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She didn’t hide the sulk as she straightenedher blue sundress and checked her hair in the passenger mirror. Sherifled through her purse for a scrunchie and urged her hair into amessy bun before smiling at Dane and joining him on the curb. “Youreally should have said to wear tennis shoes. And maybe jeans, too.If I get poison ivy everywhere, I’m blaming you.Forever.”
He took her hand, threading his fingersthrough hers, the amusement in his eyes growing. “Trust me, Z.You’re dressed perfectly.”
“You’re pretty when you lie.”
They followed the trail a few minutes beforehe nudged her off the manicured path, between massive old-growthtrunks and tangled roots, their passage apparently unnoticed by theevening bird and bug and whatever other songs racketing aroundthem. True to his word, Dane did help her over the roots and unevenground, careful of her dress the whole time and laughing when shereminded him of when he’d damn near ripped one off her with a limodoor.
“You knew you were driving everyone insanein that goddamn thing.”
“If it helps, I wore it for yourbenefit.”
Dane’s eyes darkened. “Mission accomplished,Z. Ten more minutes of watching you in that outfit would’ve gottenme fired. And beat to hell.”
“You should’ve said something.”
“You weren’t talking to me,remember?”
“I might’ve talked if you’d tried doing thatthing with your tongue—”
“Zara.” He chuckled. “Come on, before Iforget where we’re going.”
A few turns of the not-quite-a-path later,they reached a small pond filled with a family of ducks settlingfor the night. The trail lights didn’t entirely extend into thetiny clearing, and the orange hues of the descending sun werefading fast. Still, she could see there were long, weathered stonesspaced around the pond, perfect for sitting, and the August heathadn’t killed the grass.
“This is beautiful. How’d you even find it?”She had only the vaguest idea where they were. If she’d ever beento this park, she’d never come by this entrance or gone this faroff the paths.
“My dad.” He let go of her hand to crouch bythe pond’s edge, looking over the water’s calm surface. “He used tobring me here every Sunday when his schedule allowed. Forced me tomeditate. I fucking hated it. Until I didn’t.” A faint shrug liftedhis shoulders. “Guess it was his version of going tochurch.”
“I like it a lot more than St. Patrick’s,”Zara said softly, following him toward the water. “Don’t tellFather Brown.”
“He’s still alive?” Dane snickered. “I havea feeling if that old bastard saw me again, he’d excommunicate meon the spot.”
Zara settled onto the nearest stone seat,kicking her legs out. As usual, it was built for someone tallerthan her. “Don’t worry. Gia’s higher on his priority list thanyou.”
His head snapped toward her. “Why do you dothat?” He rose, slowly moving to stand in front of her. “Why do youalways bring her up?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” She stared at him,completely baffled. “She’s my twin. And it’s not like I can talkabout all my school friends. You don’t know them.”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t think we’veever had a single conversation where you didn’t bring her up.Sharing a womb and a room doesn’t make her your other goddamnhalf.”
No, that was the DNA. And everythingelse.She stared across the pond, fixing her eyes on aparticularly twisted tree silhouetted in the fading light. How didhe not understand? After everything. All the years watching her andGia? Knowing the secrets… “Because I wouldn’t be me without her.And even when we hate each other, we know that. I know you can’tstand her, D. But she’s always there.”
“I do hate her. Do you want to know why?” Ifhe expected her to answer, he certainly didn’t give her the time.“Because sheisn’talways there, Z.”
“She is.” Zara couldn’t understand Dane’svehemence.
“Not foryou. She’s there forherself.”
I’m sure it looks that way.Sheopened her mouth to explain and stopped. How the hell could shecoalesce all the layers of guilt and heartache and love andresentment into words? Not to mention the fact she also knewperfectly well she hid behind Gia. She always had.
It wasn’t about Gia wanting the spotlightall the time—her twin loved it, but it was more habit than interestat this point. And then there were the times when Gia was Zara andvice versa. Most people couldn’t tell the difference, and if Zaraput on brown contacts, the list of people who’d figure it out fellto Dane, Dad, and Mrs. Mac. She didn’t really want Dane to knowabout that little magic act, either. And anyway, the more Zaratried explaining Gia to Dane, she made things worse. It had alwaysbeen that way.I guess four years sparring with her on guardduty didn’t help, either.
“Fuck.” He abandoned the pond to kneelbefore her, his hands going to her knees. “I didn’t mean…” Helooked up at her, his gaze locking with hers. “I’m sorry, Z. Ididn’t think.”
“It’s okay. It’s complicated. I know you’veprobably been holding a few sharp remarks over the eons.” She methis eyes, trying not to think too hard about his warm, rough palmsand how they would feel if they moved upward just a fewinches.
“A few thousand, maybe.”
“You know, I think I even missed arguingwith you,” she said with a soft laugh. “It’s been four years ofstaying polite. We’re bound to have some awkward conversations comedue.”
