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“Oh, I seriously doubt that. Please, keep me company.”
“I shouldn’t. He’s singing about a girl—”
“Her name is Jillian, but it’s not what you think, Ophelia,” Teagan’s whispers echo around the dark mental void I’ve fallen into. “It was a long time ago and a painful time for my brother, but it’s not my story to tell. If you have any feelings toward my brother, be patient, and he will let you into that part of his life. He’s had long enough to know his heart. I’m happy it has started beating again; Tucker needs to sing to release those demons he has punished himself with over and over.” Teagan grabs my hand and holds it. “I like you. What are your intentions with my brother? I mean no disrespect, but he’s been through a lot, and he’s selfless and protective and all the good things in a man. I love him and want to protect his heart.”
“I like all of you too. I didn’t intend anything. I made myself clear to Tucker from the get-go.” I squeeze her hand gently. “But your brother is hard to deny. You are all going away to Alaska, which will give us both time. We shouldn’t be feelingthisafter such a short time.”
“Why not? It’s called attraction. Nothing wrong with that and playing about to see if it can get shaped into more.”
No surprise the side she’s backing. Team Tucker.
“On a deeper, personal level, I have reasons for upholding this promise I made to myself. I wasn’t looking for a guy. If anything, I have stayed clear of places where there are men. Tucker cornered me, getting my cousin onside and his wife with his charming personality. I got railroaded into a non-date yesterday morning, and I didn’t flirt with him but sassed him at every turn. I didn’t know I was coming here to meet his sisters. I thought he was taking me to breakfast, but not at his home. But here I am, talking to you, having slept in Tucker’s bed.”Having shared kisses and nudity.
There is a silence between us while Tucker finishes the song, adding to the deafening quiet.
I can almost hear Teagan’s mind ticking over as she digests what I reveal.
“But you like my brother.” Not a question.
“I do.”
“Enough to maybe re-connect after Alaska?”
“Yes.” A firm truth I didn’t realize I had already settled on.
“Then you and I can be friends. I would like your phone number.” Spoken like a Royal with assured confidence that I will just hand it over because she requests it. She is, after all, Tucker’s twin.
“No. I am cutting communication with Tucker until I’ve reached the goal I set for myself. I am discovering a new me, and I need to be independent and find my feet in my new venture. This time has to be for me.” I couldn’t find love so soon after they died—after I lost a piece of myself.
“Okay,” she says softly. I smile at her one-word response. It must be a twin thing. “I like you have a focus in your life, but you do know there is always room for texting.”
Stay strong.
“Yup, but this is something I want to finish. I need a clear head, and then maybe I can invite Tucker in and explain myself more.” We both know she can look up the Fainting Goat Ranch and contact me that way if she needs to.
Tucker is moving around again, touching things in his studio.
An acoustic guitar intro starts playing.
“This song I’m not familiar with.”
“Girl Crushby Little Big Town.” Teagan fills in the blanks.
We listen to Tucker’s vocals. He’s amazing.
“Tucker is singing more along with the Harry Styles cover version,” Teagan explains, sounding like a bit of a music guru, and then starts singing softly in harmony with Tucker. She has a beautiful voice.
I get lost in the song. It is almost haunting with the amount of emotion he bleeds into the song’s lyrics.
“My brother’s singing this song about you,” Teagan says softly beside me. “He’s changed a few of the words to personalize it. You’ve done something to my brother I haven’t seen in a very long time.”
I don’t know how to respond, so I stay silent.
But I allow myself to be quietly thrilled by the dedication.
I close my eyes, listening to Tucker sing his heart out.
Song after song is like he’s tearing a page out of his past. I tell myself that any curiosity I might have about his life and loves is none of my business because curiosity can kill the cat.
