Page 93 of Double the Redemption

“We’ve always been the twins. We do everything together, and I do love it, but I need my own thing, you know? Wren is far more physically inclined, and she just expected that whatever she liked, I would do too. That we’d be the unstoppable team.”

Naomi gripped her hand in a reassuring squeeze. “You’re allowed to want to be your own person and have your own interests, Win. And, deep down, Wren knows that. I think she’s just scared that the two of you won’t be close the way you are. I used to think the same about my sister and I. We’re not twins, but growing up, we were really close. She would get so jealous and angry when I didn’t want to do the same things as her.”

“Did you do a lot of the same stuff?”

“All the time. If I did any kind of sport or club, she’d be right behind me. We look a lot alike, so a lot of people just assumed we would be the same and always do things together. That we were close. But the farther ahead I got than her, the more she tried to catch up and couldn’t. That wasn’t her fault, but it was hard for her to accept that we were on different paths. Wren will understand. The two of you are always going to be close, and now that you’re getting older, you’re going to start seeing that you can be your own person too.”

Win nodded, but she didn’t look wholly convinced.

“I’m sorry, Win,” Wren said, and Naomi jumped, not realizing she’d come back. Wren had tears in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“It’s okay,” Win said, forgiveness given easily. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Wren took the empty seat at the table. “I’m just frustrated, and I don’t know what to do. I’ve always been good at school, and now I’m starting to realize that maybe I haven’t been and I’ve just been relying on you to get me through. You’re better at this stuff than me.”

Win’s mouth dropped open, horrified.

“Maybe we just need to teach you another way to look at the problems,” Naomi suggested. “Would you mind me having a look? Maybe I can come up with another way.”

Wren perked right up, and Win lifted a brow. “Yes, please.” Wren beamed.

Over the next hour, Naomi found she enjoyed teaching them new ways of looking at the problems. She picked up on the patterns each girl needed and tailored her guidance accordingly. They listened, fascinated, and finished their homework in no time, and looked much happier.

“Damn, it’s so much better when you have a genius around to help you,” Wren said, with a teasing grin. “How are you at ancient history? I have an essay due in a week that I have no idea how I’m going to finish.”

Naomi chuckled. “History was never my thing. I can remember things, but I don’t really care to. Numbers have always been my thing.” She glanced at her watch. “Are you guys still okay to watch Asher while I head to the shop to get the accounting done?”

“Yep,” Win said. “We’ll get him something to eat when he gets up too. We’re going to head up to the apartment. Scarlett asked for a nap when she got home a bit ago, but she’ll be up by now.”

“And Rogue’s probably been up there twelve times checking on her,” Wren said, shaking her head. Then she stopped. “Actually, we should probably text before we go over. Who knows what kinky shit those two are getting up to.”

Win nodded.

Naomi blinked at that, unsure what to say.

Thankfully, she was saved from trying to navigate that awkward conversation when Jax made his way over with a smile. “Rogue asked me to let you know that he thinks there was an error made today when someone was checking out and he wants you to see if you can fix it.” He snickered. “Actually, he told me to tell you to get your ass over there and fix whatever it is I fucked up, but we don’t know that it was me.”

“It was probably you.” Saylor laughed as she came over to give him a kiss. “You’re terrible, and Esme is going to kill you when she’s eventually back in the office.”

He winked at her. “I’m sure I can outrun her, and now that we have Naomi, she’ll be able to hide the evidence.”

“Only if you didn’t royally screw it up,” Naomi joked. “If you did, then I’ll be chasing you too.”

“The ladies love to chase me, so I’m not going to complain.” Jax ignored all their eye rolls at that.

“I’ll head over now. Everything is shut?”

“Everything’s closed, and all customers have left.” He turned. “Karissa, you’re up,” he called. “So stop grinding on your man and get to work.”

Naomi laughed when Karissa flipped off Jax from behind her back. All while kissing Razor like she hadn’t seen him in years, legs wrapped around his waist, and her other hand in his hair.

“I can probably go by myself,” Naomi said. “I’m just going to the shop, so I’ll be fine.”

“No, you need to have a guard, that’s the deal,” Jax reminded her. “Where’s Taz?”

“Probably off planning whatever his new prank will be,” Karissa announced, releasing Razor. “We’ll finish that later,” she promised, with a saucy smile. Razor’s returning stare could only be described as lustful before he finally headed up the stairs.

“He loved your hair that much, huh?” Saylor teased.