Chapter 2
TWO
WARREN
A long sigh leaves my lips as I look out over the water from my balcony on the cruise ship. This vacation was much needed, especially for my sister, Emma. Going through a shitty divorce will take it out of you.
I bump her shoulder and she looks over at me with a sad smile. “I’m good,” she answers my unasked question.
“You sure?” I ask, squeezing her shoulder briefly. “We can always go back and slash his tires when we get home.”
Emma grins but shakes her head. “You’re a professor. You’re not supposed to be thinking about committing crimes. It’s the rules or some shit.”
“I’ll break all the rules for you, Em.”
She hugs my side, murmuring thanks into my shoulder. “I know you would. But if I’m going to vent to you about how much men suck when I start dating, then I need you out of prison, big brother.”
I give her a dry look. “Being born seven minutes before you doesn’t make me a big brother, you weirdo.”
“Every minute counts,” she says, slapping me on the back. “Now come on. We have one more day of these cruise shenanigans, then I have to pack my ex-husband’s shit and throw it in the trash.”
“You’re the one moving, Em. I think you mean pack up your shit.”
She looks thoughtful, then shakes her head. “No, I’ll still throw out some of his shit. He deserves it.”
I agree and follow her out of our room
It’s been years since I’ve taken a vacation. I’ve been working hard, trying to clear a path to becoming a full professor.
In the STEM field, it’s easy to get a position as an associate professor, not so easy to become tenured. A lot of hard work, long nights, and proving you know what you’re doing go into earning the coveted title of tenured professor.
Now that I’ve achieved that goal, it’s hard to relax after being on go, go, go for so long.
Emma pastes herself to my side and threads her arm through mine. “War, you deserve this break. I’m sorry I brought my bullshit along with us—”
“That doesn’t matter,” I say.
Emma continues speaking as if I didn’t interrupt her, “—but you were supposed to have some fun. We have one more night. How about you find a nice woman to…you know?”
I grimace and shake my head. “No thanks. This vacation isn’t about getting laid. It’s to comfort you and get ready for my grueling school year. Besides, none of the women on this oversized boat have caught my attention.”
She’s quiet for a few beats, then says, “What about guys?”
I’m definitely not touching that. I’ve only told Em I’m bisexual, but I’ve never done anything with a guy. I just think they’re hot and would love to know what a dick felt like sliding across my tongue.
“No. No more talk about finding someone. Let’s go gamble or do some shuffleboard or something,” I grumble, hoping she’ll stop talking about me having sex.
“Do you do shuffleboard?” she asks as we head to the upper deck.
“We’ll find out.”
As we walk around the casino, I check out some of the guests, trying to see if I want to take someone back to my room during our last night.
No one catches my eye. Which is fine. I’m extremely picky about who I sleep with, and I’ve never had a one-night stand.
I’m not going to start now. At thirty-nine, I think I’ve passed the stage of desiring random hook ups.
I am who I am and not even a cruise with some of the most beautiful people in the world will change that.
One of the other STEM professors, Barbara Cooke, has been hinting at possibly wanting to date. She’s a nice woman, but not really my type. I like her as a friend.
That doesn’t matter right now. I have only a few more days until I’m due back on campus and I want to enjoy them getting lots of sun and hanging out with my twin before I have to fly back to Meadowbrook, New York.
Emma sits down at a slot machine and pats the chair beside her for me to sit. A server walks past us, and Em stops her and asks for a few shots.
“I don’t drink,” I remind her for the fortieth time.
She groans, rolling her eyes skyward. “It’s our last night here, War.
Please, pull the stick out of your ass for once and have a shot with your twin.
When have I ever asked you for anything?
” I give her a deadpan look and her lips twitch as if she’s holding back a smile.
“Okay, other than all the other times I’ve asked you for anything, when have I ever? ”
I bark a laugh, then press a hand over my mouth so as not to bring attention to myself.
She sighs and takes the hand that was pressed to my lips. “I’m sorry I took all the extrovertedness in the womb. But your smile is too pretty to hide it from the world.”
“You have to say that, you’re my sister,” I say in a low tone.
“As much as I used to tease you? You know me better than that.”
I do. Though we’re fraternal twins, Emma and I have the same features, so it was also weird when Emma would poke fun at my red hair or my freckles or my bow shaped mouth. Though she told me I had lips like a girl, which made her call me one for at least three years of our childhood.
Just for her, I spread my lips in a smile.
“There you are,” she says, chucking me on the chin. “Now let’s live it up before we have to go back to real life, okay?” She hugs me close and whispers, “I’m glad you’re here with me, War. I love you.”
“Love you too, Em.” Then we gamble away our money, laughing and joking the whole time.