Chapter Three

“We were thinking limousine, black suits, the works”, Jack says, his hands going into the air energetically to paint out the scene. “A final fuck you to Walter Willis High.”

“And how are you going to afford that exactly?” I say.

Zach shrugs. “Figured your dad might be able to chip in.”

“Yeah, right”, I say. “With his current work situation you mean. I’m lucky to be going to college in the fall at all. Plus, he doesn’t know yet.”

“He knows you’re going to the prom, though, right?” Jack asks.

“To be honest, I don’t think he expects anyone to ask me”, I say. “I mean, I didn’t expect it.”

Jack smiles. “Who else would we ask?”

“Like, anyone else. There are hundreds of girls that I could suggest.”

“None of them are you”, Zach says.

Jack moves from his position on the couch and alongside me on the bed. Zach does the same, moving from the floor to the other side of me. I can feel my skin tingle.

“I don’t want you to think this is weird”, Jack says.

“It’s not weird”, Zach adds.

“Why didn’t you tell me before that you liked me?” I say, half of the words getting stuck in my throat.

“We thought you knew”, Jack says. “We just didn’t know if you liked us. Both of us.”

My heart is racing even before Jack takes my hand and Zach puts his hand on my thigh.

I’ve got goosebumps running along my arms and tingles along my neck and spine. I’m trembling but I’m not cold.

“Plus, we were scared of losing you as a friend”, Jack says.

“You’re our best friend, Jenny”, Zach says. “You always have been.”

The sensation is too much and I have to stand up and get some space. I feel like I’m overheating with desire. There are two of the sexiest men I’ve ever seen in my life sat on my bed telling me they want me and I feel like I’m about to have a heart attack. From wanting something so badly to it actually happening the whole thing feels completely surreal.

“It seemed like the right moment”, Jack says. “With college coming up in the fall, and Mom and Dad not good, we wanted to-.”

“We didn’t want to lose our chance”, Zach adds.

Their parents have been fighting like cats and dogs for years, half an argument away from breaking up. It’s part of the reason they’ve spent so much time over here, part of the reason they’ve spent so much time away from home in general, outside, practising whichever sport the season would allow.

“It’s just, I’m, I can’t believe it, that’s all.”

“Take your time”, Jack says. “It took us a long time to work it out too.”

Zach nods meekly. “No pressure”, he says. “Let’s just have a good time and see where it takes us.”

“We like you, Jenny. Both of us. We don’t want to fight for you or fuck up our friendship. Zach’s a stubborn bastard after all.”

“Marcy thinks it’s weird”, I say. “You know, me going with both of you.”

“Everyone thought it was weird when we insisted on being the donkey. It’s only an issue if you let it be”, Jack says.

“It’s not weird for you?” I ask.

Jack and Zach look at each other and smile. “We share everything, Jenny. You know that about us. Why should this be any different?”

I take my seat again, wedged between Donkey on the bed, my heart pounding. Is this really happening? I think. Is it this easy to get what you want?

“So, who do I kiss first?” I say, barely able to believe I’ve let the words slip out, and feeling myself go red because of it. Kiss is the word on my lips, but there are plenty of other ones that follow that I don’t dare say but have dreamed of doing. I may look it at school, but I’m eighteen years old and not as innocent as everyone might believe. The only people who probably know just how naughty a mind I have are the two people sat right next to me.

I giggle and can feel my belly squirm and that area between my legs get hot. If it’s on a plate, why not take it? If these two amazing men do go away after the summer, I’m going to regret not taking what was always being offered.

Jack and Zach look at each other again.

“The first kiss should be at the prom”, Jack says, in a mock serious tone.

“Agreed”, Zach says. “That’ll give us time to decide who gets to go first.”

“I am the first born”, Jack says.

“But not the most attractive”, Zach counters.

“Guys?” I butt in. “That all sounds very chivalrous, but I hate to point out that it’s not the man that gets to choose.”

“Oh”, the twins say in chorus.

I shake my head.

“Then I guess there is nothing we can do”, Jack says.

“May the best man win”, Zach adds.

“This isn’t a competition, you know?” I point out.

“I wouldn’t mind if it was”, Jack says.

“As long as we both get to win”, Zach adds.

“You have already, just don’t fuck it up”, I say, and kiss them both on the cheek, Zach first.

I’ve waited what feels like a lifetime already, a few more days won’t matter too much. It’s nice to have a bit of control too, anticipation makes the whole thing ten times as good when it actually comes off.

“Don’t forget to tell your parents”, Jack says on his way out of the window, “I don’t want a shock when we turn up on Friday night for you.”

“Are you going to use the front door then?” I ask, only half joking.

“Come on, Jen”, Jack says, “We’re not entirely uncivilized.”

When I’m alone again, I can just about catch my breath. Jack and Zach Montgomery, the most eligible twins in the whole county, both taking me to the prom. I still can’t believe my luck, and I’m waiting for the catch.