try so hard not to let it make me giddy, but I just can’t help it. I haven’t been flirted with for months—hell, maybe even years. It seems like a lifetime ago when Lucas used to flirty-banter with me like this.
When we’ve finished gorging ourselves, Theo signs to add the bill to our room, and then we head to the bar next door.
As we step in, my eyes instantly land on his twin. I’m momentarily startled when I discover they look exactly alike. They’re not just twins; they’re identical twins. I gasp, and my mouth drops open. When Theo said “twin brother,” I didn’t expect an actual body double. Damn, two of their hotness? It’s almost too much. Two killer smiles and those twinkling amber eyes? Jesus, their mother certainly outdid herself by creating not one, but two fine specimens in one go. I really should congratulate her on her achievement next time I see her.
My eyes rake over Jared as we walk over to him, and I can’t help but wonder how Amy chose between the two of them. If they look exactly alike, how can you fall in love with one and not the other? How would you know which one of them you wanted to be with and marry if they were exactly the same? It seems so weird. An impossible decision, surely.
Jared is standing in front of the bar, drinking a pint of beer, talking with two other guys. They all smile over at us as we step up next to them.
“Started without us?” Theo gives them all a handshake/chest-bump greeting and then introduces me to his brother Jared; his brother-in-law, Chris; and one of Amy’s best friends, Tim.
Jared’s handshake is a firm grip as he nods a hello to me, and Tim is grinning from ear to ear and already looks a tad drunk.
“Where’s the soon-to-be Mrs?” Theo asks Jared as he waves to get the barman’s attention.
“Causing mayhem, as usual.” Jared motions off to one side with his pint.
I notice that his eyes soften when he does, and a small, wistful smile twitches at the corner of his mouth when he looks at his fiancée. That’s what love looks like. It makes my heart ache.
I look over too. There are three women standing and laughing together. I pick out their sister, Emily, immediately. They all have the same shape to their noses and the same warm, rich brown shade to their hair. My eyes rake over the other two—one is tall, the other short. My eyes zero in on the tall one, and I nod in understanding. She’s gorgeous. Her make-up is on point, cheeks and nose contoured flawlessly. Long, shiny raven hair cascades around her face and down her back. A tight dark purple dress hugs her body to perfection, showing off long legs and a flat stomach.
Now, I know what Theo’s type is—stunning.
Theo grins and cups his mouth, shouting over the music playing in the background and the other people standing around the bar, talking. “Oi. Don’t I get a hello? Rude! I mean, I am the second-most-important man in the wedding, you know!”
The girls’ conversation stops immediately. His sister and the gorgeous model-like girl send him a wave. The other one, the short girl with the pale pink hair, beams and marches over excitedly; she’s all bouncy steps and flouncy arms. Her smile is radiant; it’s one of those contagious smiles that you can’t help but reciprocate. She’s wearing Converse, jean shorts, and a short-sleeved grey top that says, Warning: may contain alcohol. I already like her.
“Hey!” she greets, throwing her arms around Theo. As she pulls back, her eyes meet mine, and they sparkle excitedly. “Ahh, you must be Lucie! Oh, bloody hell, I still can’t believe you got stuck with this one in a lift for almost an hour. How did you not murder him?” she jokes, teasingly elbowing Theo in the stomach. “I would have done it if he’d basically guilt-tripped me into giving up my doughnuts.”
Theo chuckles and rolls his eyes, and Jared wraps his arm around the girl’s waist, gently pulling her to him. Her hand goes to his stomach, and she strokes absentmindedly, as if she can’t keep her hands off him, as he leans in and drops a kiss on the top of her head.
The metaphorical penny drops with a loud clang. This girl is Amy, not the tall, leggy girl with the perfect make-up and killer dress. No, this shorter, gorgeous, smiley girl