CHAPTER SIX
I walked into a foyer filled with red and white roses. My heart sped up in my chest as I stared at them. Eric was wonderful. He was absolutely perfect and I wouldn’t trade him for the world. I smelled as many fragrant flowers as I could before finding my phone to Facetime him.
“Baby, the entire foyer?” I laughed, spinning in a circle so he could see I’d gotten them.
“Nothing but the best for my girl,” he smiled. His smiles always made me glad that I snagged him. He was beyond handsome. All the girls at work clamored over him when he first got there but I ended up with him.
Me.
I mean, there really was no contest but still…I felt lucky because Eric ended up being a nice guy. Usually, men as sexy as him, know it and aren’t afraid to fuck women over proving it. Not Eric. Never him.
He was the epitome of a nice guy and I was going to ride that shit until the wheels fell off. He was stable and comfortable and he was mine.
“Thank you, babe. I really appreciate it. I needed a little pick me up today.” I plucked a rose from one of the dozens of bouquets in the foyer and took it into the kitchen with me. It was a long walk and I sniffed it the entire time.
Our new house was huge and I was so happy that it was away from the city. Crime was starting to skyrocket and eventually I wanted to pop out some of Eric’s kids and settle into a nice cushy, boring life. I couldn’t raise a family in the city. Being on the outskirts was perfect.
“Can you make lasagna tonight, Nora? I’m craving your cooking. I’m craving something else too.” Eric looked into the screen and bit his bottom lip, making me giggle. Not only was my man fine, he knew how to fuck me senseless every damn night.
“Well, we can save that for dessert,” I blushed. “I’ll get started on dinner so it’ll be ready when you get in. You still working on that restaurant account?” While we worked in the same office, Eric was higher up than I was. He got to handle the big clients directly while I handled their accounts.
“Yeah. I’ll be done soon though and then I’m coming home for some lasagna and some dessert,” when he winked at me I wanted to take my panties off and throw them at the phone.
“Hurry up, Eric,” I whined.
“Okay, beautiful,” he chuckled and I blew him a kiss before ending the call. I went upstairs and changed into a pair of denim shorts and a white tank then I swept my brown hair up into a bun and secured it with a hair tie. I was going to cook the hell out of that lasagna for my fiancé. Whatever he wanted, he got.
I was in the middle of boiling noodles when a weird feeling hit me square in the middle of my chest.
Lucy…
I paused and looked around like she was somewhere in the house. I knew better but I only got that feeling when she was coming around or in trouble. Knowing her wild ass, it could have been either of those things. I had the same feeling last night and it woke me out of my sleep. I felt terrified like someone was after me.
I ignored the feeling and turned on music to drown out the annoying chatter in my head. Another Lucy symptom. I hadn’t spoken to my twin in a year though. Why the hell would she be getting ready to reach out now?
I sliced violently through a pile of mushrooms like I was chopping their heads off. My fingers tingled and I couldn’t concentrate.
Fuck it.
I was going to have to call her since she was clearly thinking about me.
I picked up my phone and paused the music so I could find her number. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to her and I could feel her presence calling out to me. One quick call wouldn’t hurt. Or maybe it would.
Lucy was still so wild and out of control. I couldn’t have her in my life. She was stuck in the way things used to be and she refused to move on. It made me crazy. I felt her inner turmoil. I couldn’t want to help her more than she wanted to help herself though.
I stared at my phone as minutes ticked by while I tried to decide if I wanted to really call my sister or not. Maybe I should call Abel instead. He was still close to her.
The thought didn’t have enough time to manifest in my head before Lucy’s name popped up on my phone. I knew it. I fucking knew it. I shut my eyes and pushed out a slow breath before accepting the call.
“Lucy, is everything okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, everything is fine.”
“You’re lying, Luce. I can feel it, remember?”
