Page 2 of Flashback for the Forward

My identical twin waited on the other side. He’d insisted on being here for moral support, when in reality, he was making sure I didn’t change my mind and call the whole thing off.

At the sight of Kennedy’s theatrics, a scowl formed on his face. “Jesus. This shit again?”

Without a word, I snagged his arm and hauled him toward the elevator.

Crew couldn’t help looking back over his shoulder. “Please, for the love of God, tell me she didn’t talk you out of it.”

“She sure tried,” I remarked.

He scoffed. “Manipulative bitch.”

I gave him a side-eye as we stepped into the elevator. “Is the name-calling really necessary?”

“Are you actually defending her right now?”

Scrubbing a hand over my face, I blew out a breath. “No, but a guy can only take so much of his brother bashing his wife. Don’t pretend like you ever bothered pulling punches before she cheated.”

My twin leaned against the mirrored interior, arms folded. “That’s because I saw through her bullshit from day one. All I was trying to do was remove the blindfold from your eyes.”

“Well, you finally got your wish. Are you happy now?”

Lips twisted to the side, he mulled it over. “Yeah, but I get the feeling you’re not.”

“I just lost six years of my life to a marriage that, on some level, I knew was doomed from the start. Am I allowed a minute to mourn the end of that chapter?

Crew had the good sense to appear remorseful. “Of course you are. Sorry for being a dick.”

Eyes drifting shut, I breathed out, “It’s fine.”

His hand landed on my shoulder. “What do you say we hit a bar? Dealer’s choice whether the drink is celebratory or sorrowful. But either way, I’m buying.”

“Yeah,” I agreed with a nod. “A drink sounds great.”

“Hey, and maybe if we find our way to the bottom of a bottle, you’ll be able to forget Kennedy’s existence in your life altogether.”

I hummed as we walked side by side out of the elevator and toward the exit.

It would have been a great idea, except that I’d been using Kennedy to forget about another woman.

But my twin didn’t know that.

And he never would.

Chapter 1

Cole

Two Years Later

“All right, I’ve got popcorn, soft pretzels, nachos, French fries, every kind of candy known to man, and an assortment of soda. Who wants what?”

Crew dropped down beside me with a sigh.

I eyed the tray on his lap, which was overflowing with junk food. “What’d you do? Clean out the concession stand?”

He smirked. “Pretty much. We might spend almost every day on the ice, but it’s been a long time since we were verified rink rats. The snacks and arcade were the best part!”

“What’s a rink rat?” Maisie, our teammate Levi’s thirteen-year-old daughter, asked from my other side.