Chapter 36
thirty-six
My parents’ house is only a couple of miles from the station. I can see the top of the old oak tree out back as I pull into the driveway.
Just as massive as when we were kids, its thick branches stretch, gnarling toward the sky. It still cradles the treehouse my sister Lizzy and Rowan used to hang out in when we were kids.
It’s an integral part of their story, which is now also the title of the movie my childhood best friend came home to Lakeside to make. And win back my sister’s heart. Which, after all the shit he put her through, still managed to do.
My mom has always been someone I could talk to about anything. She’s got this way of cutting through bullshit that’s equally terrifying and reassuring. But I haven’t really opened up to her about my love life in years. Not since college. Not that I’ve had much of one since then either.
The front door swings open before I even get to the porch.
“There’s my boy!” Hands on her hips, her salt-and-pepper hair is piled on top of her head. Her favorite purple apron is covering a floral blouse and jeans, which means she’s been baking again. Her chocolate chip cookies are phenomenal.
“Hey, Ma.” Bracing myself, I climb the steps.
Pulling me into a tight hug, her lavender scent, familiar and comforting, envelops me. “Two weeks, Logan. Two whole weeks without so much as a phone call.” She pulls back, brown eyes narrowing. “I was starting to think you’d forgotten where we live.”
“Sorry. Life has been kinda crazy lately,” I reply as I follow her inside.
“Crazy, huh?” Her tone makes it clear she isn’t buying my excuse for a second. “Does this have anything to do with that new EMT of yours?”
I freeze mid-step. “What?”
How the hell? I know my mom pays attention, but...
She chuckles, waving a dismissive hand as she leads me into the kitchen. “Lizzy told me. You know how your sister is.”
Of course. My twin can never keep her mouth shut for shit. Especially when it comes to my personal life.
A pot of red sauce boils on the stove, along with a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies cooling on the counter.
“Come on, sweetie. Sit,” she orders, pointing at one of the stools at the island. “Let’s talk and eat.”
I grab a cookie—still warm and gooey in the middle—just how I like them. “Where’s Dad?”
“Fishing. Won’t be back until dinner.” She leans against the counter, crossing her arms. “So we have plenty of time for you to tell me what’s going on with this Reyna girl.”
I choke on my cookie. “Ma—”
“Don’t you ‘Ma’ me.” She fixes me with a look. The same one that’s seen through every lie I’ve ever told since I can remember. “Lizzy says she’s beautiful, smart, and how stupid you are over her despite your best efforts to pretend otherwise.”
I take another bite, trying to buy time.
“Alright, fine.” Setting the cookie down, I brush the crumbs off my fingers. “I crossed a line, Ma. A big one.”
She tilts her head, waiting patiently.
“I kissed her. I went to her house to check on her this morning, and I just... couldn’t help myself.”
My mom’s expression softens, but she doesn’t say anything. She just waits.
“And that’s not even the worst part.” I scrub both hands down my face, stubble scratching against my palms. “She has a twin sister, Ma. Had. Rebecca. She drowned when they were ten.”
Her hand flies to her chest, eyes going glassy. “Oh, no. Poor girl.”
“Reyna had a nightmare.” My throat tightens, and I have to swallow hard before I can continue. “She told me her dad got drunk and passed out. Her sister got a cramp and went under. Even after all this time, she still feels guilty she couldn’t save her sister.”
“Logan...”
“She’s got a twin, Ma. Just like me and Lizzy. And she lost her. Can you imagine? Losing Lizzy like that?” The thought alone makes my stomach bottom out. “Now… we have this special thing in common and…” I shove my face into my hands. “It’s messing me up even more over her. More than I already was.”
Ma pulls up the stool next to mine, close enough that I can feel her warmth, and waits.
“I watched her break down, and something inside me just... broke.” I drop my hands. “I haven’t let myself be vulnerable like that in years. Not since—”
“Not since that cunt you dated in college,” Mom finishes as she gets up to pour me and herself a glass of tea.
Her choice of words makes me snort out a laugh and shake my head.
Know you know where my sister gets her sass.
“Yeah.”
“Lizzy mentioned something about Brex…”
I bark out a humorless laugh. “That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” I shove off the stool, needing to move.
Pacing the kitchen, I run a hand through my hair. “He wants her too. He’s already asked her to the charity gala this weekend, and she said yes.”
Mom’s eyebrows shoot up to her hairline. “How do you feel about that?”
“Pissed.” I stop pacing, turning to face her.
“Brex and I, we have an agreement when it comes to women. He knows I like her, but he didn’t run it by me that he was going to ask her.
We’ve talked about the possibility of us both dating her.
But this feels different. She’s different.
And I think...” I trail off, the words sticking in my throat.
“You think what, honey?”
I blow out a breath. “I think I’m going to go for it.”
She grins. “Sounds like one of those spicy novels your sister likes to read. She let me borrow one, and let me tell you—”
“No!” My head jerks up. “Nope. Pushing me out of my comfort zone, Ma.”
Letting out a soft chuckle, she gestures for me to sit.
As I do, she leans in, cupping a soft hand against my cheek.
“You can’t let what happened in the past define your future.
As shitty as it was, when it comes to love, nothing is ever set in stone.
Even the greatest loves of all time have had to forge their way through fire, through storms before they found true love, my darling.
Love is never perfect. All you need to do is make peace with opening your heart again. Take a chance.”
Her words settle warmly into my bones. I’ve always trusted my mom’s advice, even though there have been plenty of times when I didn’t want to hear it.
“But what if I’m wrong? What if this ruins everything—my career, my friendship with Brex?”
Mom sips her tea, eyeing me over the rim. “And what if it doesn’t? What if it’s exactly what the three of you need?”
I shake my head, unable to wrap my mind around it. “I don’t know if I can share her, Ma. Not completely.”
“You might surprise yourself.” She sets her glass down firmly. “Love isn’t always neat and tidy, Logan. Sometimes it’s messy and complicated, and it sure as hell never fits into the box we always try shoving it into.”
She’s right.
“She offered to save me a dance at the gala. So that’s where I’ll start.”
Smacking both palms lightly against my cheeks, squishing my face together, my mom grins up at me, “That’s my boy. Go get your girl.”