“I’m not lying. I need to ask you something and I don’t want to,” she snapped. I rolled my eyes and fixed my mouth to tell her no. It didn’t matter what it was. “Oh my God, you’re going to say no before you even know what it is, Nora? Really?” Evidently, I’d forgotten how tight our twin bond was.
“I wasn’t. Don’t put words in my mouth.”
“I’m not putting words in your mouth. I know you. You’re petty.”
“Then what the fuck does that make you?” I frowned.
“Let’s not do this. I’m tired. I just need a favor. It’s a big favor, please don’t say no, Nora.” I rolled my eyes again and rested my chin on my fist.
“What is it?”
“I got evicted. I need somewhere to stay until I get back on my feet.” I squeezed my eyes shut knowing she couldn’t go to our parents and Abel wouldn’t allow it. I didn’t know all their brother-sister secrets but I knew he wanted to put distance between them.
“Call one of your little bar friends,” I said.
“I can’t. I don’t have anyone that will let me stay with them. It won’t be for long. I need time to save money.”
“Where’s your savings, Lucy? That’s exactly what it’s for. Times like this.”
“I don’t have a savings account anymore. Well, I have one but it’s empty.” I could picture her face and see her giving that little shrug or hers. I let out a frustrated growl and paced the floor. I nearly forgot about my noodles I was so annoyed. I snatched the pot off the stove and let it cool for a minute.
“Mom and Dad should beat you,” I glowered.
“I need somewhere to stay, Nora. Please?” It was killing her to ask, let alone beg. I smirked over the phone and sighed softly.
“I suppose. Let me talk to Eric first.”
“Eric? You’re not even married to him.”
“Yet. I’m not married to him yet. After I talk to him tonight then we’ll see. If we let you stay here though you have to be serious about getting your shit together. You can’t slack off and you have to really save.”
“Okay, Nora.”
“Do you have somewhere to sleep tonight?” I asked. I really did care about Lucy but I needed to whip her into shape or else her staying with us would be a disaster just like everything else in her life.
“I’m at Abel’s but I shouldn’t be. Not for another night.” Her words were heavy with something untold. I didn’t push.
“Why don’t you stop by for dinner and I’ll talk to Eric later on? You can crash in one of our guest rooms. We have so many.”
“Wonderful,” she said in a phony cheery voice. “Send me your address and I’ll come over after I’m done packing at my apartment.”
I told her I would and then we ended our call. Hearing her voice was so strange. It made me realize how long it had been since we talked or hung out or…did all the crazy shit we used to do.
Lucy and I were wild back in the day. We did everything together and I do mean everything. We shared boys as much as we shared clothes. Sometimes, they didn’t even know we were twins. It was hilarious. I let a small laugh slip thinking about some of our adventures.
**
Lasagna, salad, and breadsticks were on the table by the time Eric came home. “Damn, it smells good in here. Hey, babe.” Eric kissed my cheek and set his things down.
“I made peach cobbler for dessert,” I sang and pushed my ass against him.
“You must want something,” he cocked an eyebrow up at me but he didn’t push my ass away.
“My sister is coming to dinner,” I sighed, turning to face him. His arms locked around my waist and he rocked me from side to side while he stared at the ceiling.
“Your sister? You mean…Lucy?” He said her name so apprehensively like she’d appear any second.
“Yes. I only have one sister.” I pressed a kiss to his lips while he groaned. Eric and Lucy didn’t have much interaction. He’d seen a glimpse of her once but mostly, he heard about her from me bitching.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“She called out of the blue and needed to talk to me,” I shrugged.
“Needed to talk to you? This is starting to sound like more than just dinner, Nora. If there’s a bomb that needs to be dropped, please don’t wait until I’m sitting across the table from the girl.” He had a point. I snatched the hair tie from my bun, letting my waves fall down my back. Eric loved watching my long hair flow and move.
“She needs a place to stay. She doesn’t have anywhere and she fucked up her savings so…”
“She wants to stay here,” Eric’s shoulders slumped and he looked at me.
