Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (books to read in a lifetime txt) 📗

She cleared her throat sitting up straight, glad now for herchoice in words when answering her dad’s inquiry tonight. Not only had this poorguy been cornered into having dinner with her entire family less than a weekafter their first kiss, but he’d also just admitted it’s something he’d neverdone. Likely because meeting, having dinner and being threatened by the littlefreshman’s daddy was the last thing he’d expected he’d be dealing with this soon,if ever.

“Yeah, uh . . .” She pulled a strand of hair behind her ear asshe glanced out the window. “My parents tend to jump the gun a bit. I told youthey can be very overprotective.”

“Duly noted.” He turned to her as they came to a stop. “You okaywith hanging out at my place or you feel like going somewhere else?”

She smiled feeling the butterflies inside begin to swarm. “Yourplace is fine.”

As soon as they were out of his car, Byron came around it, tookher hand, pulled her to him and nearly took her legs out with a knee weakingkiss. How in the world could someone be so good at this?

Practically in a daze when he finally pulled away and took herface in his hands, Vannah inhaled deeply gazing into those probing eyes. “Howmany friends do you do this with, Savannah?”

Feeling her eyes widen, her mind was suddenly racing. Was this atrick question? Would it freak him out if she told him the truth? That she’dnever even been kissed by a man. Boys yes, back in high school but thatdidn’t even compare.

“I, uh.” She cleared her throat willing the right answer to cometo her as his hardening eyes searched hers. “None. L-like I told my parents.I’ve been focusing on school and I’ve been swamped with homework so—”

“Look, I don’t have an issue with you wanting to focus onschool.” He pressed his lips together for a moment. “It’s what you shouldbe doing. But there’s no point in me trying to hide it anymore so I wanna getthis straight right now. Clearly, I will have issue with seeing you doing thiswith any of your other friends.” Despite making an effort not to, hereyes widened at his outright admission. “Don’t get me wrong,” he added quickly,the resolute tone softening a bit. “I’m all for us just having fun. I stayreally busy anyway. This past week was a perfect example of that. The onlydowntime I had I spent talking and video chatting with you. It’s just that . ..” For the first time since he’d begun to address this, he glanced away lookinga little . . . unsure? Bringing his eyes back to her, he took a deep breath. “It. . . it wasn’t a good feeling, okay? I know it’s only been a week and I’m not evensure how to explain it but—”

“I get it,” Vannah finally jumped in to let him off the hook.“The text you sent yesterday.” She swallowed hard willing away the emotion shefelt every time she remembered. “About your overnight date this week stung alittle.”—Laughable understatement if one had ever been uttered— “Especiallyafter hearing you say you missed me too.”

He wrapped his arms around her embracing her firmly. “I’m sorryabout that. But it was only because of what I thought I’d seen.”

After explaining further that since hearing about her otherfriends then thinking it was her he’d seen, he just assumed she’d easily founda replacement for lunch. They started into the shop and up to his apartment. Butthe subject wasn’t dropped. Despite his making it clear that he wasn’t okaywith others in the mix and that he’d return the favor, Vannah would be mindfulof the fact that he’d once again reiterated that he didn’t have time for morethan having fun. But she was too far gone now to have the power to pull back. Aslong as she didn’t have to hear about or see him with anyone else while theywere having fun, she could live with this arrangement.

As soon as they were in the kitchen, Byron pulled her to himagain and shook his head, his expression softening to a smirk. “Seriously,isn’t telling someone your sister is your identical twin one of the firstthings you do when you get to know them?” Vannah winced in remorse hoping he’dunderstand and not think her petty. “I mean you spoke of your sister enoughthis past week, isn’t revealing she’s your twin seem like something pertinentyou would’ve mentioned.”

Taking a deep breath, Vannah decided it was time to explain. “Ialways have. It was only when Nena announced that she was skipping out on herfirst semester of college that I decided maybe it wouldn’t be the first thingI’d reveal about myself to everyone I met here. My whole life I’ve been onehalf of The Twins. Anytime someone asks about us or refers to us it’salways, how are The Twins? Will The Twins be there? Not Nena or Vannah or even Siennaor Savannah. Nena loves blowing people’s minds by telling them she has a sisterwho looks exactly like her, but then she’s always been the outgoing moreinteresting one.”

“Who said that?” he asked with a frown.

“Well, not in all those words. But I know what the quieter, moretimid, brainier one translates into.”

“You know what’s crazy?” He peered down at her. “Even before Iknew you had a twin and I saw your sister at the gym, I thought my mind wasplaying games on me because I knew something was off. You have the same laughbut it’s still different somehow.”

“Let me guess,” Vannah said refraining from rolling her eyes.“Hers is sexy while mine is sweet. It wouldn’t be the first time I heard that.Which of those two words is the more alluring?”

“Hands down sweet,” he said immediately. “Your sweet laugh is thefirst thing I noticed about you at my brothers signing. It’s what first caughtmy attention before you completely sucked me in that first week when I couldn’tget enough of talking to you—couldn’t stop thinking of what kissing you did tome—and I’ll tell you what else. Don’t tell your