scary but not entirely surprising since we’re so much alike. “I’ll remember that as I’m about to piss myself.”
My mother rolls her eyes. “You’re ridiculous. Now, go sit by your woman and leave us old people be.”
I glance over toward the table and catch Arlo’s eye. She smiles, her entire face lighting up as she looks at me.
“Go,” Gram says, pushing me toward Arlo. “I have to get dessert ready. Leave the women be.”
“You mean you have gossip to share. You know it’s not about the cake,” Dad says, earning himself a single raised eyebrow from my grandmother.
“Oh boy,” Aunt Angel says as I walk away, leaving him to get his ass handed to him by the women in the family.
“Hey,” Rocco says, catching me before I make it to the table. “You okay?”
I let out a breath. “I just got hijacked by Mom, Gram, Aunt Fran, and Aunt Angel about putting a ring on Arlo’s finger.”
He laughs. “Welcome to the special type of hell, but trust me, even once you do it, it doesn’t get better. Then they start about the babies.”
“Already figured that out.”
“We’ve entered a whole new level,” he says.
“Bound to happen eventually.”
“You going to ask her?”
“Of course, but she may say no.”
He tips his head back and laughs before slapping his big meaty hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “She isn’t going to say no.”
“I don’t think so either, but damn, what if she does?”
“She won’t.”
“But…”
He shakes his head. “I’m telling you, she won’t, and I’m never wrong.”
“You’re always wrong,” I say with a hint of laughter.
“I never thought you’d find someone to make you happy, but I can sense a calmness and serenity I haven’t seen in you for over a decade.”
“It’s been a long road.”
“Tell me about it. I didn’t think we’d ever get past that day.”
“But we did,” I tell him. “Somehow.”
“That’s what the love of a good woman does,” he says, squeezing my shoulder one more time before dropping his hand back to his side. “I want to be the first one to know when you ask her.”
“As soon as I tell her I love her.”
He raises his face toward the ceiling and shakes his head. “He’s a dope.”
“I didn’t want to rush things.”
“Still a dope. Do it tonight and stop being a pussy.”
“No talking about this in the chat or to anyone. You hear? They all talk, and I don’t want Arlo to get wind of this through a group text message.”
“I’ll spread the word.”
“Don’t spread shit,” I tell him. “I’m serious. Not a freaking word to anyone.”
“You better make it quick then because you told the Gallo family party line between Gram, Fran, and Mom.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, knowing he’s right. “I’ll do it tonight.”
“Smart man. You got this,” he says, being supportive as he always is.
There’s something special about having a twin. Something very few people will ever understand. Our bond is solid and strong, a link that can never be severed, no matter what happens. He is the one person I know will always be in my life, but now I know there’s another one…Arlo.
24
I’ve paced a path in the hardwood floor for the last hour as Arlo typed away on her laptop, begging me to give her some time to finish her novel. She’s been working nonstop every moment I’m not around to type The End. I am proud of her and everything she’s accomplished, something most people would never even try to do.
“I did it. Oh. My. God. I did it,” she says, walking into the living room, holding the pile of papers about two inches thick. “It’s finished.” She places the stack on the table before hurling herself into my arms and wrapping her legs around my middle.
“I’m so proud of you,” I tell her, holding her tight and spinning us around in a circle to celebrate. “You’re amazing, Arlo. Truly amazing.”
She leans back, staring me straight in the eyes as her hands grab my face, planting a giant kiss on my lips. “I love you,” she blurts out, saying it like it’s something we’ve said to each other a million times.
“I love you too,” I reply, and her eyes widen as the power and weight of my words finally hit her.
“You do?” she asks, her voice soft and quiet.
“I have for a while now, babe. I love you more than anything.”
She peppers my face with kisses before planting a long, deep one straight on my lips. I walk backward, her body attached to