CHAPTER 8

Thirty-two days, five hours, and twenty minutes since that day.

My first weekend off from my new job, and I decided to cover for my boss who wanted to spend the day at home for his son’s birthday. The automotive store and garage didn’t open till 7 a.m., but here I was setting up everything much earlier than I had to.

My mom had bought a used car, which made life easier. Since I only had classes in the morning, I was able to work at the store in the afternoons and evenings. It allowed me to help my mother pay rent in our new apartment. The place was two blocks up from my aunt so I only had to take one bus to work.

I closed the safe and placed the money in the register to start the day. Soon the mechanics would be unlocking the garage for the first rush of oil changes and battery exchanges that usually hit the place in the morning.

The phone rang, but I didn’t answer it. The boss doesn’t do so until opening time. I slid my cellphone out my pocket to glance at the time, then traced my finger over the last text from Tristan. It was sent yesterday and was just a sad face.

I never answered. Even though, he sent one everyday. Sometimes just to say, “I miss you,” or “I’m so sorry”, or “Can we talk?”

Every time his name and text showed up, it was like I fell in love with him all over again.

That day I left I was so angry and hurt. The worst possible joke fate could play on me was to let me fall in love with someone and become the butt of a joke in the process. I bet his brother and him had great laughs over how needy and desperate I was. Now all I felt was sad and wanting. Like I’d walked away from the last piece of cake I’d ever had and I was starving. Even though, that cake was bad for me.

The bell rang. I looked up to see Phoebe. I’d gotten her a job at the store a few weeks ago. She’d helped me so much that first day I left Tristan. I’d see her and burst into tears. Phoebe wouldn’t say a word; she would hug me and rock me. For a while, I couldn’t even say his name, and Phoebe didn’t either. When the park closed for the summer, I’d offered her as a potential employee when the owner mentioned needing another hand. I knew her having the job would be a great help to her. But the main reason was, I needed a friend nearby. With going back to school, I found that I had become invisible. I didn’t have the energy to pursue new friendships that were superficial or based on how you dressed or what car you drove.

I pressed the button that unlocked the door. Phoebe burst in, smiling as always. “I had car trouble. Sorry I didn’t pick you up today.” She rushed to the wall behind me to put on her uniform apron.

“My mom dropped me off.” I closed the register drawer. Then, I picked up the basket of discarded merchandise to be placed back on the racks.

“Luckily my cutie showed up to give my car a jump. I’ve got to get one of the guys to look it over today.”

“Yeah, maybe my own car will be the next thing I save up for.” I shrugged then walked over to the door to flip the closed sign to open.

My hand froze.

It was him. Tristan standing in front of the door.

I swallowed, and he opened the door, making the sign slide from my fingers.

“Sorina.” His voice sounded hungry, desperate, scared as his gaze traveled over my face.

I stepped back, needing space. Breathing slowly so I wouldn’t be able to control the urge I had to wrap my arms around him.

“What…are you doing here?” My eyes started to water.

“I uh, I owed you your last paycheck.”

“Oh, I…” I had no words. Nothing came out.

He bit his lip, and dug his fingers through his longer, curlier hair. Then grasped my hand, placing a wad of cash in it. “I’ll be back to pick you up when you get off.” Tristan gave me a hesitant smile, then pivoted away.

I watched him walk down the sidewalk, to his car. He didn’t turn back, but his shoulders were straight, indicating he was fighting the urge to.

“Wow! That’s Tristan?” Phoebe exclaimed behind me. “He’s gorgeous. Why’d you break up with him again?”

I sighed, and closed the door. “I wasn’t his girlfriend, but apparently he and his twin brother like to play jokes on girls. They make you fall in love with them both by pretending to be each other. Mean, cheap, trick.”

Phoebe shrugged. “If his brother is as fine as he is, I can see how easy it would be to fall in love with both of them.” Phoebe pulled me back from the door.

The store phone rang again, I marched over to it and picked it up. “Hello, Joe’s Auto store and shop, can I help you?”

“Yeah, this is Tatum Moore, can I speak to a girl named Sorina?”

This had to be a joke. Was Tristan pretending to be his brother?

