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“I thought you and that dude weren’t exclusive. Is he getting clingy?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.
“What dude? Marcus? Shit, sister. Keep up. I got rid of him like a month ago. And yes, he got way too clingy, way too fast.” She was quiet for a minute while I tugged at a stubborn tangle.
“There’s this guy at the gym, though,” she started, but left me hanging there.
“Go on,” I encouraged. “Don’t just leave me with no other details.”
“Don’t have much to tell. We’ve just been giving each other the eye every time we see each other. Lately he’s there almost every time I am. I think he changed his schedule to match mine. It seems too coincidental.”
This was the most animated I’d seen her in a long time. This would be a good topic to go back to when she got angry about other things she didn’t want to discuss. And these days, there were so many that it was hard to keep track of them all.
“Tell me all about him,” I insisted.
“I just told you. We haven’t even spoken. We just eye-fuck across the gym,” she said in a frustrated tone. But then added, “Definitely makes the workout time go quicker.”
“Well, describe him to me. What does he look like? How old would you guess?” I peppered her with questions.
“I’m sure he’s older than us. Probably upwards of ten years. He has that man look about him, you know what I mean? No trace of boy left. Anywhere.”
“Mmm, okay. I’m liking the sound of this so far. I’ve always thought you’d do better with an older guy. Older than us, I mean. I’m not talking in his fifties or anything like that, but maybe like twenty-eight to thirty-two.”
She turned to eye me skeptically over her shoulder. “Did you really just pull that out of your ass, or do you give my love life that much consideration?”
I answered honestly, “No, I’ve really thought about this before. I think you are way more mature than people our age. You need someone who will stimulate you.”
“Hell yes, I do!” she said with a dark laugh.
We all had throaty laughs, genetically gifted to us from our mother. But Shepperd’s always had this sinister edge to it that made it deeper and darker.
Playfully, I smacked her shoulder. “That’s not what I meant. Though there is merit to the thought,” I said while pressing the end of the brush to my chin, pretending to give it deep consideration.
“He has really dark hair. It’s definitely black, but it’s so dark and shiny, it looks wet half the time. And it’s super thick and wavy. Kind of longer, like it could be messy in an instant.”
“And you’ve not even said hello?”
“Nope. Now and then we give each other a little nod. He smiled at me today, which made me instantly run and hide in the locker room,” she admitted. “Such an idiot,” my twin mumbled into the cradle of her palms.
“This is so exciting. We have to find out who he is!” I said, getting into the mystery of it all.
Instantly she became defensive. “What do you mean we? Just don’t worry about it.”
“Aww, come on. Let me live vicariously through you. Now that I’m single, I need an outlet for my romantic notions.”
“Well, matchmake for Clemmie. I’m not looking for a guy right now, and I think I heard her and that dipshit she’s been dragging around arguing tonight. Who needs the drama and complications, you know?” she said, chewing thoughtfully on the few pieces of popcorn she finally put in her mouth.
“What time are you going next? I want to go along,” I persisted. It would never happen, though. I hated going to the gym.
“I’m not telling you. God, I’d be so embarrassed. Don’t make me regret telling you,” she warned. “Then the whole twin thing would start,” she said, and I felt her whole body stiffen.
“I’m only teasing. Calm down.” I brushed her hair back and worked it into a single braid down the center of her back. “There. Now it won’t be crazy in the morning,” I announced while surveying my handiwork.
My sister fingered the thick braid and said, “Thanks, Maye. Now get out of my bed.” She held out the bowl as I stood. “Take this with you. The smell is starting to nauseate me.”
“I’ll go put the rest away. Or maybe Dad will want it. I’m ready for bed. You?”
She sank deeper into her stack of pillows and bitched, “I was ready an hour ago.”
“Night, sister. I love you,” I said and kissed the top of her head—the only part still exposed to the room air.
