side over me?”
“Never,” Autumn said fiercely. “I’m really sorry that I called you paranoid and that the last month has been so hard and I was overseas.” Autumn took Summer’s hand back and pulled her down next to her on the bed. “Really sorry.”
Summer let out a big sigh and rested her head on her twin’s shoulder. “That’s okay, I get it, you were working too. I’m proud of you for getting this promotion.”
“Whatever kind of jerkism Wes subscribes to, he isn’t Randy. They weren’t even raised in the same country. In fact, they’re just now starting to build a relationship. I promise you they’re nothing alike.”
Summer flopped onto her back and admitted to herself that she was a little bit envious over Autumn’s announcement. But that was so petty. She wanted love for her sister, so she needed to be supportive. “And I am so sorry about how I reacted. I was just thrown by Wes showing up.” That had to be it. Right? “It sounds like you had the perfect meet-cute and I love that you’ve found love. You’re right, it is definitely Guide -worthy.”
Autumn rolled her head to the side to look Summer in the eyes. “I am so glad you feel that way, because I wanted to let you know...”
A prickle of suspicion poked Summer in the stomach. “What?”
“I’m rooming with Randy.”
Summer’s eyes went wide with surprise. “But we always room together. That’s the point of this trip. Twin Power, remember?”
“It will still be amazing, just different. But in a good way, I promise.”
Summer looked around and felt her throat tighten. The familiar yellow-and-white striped wallpaper, the pitched ceilings, and the worn-with-life hardwood floors wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Even though the bed was a bunkbed, Summer and Autumn, unable to even have a mattress between them, always shared the bottom bunk.
So many traditions were already being broken and she hadn’t even been in her safe place for a day. It was as if her life and memories were slowly being replaced by bigger, newer, shinier things—and that broke her heart.
“Please don’t be mad at me. I love you. And don’t let that asshat ruin anything for you. This is still our family trip. Everything that is important will stay the same, I promise. And if he makes you sad then I’ll kick his ass. Right?”
Summer nodded, but couldn’t help noticing the burning behind her eyes.
“Now, are we going to let him win?”
“No.”
“Say it with more conviction.”
“Hell no!”
“Good, then let’s go through my suitcase and pick out something for you that says ‘Big Chick Energy coming through.’”
Wes couldn’t fault Summer for her reaction. He’d had a holy-shit moment himself at the one-in-a-billion chance of his brother dating Summer’s sister.
Her identical twin sister. Which was odd because he could tell who was who immediately, and that was before Summer had realized who he was. Her smile was a bit brighter, her hair shinier, and she had this understated elegance about her. Even though she was in flannel pajamas with a TALK DARCY TO ME T-shirt and bedhead. She’d looked adorable and soft and sexy—until she’d realized who he was. Then she’d looked like Medusa ready to turn his family jewels to granite.
At least he’d had time to prepare. It was clear the moment he’d seen Autumn whose sister she was.
He should leave. He really should. He should climb back in the car and be on his merry little way. In fact, he should leave the country all together and move back to London, where he had a full and very successful life that he’d just walked out on.
After the sudden death of his estranged father, Wes had found himself part-owner of BookLand, a billion-dollar big-box bookstore chain. His father hadn’t just left behind a legacy of wealth, he’d left behind a legacy of betrayal and heartache.
Between Randolph Kingston the Second’s many mistresses and multiple wives, Wes had learned early on that love and loss went hand in hand. Which was why he was content to keep things casual with the people in his life, especially women.
The second he’d realized Autumn was Summer’s twin, he should have canceled. He could still cancel. His things were still in the car so he wouldn’t even have to repack. He hadn’t met the family yet, so they wouldn’t even know that he’d come and gone.
It was clear by the look on her face that she’d been as surprised as he was about the whole situation. But then she’d turned those eyes of fury at him, and instead of apologizing for interrupting her family vacation, he’d puffed out his chest and strengthened his stance, letting her know if she wanted him gone, she’d have to physically remove him from the premises.
Wes rubbed his temples and reminded himself it was a losing battle. If she wanted him gone, he’d go. He’d lived through enough family vacations being unwanted to last a lifetime. Why would he want to willingly expose himself to another go-around?
Yup, leaving was the right thing to do. All he had to do was go inside and get the car keys from his kid brother. But first, he’d kick the wanker’s ass, because Randy did not seem the slightest bit surprised at the one-in-a-billion chance meeting.
Wes walked up the steps to the massive wraparound porch, complete with a white swing and bright red door. It was as Great American Dream as a house could get, yet instead of feeling like the door mat said WELCOME , he felt as if he were walking the plank.
A rusty, yet familiar, pounding started behind his rib cage and worked its way up to the sternum. His hands were clammy to the touch, and a bead of sweat slid down his back.
Intent on getting in and out as quickly as possible, he had lifted his hand to knock when the door flew open. On the other side was Randy looking shell-shocked and ready to cry.