Phoebe stared at me questioning. I placed my hand over the receiver. “Phoebe, this guy says he’s Tatum Moore, Tristan’s twin.”

Phoebe pursed her lips and grabbed the phone. “Look, this is no joke, if you really are Tatum and your brother’s name is Tristan ‘More-than-one-girl should handle’, then show up here in eight hours when Tristan comes back and say what you’ve got to say to Sorina. Until then, leave her alone.” With that Phoebe hung up and turned to me with a grin.

“Why’d you do that?” I crossed my arms in front of me.

“Closure. You need it. Otherwise you’ll keep walking around here looking like someone ripped your heart out.”

***

The day went by with a blur. I was so thankful there were a lot of customers. It stopped me from thinking about what would happen when Tristan and his brother showed it. Every time the bell over the door rang, I jumped and forced myself not to stop what I was doing and turn towards it.

This time was no different. I gave in and pivoted towards the door while I placed my uniform apron on the hook behind the register.

Phoebe said, “See you later.”

But I just stared. The guy walking through the door wasn’t Tristan. I just knew it. In my heart. However, he resembled him, but had a stockier build with shorter hair.

Tatum’s eyes narrowed. “Sorina?”

I frowned. “Yeah?”

“I’m Tatum, can we talk?” His lips were firm, his eyes hard.

I shrugged. “Sure, outside, near the parking lot.” I pushed past him, not waiting to see if he followed. Once I got to row of cars, I turned, with my hands on my hips.

“Thanks for taking the time to let me clear things up.” He put his hands in his jeans pocket.

I spied his neck, just below the opening in his shirt and noted the burn scar. Then I lifted my eyes to his questioning gaze. “So, you and your brother play that trick often? Try to see how long it takes the girl to realized she’s been smooched by two different guys who happen to be twin brothers.”

He sighed. “No. It was me who was playing the trick. I’m sorry. It cost me what little friendship I had left with him.”

“I don’t understand how that’s my problem.”

“It’s not. It’s my fault. Just let me explain.” His eyes fluttered closed as though he was trying to regain composure. “That day in the park, Tristan told me there was this beautiful girl in line. He hardly did that – at least in the last year. After all we’ve been through, he tried hard to be the straight arrow guy. He wanted to focus on making something of himself and sort of swore off girls for a while.”

“So you wanted to make him want me more, by turning the attention of someone he was interested in –to you? I don’t understand how a brother could do that.”

“It was low, but I wanted to taunt him, show him what he was missing. I wanted him to take a chance and go for something he wanted. To teach him that if he missed the opportunity, someone else would snatch it.” He cleared his voice and glanced away. “Also, at the same time, I wanted to make my girlfriend break up with me.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Telling her you wanted it to be over would’ve worked better, I think.”

“I know now it would’ve, but I never like telling the girl it’s over.”

“Why? Oh, because it takes a real man to be able to do that. You and your brother are just players, pretending to be grown up. Or pretending to be each other while stomping on the hearts of the girls you play on?”

“Whoa! Don’t include Tristan with my crap. This is me. I did it. I screwed things up. He went back to the park when he’d worked up the courage to talk to you. He told me then that he still wanted to pursue you.”

“Oh thanks.”

“No!” Tatum grasped my arm as I twisted away.

I stared at his hand, and he removed it like I’d burned him.

Clearing his throat, Tatum continued, “He cared about you. He wanted to tell you everything sooner, but I warned him not to. For once, he listened to me. And I’d screwed him over again.”

“It doesn’t matter. Tristan should’ve told me. Even after all that’s happened, I don’t know if I can be friends with him. It hurts too bad, and I’m getting really tired of being trampled on. I don’t want to be his, or your, fool again.”

“I understand. Just, give him a chance to show you how great a guy he is. And for what it’s worth, my day with you was one of the best I’ve had in a long time. My brother’s lucky to have you, if you’d give him a chance.”

“Not happening. Handing my heart over again to get trampled isn’t something I am ready to do.”

“Well, my girlfriend is getting ready to leave. I have to go, but if my brother shows up, just talk to him.” His eyes pleaded with me. “Please.”

Tatum turned and got in the car waiting for him.