The more he spoke, the more confused I became. When he spoke of Tiffany’s sister, there was admiration peppered throughout his sentences. And it didn’t make sense if Tiffany was so horrible to her sister, why would he be friends with her.
But I didn’t say anything. I just continued to listen and wait for something that would eventually make sense of all this. “As I’m sure you know, Tiffany can be a bit…nasty to everyone. And I mean everyone. She’s completely ruthless, which is probably how she got all of this to begin with.” Dave mimicked me from a few minutes ago, waving his hand around in show of Tiffany’s life.
“Aren’t you and Tiffany best friends?”
“I’m getting to that.” He held up one finger and took another swig from his beer. “I’m not saying that everyone despises Tiffany, but let’s just say I’ve never met a single person who actually likes her for more than her looks, money, or fame. Whereas, her sister is loved by anyone who crosses her path.”
If he kept this up, I wouldn’t have any beer left. I just kept drinking while becoming more and more confused. It was a very complicated riddle, and there was no way I’d figure out the answer if he kept confusing me.
I was mid gulp when he said, “Which is crazy because they’re identical twins.”
The beer that I had in my mouth spewed all over Dave. Poor Dave. But I couldn’t apologize because I was too busy choking on the liquid that had started to make its way down my throat half a second before his untimely admission.
Twin? Identical?
One was fun and loving while the other was hateful?
My mind began to whirl with questions and possibilities and even more questions. The very first time I ever met Tiffany, she was vile and rude and disgustingly intolerable, unlike anyone I’d ever met. But over the last two weeks, she was nice and enjoyable to be around—well, minus the barbecue. It had seemed like she’d suffered from a split personality disorder. Split as in two entirely different traits.
I had assumed that it was all an act. And it was, just not the way I thought.
Then it hit me. “Is her sister’s name Tosh?”
“Tasha, but yeah, everyone calls her Tosh.” Dave finished wiping the dribble off his face with his T-shirt. “How did you know?”
“You sent her a box. It came to my sister’s house by accident, so I brought it over. I noticed the name on the front, and when I asked her about it, she gave me some ridiculous explanation about her name being Tosh-iffany or something like that.”
Dave laughed. It was the first time since I showed up that his expression relaxed.
“So that’s Tosh?” I asked, pointing to the house. “Where’s Tiffany?”
“That I can’t tell you. You see, we’re legally silenced by these non-disclosure agreements we signed. We can’t tell anyone anything. It’s just a lucky break that you figured it out all on your own.” He was good; I could tell why they were best friends.
“Where is she?”
“More than likely upstairs putting on dry clothes or crying in the shower—it’s a toss-up. You should probably go find out.”
Without another word, only a quick nod of appreciation, I ran into the house and took the stairs two at a time. My purpose for coming here had originally been to explain why I had pushed her away. But now, I had an entirely different purpose.
I had no idea what room she was in, but I figured I’d try every single one until I found her. Now that I knew the partial truth, desperation urged me to find her. After discovering three rooms empty, I came across one with the door closed. Without a second thought, I flung it open, my gaze landing upon what I was looking for.
Tiffany—well, Tasha—spun on her heel to face me, and as soon as it registered who was in front of her, her puffy eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She was dressed, though, from the looks of it, it seemed as though she had literally just slipped the ratty T-shirt over her head. The Nirvana logo on the front made me smile.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, snapping me out of the awe I’d fallen into at the mere sight of her.
I crossed the room, saying, “I came for you, Tasha.” As soon as her name slipped off my tongue, I already had her face in my hands and my lips millimeters from hers. And then I silenced her surprised gasp by claiming her mouth with mine.
It was the kind of kiss I’d longed for back at my place, but I wasn’t allowed to have it. But now, nothing could stop me. I had no clue where any of this would go, but at least I didn’t have the worry of a fiancé, paparazzi, or fame running me off.
After a kiss that didn’t feel long enough, she carefully pushed against my chest, breaking our embrace. Yet she didn’t back away. Instead, she dropped her head back and gazed up at me. “How did you find out?”
“What can I say, I’m a good guesser.”
“Yeah, right. That’s not something you just guess. Did Dave tell you?” Concern lined her eyes, likely for the legal troubles that it could cause her best friend.
“I didn’t tell him anything,” Dave said from behind me.
Without loosening our embrace, I shimmied to the side so we could both see him.
He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, one foot over the other, and a Cheshire grin plastered on his face. “All I did was tell him that Tiffany has a sister. There’s nothing in the silence agreement that states I can’t discuss her family members.”
She glanced up at me again. “And you somehow figured out that I was the sister?”
“Well…” Dave continued. “I might’ve also told him