“Where have you been? You were supposed to have my back,” he said in a rush. “Autumn bailed and her mom dragged me into the kitchen, where her aunt took my palm and read my lifeline and pointed out this little wrinkle here.” He held up his hand and pointed to a nearly nonexistent wrinkle of skin. “Do you know what it is? My mojo, bro. It’s smaller than the prick of a needle. And don’t you dare say anything about my choice in words. So to change the subject, I went to introduce my awesome brother, only when I turned to do the whole Vanna White move there was only air where my big brother should have been.”
His brother’s pain gave him a perverse sense of joy.
“Where were you, man?” said Randy.
“Having an out-of-body experience because I happened to be invited to a weeklong holiday with my brother’s girlfriend’s family, and her twin just so happens to be the woman who’s cost us thousands of dollars in delays.”
“Weird, huh.”
Randy and Wes might have grown up estranged but his brother was a terrible liar. He was also a terrible businessman. And a terrible wingman.
“I mean, what are the odds?” Randy chucked nervously.
Wes crossed his arms and shot a death glare Randy’s way. “What are the odds, you wanker.”
Randy nodded and then stomped his foot, throwing his head back like a three-year-old having a tantrum. It wasn’t nearly as cute as Summer’s tantrum a few weeks back. “God, I didn’t figure it out until the other day, and I knew if I told you you’d get all paranoid and say that Autumn is trying to worm her way into our family as some kind of corporate espionage ploy.”
Wes hadn’t gone that far, but now that his brother mentioned it, it sounded like something Summer would do. What if her surprise act was exactly that—an act—and this was her plan all along?
Randy pointed at him like they were two kids on the playground arguing over who’d dealt it. “See, you’re doing it. You’re falling down the conspiracy-theory rabbit hole. You really think that she’d be able to guess I’d be at a Tay-Tay concert in Paris? Paris! And I came on to her, not the other way around. Plus, Autumn doesn’t even know who we are.”
Wes shook his head. “You’re saying she has no clue that you’re the heir to BookLand?”
“Well, I’m sure she does now, since Summer yanked her aside before I could explain.” Realization appeared in Randy’s eyes, followed rapidly by panic. He shoved Wes out the door and shut it behind them. “What if Summer told her? What if she dumps me because I didn’t tell her first?”
“What did you expect? That Summer and I would act like we didn’t know each other?”
“I didn’t really think past meeting her parents. I guess I thought I’d say, ‘Surprise, our siblings already know each other. Your Best Sister in the World and my Best Older Brother Known to Man are neighbors of sorts!’”
“Jesus, mate. You’re in worse shape than I thought. What kind of woman excuses a lie?”
“I didn’t lie to her. It was more of an omission.”
Wes couldn’t really judge the guy. He had an omission of his own, and it involved BookLand and the terms to the estate. Terms Randy knew nothing about.
Wes hadn’t been just shocked that his estranged father had left him part of his company, he’d also been irate at the attached conditions—conditions that once again forced Wes into living a life where someone else held the power. He and Randy had just another three months to grow the company or ownership would be passed to the board.
Again, another reason to walk. Honestly, Wes didn’t give a piss about his dad’s legacy, but Randy did—and Randy was the only family Wes had left. Without help, his trust fund of a half-brother would run the company into the ground in a month, tops, and forfeit his birthright.
Not that Randy was aware of the conditions. That had been another stipulation from dear old dad—that only Wes and the board knew of the one-year clause. So Wes had faced a choice: either walk away from his own life to step in, or watch his brother fail. And Wes knew how that felt so, against his better judgment, he’d relocated, taken the title CEO, and now he was standing in front of the enemy’s front door—three things he’d never imagined doing.
“Now you see why I need you here. One little omission turned into a bunch of little omissions and . . . she’s going to dump me, isn’t she?”
“All you need is your charm and Dad’s last name.”
Randy got serious. “I told you. She isn’t like that, bro.”
As far as Wes was concerned, all women were like that. In fact, his ex-fiancée, who’d dumped him after his start-up had failed, had come crawling back the moment his old man croaked and left him a massive legacy. Even Wes’s mum had chased all that glittered. It was why she’d gotten pregnant, hoping that Randolph would set them up for life, or maybe even leave his wife for her.
Well, the joke was on Mary. Not only did Randall Kingston the Second had zero intentions of leaving his wife, he also didn’t want a bastard son. His wife was trying to get pregnant back in the States with a child who would rightfully take the birthright just because he was born on the right side of the sheets.
“Fine. I’ll stay, but no more omissions,” Wes said.
Randy flopped into Wes’s arm and gave him a big bear hug. Unused to that kind of display of affection, Wes let his arms hang at his sides and endured it.
When Randy finally pulled back, his smile faded. “Wait, are you staying to help me or because you think Summer is somehow behind the best coincidence of my life?”
“Both.”