Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
LIV
I will not cry. I will not cry . I repeat the mantra as I make my way back to the shop. It’s too bad I’m still starving, because there’s no way I’m going back to the diner. I doubt I’ll step foot inside that place again. If the memory of seeing Julius's face deep in Lola’s breasts wasn’t enough, when I stumbled back from shock, I managed to knock over a display rack in the process. When it crashed to the floor, everyone turned and witnessed my humiliation.
Why would someone put a display right when you walk in the door? Sure, it’s convenient and has been there for years, but that’s not the point right now!
“Whoa,” my sister says when I come bursting back into the shop. “Are you—” She trails off when she sees my face. “Who made you cry?”
“I’m not crying.” I touch my cheeks to verify.
“You’re about to burst.”
She’s right, I am. There is a weird pressure in my chest that wants to explode, but I’m scared that if I let it out, I’ll never stop. Why did I ever let myself fall for Julius? I should have known his handsome face and growly nature were going to be nothing but heartbreak.
“I ran into the display and made a mess,” I sniffle.
“That’s not it.” Lane shakes her head. She’s not buying my excuse. “I’ve seen you fall on your face and laugh right along with everyone else.”
This is true. I’m not one to embarrass easily, but this time was different. “Julius isn’t who I thought he was.”
Lane's face softens. She knows how deep my crush on him goes and has busted me doodling his name more than a few times when I’m bored.
“Don’t move,” she orders.
I watch as she goes over and turns the sign on the door to closed before locking it. Lane even pulls the curtains shut so no one can see into the shop.
“What are you doing?”
“We are long overdue for sister time.” Lane gives me a warm smile.
“Really?” I perk up. Since we took over this place together and her orders exploded, Lane lives and breathes work.
“Yes, really. I think I’ve missed a couple of things, and I need to be filled in.” It’s not normal that she doesn’t already know every detail of what happened last night.
“Will you make spring rolls?” I might as well milk it.
We both freeze when we hear the door handle wiggle like someone is trying to enter the shop. I grab Lane by the wrist, and we duck behind the counter.
“Why are we hiding?” she whispers.
“It could be Julius.” Would he chase after me? Doubtful, but either way I don’t want to know who is at the door. Of course I want him to chase me; what girl doesn’t want that? But if it’s not him, the disappointment will sting, so it’s best not to know at all.
“Maybe I should have a word with him.” Lane starts to stand, but I jerk her back down.
“No!” I hiss. “It might not be him. He probably still has his face buried in Lola’s boobs.”
“Lola’s boobs?” Lane’s eyebrows rise.
“Not that I can blame him. They are nice, but he was kissing me last night.”
“You two kissed!” she says way too loudly.
“Shh!” I glare at her to shut the heck up, and she mouths a sorry . The person starts knocking.
“Liv?” I hear Julius call out.
My bottom lip starts to tremble. It is him! Last night I told myself maybe Troy was full of crap and that I should talk to Julius. That was my plan until I saw his truck outside the diner.
“It’s okay,” Lane whispers into my ear before wrapping her arms around me in a hug.
I’m not sure how long we’re like that, but after a while, Lane checks to make sure the coast is clear. When she doesn’t see anyone waiting for us outside, we leave the shop and then head home.
“I’d take everything Troy has to say with a grain of salt,” Lane says as she makes the spring rolls. As soon as we got home, I unloaded about what happened last night and at the diner.
“I was thinking that too until the diner stuff, and look at this lame text!” I show it to her and Lane cringes.
“That is pretty bad after the whole make-out session.”
“Right.” I plop down in one of the chairs at the kitchen island that doubles as our dining room. We actually have a small table we can eat on, but I use it for painting or filming TikToks.
“Well, we can have spring rolls and do whatever you want tonight.”
“Really?” I cast her a skeptical look.
“One TikTok,” she amends, and I clap my hands together.
“Oh gosh! What if you record one as me? I wonder if people would notice. I've seen other twins swap and try to trick their kids. Those are always fun to watch.”
“Did it work?” Now it’s Lane who has the skeptical expression. Back in the day, we might have been able to trick a few teachers and a couple of friends, but never family.
“I haven’t seen one where it works. Even when the kids are super young.”
“But the hair,” she points out. Oh crap. I hadn't thought about that.
“Wear a hat.”
“Fine. If it’s going to cheer you up, I’ll do it.”
It's not going to cheer me up, but it'll be fun and distract me from thoughts of Julius.
Once I get the idea together, we record it. Then it takes me twice as long to edit it before uploading.
“Anyone said anything yet?" Lane asks, settling down on the couch beside me. We just finished destroying the spring rolls.
“Nope, but I only just posted it.” I open my phone to check but pause when a text comes in from Julius. I swipe at the notification to clear it off my screen.
“You’re not going to read it?”
“No.” My mind goes straight to Julius and our kisses. “Do you think he was lying about never kissing someone before?”
“I don’t know him, but from what I’ve heard, most men lie. Especially to get into your pants.”
“Right,” I whisper. It’s not as though Lane has a dating past to relate it to.
“Come on, Liv, let’s have some fun.” Lane pops up from the couch. “It’s ladies' night, right?”
“At Dixon’s?”
“The one and only.” It’s also the one and only bar in our town. They serve food too, but at night, it turns more into a bar atmosphere. People will clear out some of the tables so everyone can dance.
“You want to go to Dixon’s?”
“I want to cheer my baby sister up.”
“Two minutes.” I hold up two fingers and wiggle them. I’ll never live down that she was born first.
“Still makes me older.” Lane holds her hand out for me to take.
“I don’t know.” I do enjoy going out, but tonight I kind of want to wallow in it.
“I’ll let you dress me up and do my hair.” Oh snap. She is laying it on thick. “This offer is expiring in—” I grab her hand, and she pulls me to my feet. “That’s what I thought.”
“Don’t get cocky. Remember, you said I could dress you up,” I warn with an evil smirk.
“Liv.” Lane's expression turns panicked.
“I’m teasing,” I laugh and tug her toward my bedroom. “Come on.”
I don’t do anything too wild because I want Lane to have fun. It’s not often we go out to Dixon’s, so I let her keep her jeans and boots. I manage to put her in a frilly top that’s snug and gives a hint of cleavage. As for me, I put on a dress and a pair of flats before touching up my light makeup and putting some on my sister too.
When we’re outside Dixon’s, I spin around. “Come here, take a picture with me.” Lane leans in close, and I make sure to get Dixon’s sign in the back before I snap it. Lane doesn’t ask to see it. She does zero with social media and could care less. I post it, then tuck my phone in my purse before we enter the bar.
“Uh-oh, the What’s the Stitch ladies are here.” They are always a good time, even to watch from a distance. “And karaoke!” I squeal. My sister closes her eyes and takes a breath.
“I’m going to need a drink.”
“That wasn’t a no!” I loop my arm through hers to pull her toward the bar to get her drink.
"Hey, Liv." Marco the bartender gives me a nod before his attention swings over to my sister. "Sawyer know you're here?"
"Why would that matter?" Lane's brows pull together.
If Sawyer doesn't know, I'm sure he'll figure it out soon enough. Between the way this town can gossip and my social media posts, he’ll know.
"If you say so," Marco chuckles. "What can I get you ladies?"
"The other day I saw a TikTok with people drinking espresso martinis," I tell him. I'm not a coffee fan, but they looked neat. Marco gives me a blank stare. "Okay, two vodka cranberries then."
"Coming right up." He taps the bar top twice before turning to make them.
“As if Swayer cares what I’m up to,” Lane mutters under her breath, but I catch it.
Oh, he cares, and he’s not the only one.