“Yeah. I told her I had to talk to you first though. I didn’t just open our home to her.”
“I don’t like your sister, Nora.” Eric’s brows crashed together.
“I know. I barely like her myself sometimes but she’s my twin. I can’t have her out on the street.”
“If she’s as much of a mess as you say she is, how do we know she’s actually going to get herself together? She could be using you because she knows she can.”
“You’re right, babe but how about this; we’ll put her out if she’s not keeping up her end of the deal. She has three months to save,” I said holding up three fingers for emphasis.
“Jesus, I wasn’t expecting this coming home.”
“Neither was I.” I rubbed his strong shoulders and pouted. Eric kissed my lips and squeezed my ass.
“We’ll give it a try. Don’t expect me to be nice to her though.” I nodded my head with a smile. I couldn’t promise I’d be nice to Lucy either. The girl had a knack for pissing me off.
**
When the doorbell rang, Eric and I had just sat down to dinner. I assumed Lucy wasn’t coming but Lucy was always late. When I opened the door for her, my heart sped up. A part of me was missing without my sister, no matter how annoying she was.
We stood there, eyes wide, smiles even wider, staring at each other before colliding in a hug. “Nora,” she sighed into my hair.
“Luce,” I laughed a little. We pulled back and stared at each other again. It was like looking into a mirror. It was like seeing a side of yourself you’d forgotten about.
I pushed my fingers through her thick mane and she did the same to me. We both annoyed the fuck out of each other but when we were together we were whole. I traced her perfect brows with my fingertips then ran them down the bridge of her slender nose. She ran her thumb across my bottom lip and my stomach clenched.
There were so many memories.
Too many.
We rubbed our noses against one another and she pressed a soft kiss to my lips. Eric cleared his throat from behind us and we broke apart with sheepish grins. Nobody understood my bond with Lucy.
Hell, I barely understood it. How could I loathe her but need her to breathe? She was the moon and I was the sun. We never saw each other but we depended on the other one for balance.
“Lucy, this is Eric. I know you two kinda met before but never formally. Eric this is my sister, Lucy.” He glanced over her quickly then looked at both of us standing side by side.
“Nice to officially meet you, Lucy.” He shook her hand and Lucy gave a smile then looked at me with wildfire in her eyes. I shot her a glance that screamed no. She was still living in the past like I said.
“Nice to meet you too, Eric.” She handed him her bag and he sighed before taking it upstairs to her room. “Jesus, Nora he’s finer than I remember.”
“Lucy,” I warned.
“He has the shoulders of a God. I bet…”
“Lucy…”
“What? I bet you can sit on his face while he’s standing up. You have enough space to balance. God, you should fuck his face every chance you get.”
“Lucy! Jesus…” I shook my head and strode into the dining room. “Stop acting like you don’t have any sense.”
“I’m just saying. I bet he has a long tongue too.”
“I bet you’re still uncouth.”
“I’m always uncouth, twin. You should know that. I’m the part wedged deep inside of you that you love to hide from all your little uppity friends.” She blew me a kiss and sat at the dinner table.
“Wash your hands. We were raised by the same people, yet you sit down to eat without making sure your hands are clean.”
“Oh my God, Nora. I just came in here from driving. I wasn’t touching shit or anything.”
“Does your car still look the same, Luce?” She muttered under her breath and stomped off to wash her hands. Eric came back downstairs and shook his head, looking toward the open bathroom door in the hall.
“Am I going to be able to handle you two together?”
“Of course,” I smiled.
“All clean, Mom.” Lucy flashed her fingers at me and then left her middle one standing before flopping into a seat and grabbing a plate.
“This should be interesting,” Eric grumbled, flapping his napkin out before sitting down beside me. “So, Lucy, Nora tells me you’ve fallen on hard times.”
“Yeah, I got evicted.” She cut her words short and grabbed the tongs to dish out salad on her plate.
