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“Wow, that’s a low blow. It’s not the first time he’s used that one, sadly. He doesn’t like to claim me because most people prefer the ‘nice twin’ to his ‘mad at the world’ one. It’s always been that way. I tried to include him, but he didn’t want to be. It was easier for him to hate the world. He’s punished himself for our mother’s death and pushed me away ever since. I can’t believe he’s still hung up on it, to the point he would try to ruin what we have now.”
Thane stood and came to sit next to me. It was a move so similar to his brother from earlier, it was eery. He took my hands, urging me to look at him, and I let him this time. “Lennox, IpromiseI’m not the one lying here. What can I do to prove it?”
“I don’t know. Maybe nothing. This isn’t really about me, is it? It’s between you two. I just don’t want to be lied to or used.”
“I promise I’m not hiding anything. Here, I can show you the last time we were together. He’s never happy when I’m around. I’m just a reminder of what he can’t have, and now it seems like that includes you, Cherry.”
I didn’t necessarily agree with him. Thane didn’thaveme, per se. We were friends, but nothing more. The mere fact I was sitting next to him and feeling nothing compared to the heat and desire I felt a few hours earlier said everything.
He pulled out his phone, unlocking the lock screen quickly before I could see his password. The home screen was a picture of him and me smiling. We did look happy, and I couldn’t place that person being a liar in my head. I watched as Thane opened his pictures and scrolled down to one, clicking on it. He turned the phone to me, and I grabbed it as a pit formed in my stomach.
It was a picture of Slade and Thane standing against a wall, proving he wasn’t an imposter.
Thane was all smiles, picture-perfect as usual, and Slade stood with a permanent scowl on his face glaring at whoever was taking the picture.
“When was this taken?”
“Oh, um, a few years ago. It was right after he opened Equinox Ink.”
I dropped the phone at his statement, the sound of it clattering on the tabletop loud, and I cringed before looking up, eyes wide. “What did you just say?”
“That Slade owns Equinox Ink. I thought you knew?”
Shaking my head, I had no words. “Nope, can’t say I did.” Rage boiled to the surface as my face grew warm. Just how many things was Slade keeping from me? I didn’t think I knew him at all.
“Yeah, well, he’s had it for a few years. About a year before he opened the one in Kentucky, actually,” he said thoughtfully.
Through gritted teeth, I spit out my last question. “Is there anything else I should know?”
“Just one thing.”
“What?” I held my breath, not sure I was ready for any more bombs that might crush me.
“I uh, was there, that night too. I’d come to meet Slade, not realizing he’d made plans to meet up with you. Your hair was different then, you didn’t have the blue ends, so it took me a while to piece everything together. But I saw him talking to you, and for once, I was jealous of my brother because he held the company of the prettiest girl in the place. I stayed back watching for a while, and well, I don’t know how to say this, and I’m sorry for not saying it sooner. It’s just that when you said you weren’t going to see him again, I figured you were safe.” Thane stopped, uncertainty now covering his brow as he watched me. I was getting tired of his drawn out stories and just wanted him to get to the point already.
“Just tell me, Thane. Get it over with.” He nodded, biting his lip as he prepared to destroy me.
“I believe Slade was the one to spike your drink. In fact, I know he was. I saw him.”
He handed me his phone again, and this time it was a grainy picture of that night. It was hard to see, but I spotted the outfit I’d worn that day, leaning against a bar talking to a younger Slade. Everything started rushing forward as the picture unlocked some of the repressed memories—the music, the smell of the place, the taste of the drink on my lips.
The picture depicted Slade grabbing some drinks. As I clicked over, it began to play out like a flipbook. In one, his palm was over the top. In another, he lifted it up to look at the bottom. Then one with him swirling the drink around, before the last one. Slade handing the drink to me. The one he said he named me after.
Touching my lips, I peered into Thane’s kind blue eyes, sadness and understanding reflected there for me. Holding his gaze, I said the word that destroyed my heart.
“Peaches.”
Pen Pal Letter
THANE TO NOX
Hello, my Noxy girl,
Okay, I admit it, I did laugh. How could I not? Picturing you shrieking as a cat was flung at you had me rolling on the floor. But afterward, I did wonder if you were okay? So, are you? As you discovered, cats don’t typically like water, so I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant for either of you.
I’m glad you like the song. I wish I could hear you sing it. Maybe someday?
I’ve been thinking that lately I might want to travel the world, see what is out there. I’ve traveled my whole life, but I still feel like there's more to see, more people to meet, and more things to enjoy. When we get to a new city, I always go to a local place and try the food. I walk around the downtown streets and try to get a feel for the people and city. My brother doesn’t join me anymore, it’s hard to think about growing apart from your best friend, but it’s happening. He hasn’t really been the same since Mom died.
