His brother cuts him a glare. He shakes his head once, so slightly I almost miss it.
“Fuck.” He slings back in his seat with a huff. Gripping the steering wheel tighter with both hands, he pulls through the quiet intersection nearing the center of Seaside.
The next few minutes pass in a stiff silence. Bringing my knees up, I hug the red and gray flannel button-up around my legs and waist as I stare out the window.
As we pull up to another stop sign, Brendan glances at his brother. Breckin shrugs. Next thing I know, we’re turning away from our houses and pulling into a small coffee shop drive-thru.
“What can I get you, Little Girl?” Brendan asks, waiting behind a few cars in line.
“Um, a chai latte. Thank you.” I hug my legs as the tension dissipates again.
After Brendan orders my tea, a large black coffee for himself, and an espresso with oat milk for Breckin, I glance between the two of them again.
They’ve barely said two words to each other all morning. Even last night, it was just a look, a nod.
“How do you do that?”
“Gonna have to be more specific, hon.”
“That whole no talking, telepathy thing. It’s weird.”
“We’re twins.” Brendan shrugs, passing me my hot chai.
“Yeah, ‘cause that explains so much.” I blow through the little hole in my cup’s lid a few times as I breathe in the cinnamon spiced awesomeness.
Breckin shrugs one shoulder, taking a sip of his drink. “We’ve lived with each other for thirty-one years. Most of that time, it’s been just us. We’ve honestly never been separated for more than a month. So, now we don’t need a lot of words to tell what we’re thinking or feeling.”
“You’ve seriously never spent more than a month apart?”
Brendan laughs, but it’s hollow. “That's the part that stuck with you?”
“But, like, never? How is that even possible?”
“Well, obviously Ken Doll here can’t stay away from me ‘cause I’m that amazing. And let’s face it, he’d be lost without me.”
I’m still laughing by the time we park in their driveway. Brendan yanks open my door, picks me up, then spins me out before placing my feet on the driveway without spilling a single drop of my tea.
“Your chariot has arrived, safe and sound as promised, my princess.”
Breckin comes around to my side, grabbing my hand as they lead me to my house. “I hope you had a good time.” His voice wavers, a hesitancy hiding behind his smile.
“I did. Thank you.” Reaching up on my toes, I place a quick kiss on his lips.
“I hope that means we can go out again soon?”
“Not soon,” Brendan states from my other side, “tonight?” His blue eyes peer into mine as we stop in front of my back door.
“We’ll plan something. Dinner?”
Their eyes are hopeful as they both wait for my answer.
“Like out on a date?”
“Little Girl, if you want to go out, we’ll take you out. Hell, I’d rent a jet and fly you halfway around the world if that’s what you want. But,” he leans closer, the bulge in his pants pressing against my stomach, “make no mistake, tonight’s ending with both of us inside you.”
I suck in a breath, the air turning thick between us. “I . . . Uh . . .” My words fail. Thoughts fail. Even my body refuses to move.
Leaning down, Brendan slides my hat off my head, runs his fingers through my hair, then kisses me. It’s demanding, all consuming, but stops far too early. “Get whatever work you need done today out of the way early. You’re gonna be busy tonight.”