AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Seventeen
The Twins
Vannah
If a slap could describe a facial expression, Vannah was certain her face would be stinging hot from Byron’s. But it was true. Her father really was a sweetheart. Sure, he and her brothers could be a bit overbearing and over-the-top at times, but they meant well and would never do anything that might upset her or Nena. If he’d said anything that might upset Byron that would certainly warrant Vannah getting upset. So, whatever it is he’d said to him shouldn’t justify this kind of reaction from Byron, right?
Still wincing she sunk her teeth into her bottom lip. “What did he say to you?”
To her surprise, he actually smirked as he exhaled loudly and pulled out of the parking space. “What any dad would say to a guy they just met who’s dating their baby girl.”
“And what would that be?”
“Basically, if I hurt you, he hurts me.” Vannah gasped and Byron turned to look at her before pulling onto the street and shrugged. “It’s a fair warning, babe. I’d do the same. Just took me by surprise, is all. Guess there’s a first time for everything and since I’ve never actually met any other chick’s dad, orentirefamily for that matter, I didn’t see that coming.”
Feeling her face heat, Vannah laughed nervously. “Well, you gotta know it’s just an expression. He wouldn’t actually hurt—”
“The hell he wouldn’t.” Glad he was still smirking even though his tone was as adamant as her dads could get. “I don’t doubt for asecondif I hurt you; he’ll hunt my ass down.” He turned to her the smirk softening into a smile. “Good thing the odds of that happening are zilch.” Turning back to the road he added. “Especially since we’re just having fun, right?”
She cleared her throat sitting up straight, glad now for her choice in words when answering her dad’s inquiry tonight. Not only had this poor guy been cornered into having dinner with her entire family less than a week after their first kiss, but he’d also just admitted it’s something he’d never done. Likely because meeting, having dinner and being threatened by the little freshman’s daddy was the last thing he’d expected he’d be dealing with this soon, if ever.
“Yeah, uh . . .” She pulled a strand of hair behind her ear as she glanced out the window. “My parents tend to jump the gun a bit. I told you they can be very overprotective.”
“Duly noted.” He turned to her as they came to a stop. “You okay with hanging out at my place or you feel like going somewhere else?”
She smiled feeling the butterflies inside begin to swarm. “Your place is fine.”
As soon as they were out of his car, Byron came around it, took her hand, pulled her to him and nearly took her legs out with a knee weaking kiss. How in the world could someone be so good at this?
Practically in a daze when he finally pulled away and took her face in his hands, Vannah inhaled deeply gazing into those probing eyes. “How manyfriendsdo you do this with, Savannah?”
Feeling her eyes widen, her mind was suddenly racing. Was this a trick question? Would it freak him out if she told him the truth? That she’d never even been kissed by aman. Boys yes, back in high school but that didn’t even compare.
“I, uh.” She cleared her throat willing the right answer to come to her as his hardening eyes searched hers. “None. L-like I told my parents. I’ve been focusing on school and I’ve been swamped with homework so—”
“Look, I don’t have an issue with you wanting to focus on school.” He pressed his lips together for a moment. “It’s what youshouldbe doing. But there’s no point in me trying to hide it anymore so I wanna get this straight right now. Clearly, I will have issue with seeing you doing this with any of your otherfriends.” Despite making an effort not to, her eyes widened at his outright admission. “Don’t get me wrong,” he added quickly, the resolute tone softening a bit. “I’m all for us just having fun. I stay really busy anyway. This past week was a perfect example of that. The only downtime I had I spent talking and video chatting with you. It’s just that . . .” For the first time since he’d begun to address this, he glanced away looking a little . . . unsure? Bringing his eyes back to her, he took a deep breath. “It . . . it wasn’t a good feeling, okay? I know it’s only been a week and I’m not even sure how to explain it but—”
“I get it,” Vannah finally jumped in to let him off the hook. “The text you sent yesterday.” She swallowed hard willing away the emotion she felt every time she remembered. “About your overnight date this week stung a little.”—Laughable understatement if one had ever been uttered— “Especially after hearing you say you missed me too.”
He wrapped his arms around her embracing her firmly. “I’m sorry about that. But it was only because of what I thought I’d seen.”
After explaining further that since hearing about her other friends then thinking it was her he’d seen, he just assumed she’d easily found a replacement for lunch. They started into the shop and up to his apartment. But the subject wasn’t dropped. Despite his making it clear that he wasn’t okay with others in the mix and that he’d return the favor, Vannah would be mindful of the fact that he’d once again reiterated that he didn’t have time for more than having fun. But she was too far gone now to have the power to pull back. As long as she didn’t have to hear about or see him with anyone else while they werehaving fun, she could live with this arrangement.
As soon as they were in the kitchen, Byron pulled her to him again and shook his head, his expression softening to a smirk. “Seriously, isn’t telling someone your sister is your identical twin one of the first things you do when you get to know them?” Vannah winced in remorse hoping he’d understand and not think her petty. “I mean you spoke of your sister enough this past week, isn’t revealing she’s your twin seem like something pertinent you would’ve mentioned.”
Taking a deep breath, Vannah decided it was time to explain. “I always have. It was only when Nena announced that she was skipping out on her first semester of college that I decided maybe it wouldn’t be the first thing I’d reveal about myself to everyone I met here. My whole life I’ve been one half ofThe Twins. Anytime someone asks about us or refers to us it’s always, how are The Twins? Will The Twins be there? Not Nena or Vannah or even Sienna or Savannah. Nena loves blowing people’s minds by telling them she has a sister who looksexactlylike her, but then she’s always been the outgoing more interesting one.”
“Who said that?” he asked with a frown.
“Well, not in all those words. But I know what the quieter, more timid, brainier one translates into.”
“You know what’s crazy?” He peered down at her. “Even before I knew you had a twin and I saw your sister at the gym, I thought my mind was playing games on me because I knew something was off. You have the same laugh but it’s still different somehow.”
“Let me guess,” Vannah said refraining from rolling her eyes. “Hers is sexy while mine is sweet. It wouldn’t be the first time I heard that. Which of those two words is the more alluring?”
“Hands down sweet,” he said immediately. “Your sweet laugh is the first thing I noticed about you at my brothers signing. It’s what first caught my attention before you completely sucked me in that first week when I couldn’t get enough of talking to you—couldn’t stop thinking of what kissing you did to me—and I’ll tell you what else. Don’t tell your sister this but, it’s the only times I was almost turned off even when I thought it was you doing the laughing. Not that there’s anything wrong with her laugh.” He smiled that beautiful smile she’d been struck by from that first day, then leaned in and kissed her softly before adding. “It just didn’t even come close to doing to me what yours did from the moment I first heard it.”
Vannah wondered if she’d ever get used to how easily he could make her heart wallop. But she was beginning to not even care about breathing in so whimsically whenever he did. That only made him smile bigger.
