Blake chuckled. “You know he’s all keyed up, thinking he’ll get extra attention today.”
I heaved a sigh. “It’s not my fault he had to be the twin that came out before midnight.”
“True.” Blake stepped back from the doorway, giving me space to walk out. “Doesn’t mean he’s not jealous of you, anyway. I swear, you two are, like, the worst twins ever.”
Rolling my eyes, I zipped up my gown myself. Blake’s brow twitched at the movement, but he kept his eyes on my face.
That confirmed it. I officially needed to avoid romance novels this summer.
“Speaking of terrible family members…” I eased into the subject change while slipping past him into the hall. “Are your folks meeting us at the auditorium?”
“Hah!” Blake barked a laugh. “No. My DNA donors will meet up with the other rich assholes—Sorry. I mean,their friendsat the ceremony. Never miss an opportunity to schmooze and rub elbows, you know?”
He nudged me with his elbow to emphasize his point, but then he didn’t drop it. When he flicked his gaze down to his offered arm, I picked up on his meaning. I slid my hand through his arm, letting him lead me out of the house.
Blake saluted my dad as we approached him on the porch. “Got her, Mr. B!”
My dad returned the salute with a hearty laugh, slapping Blake on the back. “Knew we could count on you, kid.”
Blake beamed with pride, smiling at my dad before ducking his head and climbing in the car.
I stopped to take in his reaction, not realizing it until my dad nudged me. When he winked and nodded toward the car, I got inside as he went to lock up the house.
Once he climbed into the driver’s seat, he glanced over the center console, his eyes falling on each of us. “Everybody strapped in?”
Even though he’d just checked for himself, he always asked.
As Adam grunted in response, I clicked my seatbelt into place.
“All strapped in, Dad.” I caught Blake’s smirk as he buckled his, and when Adam grunted again, I twisted around in my seat. “Hey, birthday boy.”
“Shut up, Addie.”
I gasped, feigning disbelief before giving him a saccharine smile. “Is that any way to speak to your twin, especially on your oh-so-very special day?”
Blake tilted his head. “Does it count as being twins if you’re not born on the same day?”
“Yes!” my parents cried emphatically from the front.
“But technically, couldn’t?—”
I slapped his arm. “Are you seriously about to tell a woman who carried two babies at the same time that she didn’t have twins?”
He pressed his lips together and shut his mouth. But he shifted in his seat, itching to make an argument.
While he’d never admit it, since he’d sworn off the profession on account of his father, he’d make one hell of a lawyer. When he muttered something under his breath about multiple lovers and science, my dad let out a genuine laugh, practically tearing up at the thought. Even sourpuss Adam copped a smile in the third row.
My mom smiled warmly at my dad, and he reached for her hand.
“Blake, when your future wife brings children into the world, you’ll understand.” He laced his fingers with my mom’s, bringing hers to his lips for a quick kiss. “None of the details matter once you’re holding them. And whatever the lady says, goes.”
Blake conceded, his eyes fixed on their joined hands like they’d been on me earlier. He soaked up their affection for each other, and us, like a sponge.
It made my heart ache, even as it made me happy that he’d found my family.
He belonged with us. All of us.
But he’d probably never see me as more than a surrogate little sister because of it.
