Chapter Fifteen
Lennox
The morning waves had been perfect—clean, consistent, and just challenging enough to keep my adrenaline pumping. Now, as I stand at the edge of my Jeep, securing my board to the roof rack, I enjoy the salty breeze that cools the sweat on my skin. Surfing is my sanctuary, the one place where my mind feels as fluid and free as the ocean.
My phone buzzes in the driver’s seat, and I glance down, spotting Avery’s name on the screen. A smile tugging at my lips. I swipe to answer, switching to video mode as I prop the phone on the dashboard, so I can continue tying down.
“Hey, Honeybee,”
I greet, the nickname rolling off my tongue naturally as I turn to untangle the straps for my board. “What’s up?”
Liam often talks about how much he loves the way Avery seems to hum with pleasure, her happiness practically buzzing around her like a warm, infectious energy. For me, though, my favorite part is her honey—her sweetness, her warmth, and the way she pours it into every part of her life. It only made sense for me to share in the nickname my twin had already honored her with. It’s not just a word; it’s a reflection who she is to us—our honey.
Her face appears on the screen, a mix of warmth and a hint of lingering tension. “Hey, Lenn. Are you busy? I caught Kam earlier, and I wanted to make sure I talked to you too.”
“Not busy,”
I say, securing the strap with a firm tug. “Just finishing up a morning surf. What’s on your mind?”
She hesitates, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and I pause, sensing her unease.
“I wanted to apologize,”
she starts, her voice soft but steady. “For not getting back to you yesterday. Things were… a lot. And I didn’t mean to leave you hanging.”
“No need to apologize, Avery,”
I quickly reassure, grabbing a towel to dry my hands before leaning against the side of the Jeep, and grabbing my phone. “I get it. Yesterday was probably overwhelming. We’ve been worried about you, though. Everything okay now?”
“Yes and no,”
she admits, her brow furrowing slightly. “I mean, I talked to the others about it, and I understand why you guys didn’t tell me everything right away. I really do. But it still hurt, Lennox. Not knowing the full truth, especially about something that big. It made me feel like maybe you didn’t trust me.”
Her honesty hits like a sucker punch, as I run a hand through my still-damp hair, guilt twisting in my gut. “You’re right,”
I meet her gaze through the screen. “We should’ve been upfront from the start. It wasn’t about not trusting you, though. It was about us trying to protect you—and maybe being a little selfish because we didn’t want to scare you away.”
“I get that,”
Her voice softens. “And I’m not saying I don’t understand. But going forward, if this—us—is going to work, honesty has to come first. Even if it’s uncomfortable or messy. Especially if it involves… I don’t know, an ex who might still be a problem.”
I wince, knowing exactly who she’s referring to. “You mean Sarah,”
I offer, my tone apologetic. “Yeah, that situation got out of hand, and Jax has already taken care of it. She’s not going to be an issue anymore.”
“I believe you,”
she relents, her expression serious but calm. “I just needed to say it out loud. I don’t want any surprises like that again.”
“Fair enough.”
I lean closer to the screen. “No more surprises, I promise. You deserve better than that.”
From somewhere behind her, Liam’s voice chimes in, loud enough for me to hear. “Look at my twin being all heartfelt and responsible. Proud of you, bro.”
I roll my eyes but grin anyway. “Didn’t know you were eavesdropping, Liam.”
“He’s not eavesdropping,”
Avery defends with a laugh, turning the phone to show Liam lounging on the couch behind her. “He’s just being my chair.”
“That’s my job,”
Liam replies, winking at the camera.
The banter has Avery laughing, and I snatch the moment to just watch her, soaking in the sound. There’s something magical about the way she fits into our lives so effortlessly, even when things are complicated.
“Okay, I’ll admit,”
Avery says, turning the phone back to herself. “Seeing you two interact like this? It’s kind of fascinating. I’ve always wanted to see the twin bond in action.”
The video crackles as I adjust my phone, the image of Avery and Liam coming into better focus. She’s perched on his lap, her back against his chest, her face glowing with that soft, content smile that has a way of making the world feel right. Liam nuzzles her neck, dropping a kiss just below her ear, and I can’t help but smirk at the way she giggles, tilting her head to give him more access.
“Enjoying yourself, bro?”
I ask, unable to resist the tease, as the ocean breeze still clings to my skin from my earlier surf.
“Always,”
Liam shoots back, his voice warm and full of mischief. He glances down at Avery, who gives him a mock glare, though her flushed cheeks betray how much she enjoys his attention.