“How did that happen?” I pried. Lucy narrowed her glowing copper eyes at me and I smiled.
“I was behind on rent.”
“How far behind?” I pushed more.
“Twelve months.” She bit the words out after rolling her eyes and grabbing a square of lasagna.
“How the hell did you manage that?” Eric chuckled. “A few months is the most I’ve seen a landlord wait for money.”
“Please Luce, do tell. How did you manage to get a year behind on rent without being evicted?” I felt her mood turn stormy. Electricity crackled in the air. It was only a little spark but I felt it. She was getting pissed.
“I had a dick-sucking relationship with my landlord, Nora. I sucked his dick every month and I swallowed his nut. Sometimes I played with it a little before swallowing it. Sometimes I let him titty-fuck me then cum in my mouth. We liked to switch it up every now and then.” I nearly choked on my wine and Eric pushed out an unsteady breath.
“Wow, um…okay. I wasn’t expecting that.” He blinked a few times and stared at Lucy.
“Well, tell your wife to stop goading me. She knows what happens when she does that.”
“She’s not my wife yet.” Eric corrected her and I glanced at him with raised brows.
“And I wonder why that is? Cold feet, Eric? Not done fucking around yet? If you still need to get some stuff out of your system then let me know because…”
“Lucy!” I slammed my hand down on the table, knocking over my glass of wine.
“What? You didn’t tell him, Nora?” She purred and popped a forkful of food in her mouth.
“Kitchen. Now,” I barked.
“Ooh. Kitchen. Now,” she mocked before following me. The moment we were alone, I jabbed my finger into her face.
“If you want to stay here you need to have some fucking respect.” Lucy slapped my hand away from her face then stood inches away from me.
“You first, Sissy. You know I don’t like when you push and pry.” A zing zipped through my core. I butted against her until we were chest to chest.
“Well if you’d keep in contact, I wouldn’t have to pry. Now I’m going to have to get you into shape since you’re a goddamn mess.”
“I’m not a mess and you’re not getting me into shape. I’m grown. I can take care of myself.”
“Then why don’t you have a place to live, Lucy?” I jabbed her armor and I must have pierced it a bit because she turned away from me in a huff. Her long waves swished across the small of her back and I couldn’t help snatching it in my fist.
“Stop, Nora,” she whined like when we were kids.
“Tell me you’ll behave while you’re here, Lucy,” I spoke against her ear. She smelled like flowers and cocoa butter. Her eyes fluttered closed and so did mine. It felt like we were sharing memories.
“I’ll behave if you’ll behave, Nora.” She spun around and gripped my hair too. After a few seconds ticked by, we smiled and hesitantly kissed each other.
“I’ll behave but I still need to help you get your life together,” I told her.
“You don’t. I’m fine,” she bit out.
“Let me help you,” I pled with her. I knew that with a few months of my guidance, she’d be fine. She was always so stubborn though.
“Nora, I’m fine. I just need somewhere to catch my breath. Can we go ask your not-husband if it’s cool for me to stay here?” I smacked my lips together and nodded, ushering her into the dining room. Before we walked in, I grabbed her hand.
“Behave, Lucy. This isn’t high school or college. We’re not the way we used to be.”
“Speak for yourself,” she laughed.
“Everything okay, girls?” Eric asked. I smiled at him and started mopping up the spilled wine.
“Peachy,” Lucy grinned.
“O…kay. So, Lucy since you need a place to stay and you’re practically family,” Eric began but my lovely twin cut him off.
“I’m not practically family. I am family. And I treat my family very nice,” she shot me a smirk and I looked down at my plate.
“Okay so you are family. I’d like to offer our house to you for the next three months. We’ll only charge you a small amount in rent so you can actually save money. We’ll handle the utilities and extras.”
“Sound fair?” I asked.
“Sounds fair.” Lucy reached across the table to shake Eric’s hand and it felt like we’d just made a deal with the devil.
**