“Because there are two of us,” the McCarthy boys say, sticking their tongues out in unison. Tobias sits on my right side and snags a snack-sized bag of popcorn.
“How long are you guys going to do this twin thing?” I ask, genuinely curious. Tobias meets my look and raises an eyebrow. “I mean, like the talking in unison thing, or … the dating in unison thing.”
“We want to marry the same girl,” they say, and it's my turn to raise my brows.
“Isn't that, like, illegal?” I ask as Spencer retrieves the complimentary bottle of Ketel One vodka and some juice to mix with it. He then snatches the ice bucket up and heads for the hall.
“Only if you both try to get marriage licenses.” Tobias shrugs, and then smiles, looking down at his lap. “We just work better when we're together. The way we did things in the past … ripped us apart.”
“And besides,” Micah adds, yawning and then pulling his shirt over his head. He tosses it onto the floor like he's about to get cozy up in my room. I remember thinking that the twins were almost alarmingly comfortable at Dad's house, like they take over everything without even realizing it. This time, however, I can actually observe them, take it all in, without worrying about Spencer. “Monogamy is dead. Look what it did to our parents? No, thank you.”
“Have you ever tried dating identical twins?” I ask, and I swear, both boys cringe.
“We have,” they say, and then Tobias exchanges a look over his shoulder with his brother.
“We hate twins, to be honest,” Micah says, turning to look at me, and shrugging one, sexy, perfect shoulder. His cherry tattoo draws my eye, and then it's a downhill slide from there as I check out the bulging shapes of his biceps, the flatness of his chest, the way his gray sweats are riding down and flashing those gorgeous lower abs.
Good god, I'm a thirsty bitch, I think, turning back to the door as Spencer comes in with ice.
“Why do you hate twins?” I ask, and he chuckles.
“They're too much by themselves. You think they can handle another set of their own bullshit? Trust me: they're much better off this way.” Spencer plops some cubes into my cup and then mixes me up a drink, handing it over with a smirking little smile on his beautiful face. His beautiful, definitely-not-dead face.
“We've dated a pair of identical twins before. It’s just tiresome,” Tobias says, narrowing his green eyes slightly. “Have you seen that reality show where the two identical twin women marry the two identical twin men? It's a fucking train wreck. That's what it was like.”
“So you'd rather share a girlfriend then?” I ask, downing my drink so quick that I end up with a nice little buzz. It makes me feel bolder, braver. I lean back on the bed, laying my head on Micah's flat stomach. His fingers dance in my hair, and I shiver.
“Much rather,” he says, giving the sun-bleached locks a tug. “Dude, you look so different. I mean, I know we've been doing the video chat thing, but I swear, I barely recognized you when you walked outside.”
I flash a grin as Ranger sits beside Church on the chaise and accepts a drink from Spencer.
“I've been living in the sun,” I admit, sighing and closing my eyes. It's been a long day, and I'm happily sated, buzzing and wrapped in the safety of friends. I could fall asleep right now. Instead, I force my eyes open. No way am I letting this perfect moment slip away just yet. “I'll have to take you guys surfing sometime soon.”
“Spencer will probably beef it hard, and end up dead,” Tobias says, letting his friend punch him playfully on the shoulder. It's nice to see them back to their usual selves. The last thing I'd ever want to do is break this group up.
“Please.” Spencer snorts and rolls his eyes, taking a swig directly from the vodka bottle. “You'll be lucky if you can stand up on the board.”
“Make a bet out of it?” Tobias goads as Ranger tosses a Minnie Mouse cookie across the room, nailing Micah perfectly in the center of his chest with it. He comes to with a snort, and I realize that I'm not the only one falling asleep.
“Let's figure out the room arrangements, so we can get this luggage moved,” Ranger says, rising to his feet and stretching.
“Tweedledum over there is already passed-out,” Spencer says, turning his attention from Micah to me. “If it's okay with Charlotte, the McCarthy dicks can stay tonight.”
I open my mouth to protest, but then I remember the conversation we had at the rest stop, the hurt on Tobias' face when I refused to kiss him, the lecture I got from Micah.
