Best Laid Plans

Coming Clean

Perrie

I've settled into married life with Jade. I mean fine, it's been a week. But a really good week. Things are going well.

And things are about to get even better, because I've got an incoming call from Peyton and I'm sure she's going to tell me she nailed that job interview in New York, which means I can finally stop lying to her. Well, I haven't really lied, have I? I've just omitted a lot of information. Let's go with that. Also, I didn't invite her to my wedding. But it was an elopement, let's all keep that in mind before anyone nominates me for the worst sister ever. I exhale and answer the call.

"Peyton! How did it go? Did you get the job? Are you moving to New York? Tell me everything!" This is how I say hello. When you're a twin sometimes you just skip past the formalities.

"Perrie!" Peyton laughs into the phone, and I can already hear it in her voice. She's happy, happier than I've heard her in far too long.

"You got the job!" I'm so excited I bounce on the sofa I'm sharing with Tubbs-McGee. The movement awakens him, and he yawns then reaches over with his paw to request a head scratch.

"I did! But I turned it down."

"Peyton, what the hell?" I look to Tubbs-McGee for moral support because what the hell? Tubbs-McGee slow-blinks his disdain because obviously, he's on my side.

"I can explain! It's fine. It's great even. Wait, where do I start?" I can picture her so clearly. I'm positive she's bouncing her knees or walking in circles trying to determine where she should start this story.

"Perrie, I have something important to tell you," she finally says in a rush, a huge exhale at the end.

"Okay. Lay it on me."

"I think you're going to get fired."

"From what?" Seriously, what is she even talking about? I scratch Tubbs-McGee behind his ears and kick back on the couch.

"What do you mean from what? From your job with Sunshine Travels!"

"Oh, that." Damn, I already forgot I used to work there. "I already resigned. Also, I don't care. Now can we focus on why you turned down a perfect job in New York?"

"Perrie!"

"What?"

"What do you mean you resigned? That was a great job. Why did you make me impersonate you on that tour if you were just going to quit?" I can picture her clearly now, too. She's likely narrowed her eyes and bitten her bottom lip while she contemplates what I'm up to. It's a look I'm familiar with.

"Peyton, can we focus on what any of this has to do with you flying to New York for a job interview and then turning it down?"

"Oh, well, as you know the interview was with Sunshine Travels."

"Oh my god, Peyton. What did you do? Were you so plagued by your need to be good that you confessed what we did mid-interview? No one knew! It was the perfect twin switcheroo." Ugh. She tries my patience sometimes.

"No, I did not," she retorts like the idea of tattling is so offensive to her. I've got a handful of examples from our childhood that would prove otherwise. "It turns out that the guy I met on the trip is the CEO of the parent company that owns Sunshine Travels."

I let that sink in for a moment. That's actually the funniest thing I've ever heard but I'm not sure Peyton's ready to hear that. I mean, seriously. What are the odds? That the CEO of the company goes all Undercover Boss on the one trip in which I switch place with my identical twin? I try not to laugh.