“You know,”
Liam starts, his tone shifting to something playful, “you’ve only gotten a small taste of the twin bond so far. Just wait until we’re really in sync—when we start participating in group activities.”
I arch an eyebrow, instantly catching his drift. Avery, however, doesn’t quite pick up on it right away. She tilts her head slightly, her brow furrowing in that adorable way she does when she’s puzzling something out.
“What kind of group activities?”
she asks, her voice sweetly curious, her gaze bouncing between us on the screen.
Liam’s smirk widens as he leans closer to her ear. “The kind where you’ll get to see the bond up close and personal.”
Her eyes widen, as her lip’s part slightly as the meaning of his words sink in. It only takes a second for her cheeks to flush a beautiful, deep pink, her mouth opening and closing as if she were searching for a response. I can see her scrambling for composure, and it’s honestly the most endearing thing I’ve ever seen.
“Liam,”
I cut in, my tone sharp enough to make him back off but still laced with amusement. “Ease up. You’re going to short-circuit her.”
Liam chuckles, leaning back and wrapping his arms loosely around her waist. “What? I’m just telling her the truth. She wants honesty, right?”
Avery shoots him a wide-eyed glare before turning back to the camera, clearly looking for a reprieve. “Lenn?”
I hold up my hands in mock surrender, biting back a laugh. “I’m not saying he’s wrong,”
I tease, my grin widening as her blush deepens. “But we can save that discussion for another time.”
She lets out a small huff, her lips curving into a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, Honeybee,”
I say warmly. “Though, for the record, he’s not completely off base. You’ll see. Eventually.”
Her blush flares again, but this time she laughs softly, shaking her head. “You two are going to be the death of me.”
“Better us than anyone else,”
Liam quips, pressing another kiss to her neck.
“Mostly the bond is just Liam trying to one-up me and me having to remind him who the older brother is.”
I tease, grinning manically at my twin.
“You’re older by two minutes,”
Liam shoots back, appearing behind Avery in the frame again. “And I’ve been more mature since day one, so really, does it even count?”
“It counts,”
I confirm firmly, smirking. “But don’t worry, Avery. You’ll get plenty of time to see the twin bond in person. It’s even more impressive live.”
“I can’t wait,”
she says, her excitement genuine. “I mean, I already feel like I’m seeing something special just talking to you both.”
The sound of Jaxton’s voice cuts through the moment, distant but clear.
“Liam! We’ve got to go if I’m going to make it to set on time.”
Avery sighs, a mix of reluctance and resignation crossing her face. “Sounds like we’ve got to go, but… I’ll call later tonight, okay? I miss you—and Kammy—already.”
I can’t help but grin to myself as Avery mentions Kamden's newly dubbed nickname—Kammy.
It’s perfectly her, sweet and playful, yet absolutely ridiculous in a way that made it stick.
And the funniest part? Kamden is infatuated with it.
A big, bear of a man, who could intimidate most people with just a glance, practically melts when she says it playfully.
When she first mentioned it a couple of weeks ago, Kam lit up like a Christmas tree and then conveniently spent the rest of the night upstairs.
Oh, sure, he claimed he was showering, but I know my brothers better than that. He was absolutely jerking off.
It is, without a doubt, the most pussy-whipped nickname I’ve ever heard—soft, cutesy, and the kind of thing Kamden would have rolled his eyes at coming from anyone else.
But from Avery? He isn’t just okay with it; he cherishes it.
She’s found a way to get under his tough exterior with two little syllables, and now there’s no going back.
“We miss you too, Honeybee. Call us later, and don’t overdo yourself today, alright?”
“I’ll try,”
she agrees, her smile soft but teasing. “Take care, Lenn.”
“You too,”
I say, my voice dropping to a softer tone. “Talk later, Avery.”
Liam lifts his lips from Avery’s neck, his grin cheeky and unapologetic as he glances toward the camera.
It’s the kind of look only he can pull off—a mix of playful and knowing, designed to taunt me.
He knows exactly what he’s doing, flaunting the fact that he’s there with her, touching her, while I’m miles away.
And damn if it doesn’t work.
“We’ll be sure to call tonight, bro. Love you.”
“Good,”
I grin. “Love you, too.”
With one last smile, Avery ends the call, leaving me staring at the blank screen for a moment before pocketing my phone.
As I climb into the Jeep and start the engine, I can’t shake the feeling that Avery’s quickly becoming more than just someone I care about.
She’s becoming everything.