Double Trouble

Chapter 16: Cover (Almost) Blown

Ethan and I sit hunched over the kitchen counter, doing our homework, when the doorbell rings. I race to open the door but not quick enough. Madelyn is already turning the doorknob much to my dismay. When the door swings open, I bury my face in my hands. Madelyn pops her gum loudly and then drops her jaw. There, standing in the doorway is my lovely twin sister holding hands with my ex-boyfriend. Oh, Madelyn's sister, too. Cover blown.

"Ayden Tyler?" Madelyn manages to exclaim. She closes her mouth suddenly when she realizes it's hanging wide open. "What are you doing here?"

"Madelyn, don't you have plans to spend the night over at Georgie's?" I interrupt. Skylar's eyes flick towards mine. "Remember?" Skylar's eyes dart from mine to Madelyn's. Madelyn's eyes flick from Skylar to me. Uh-oh. She's putting it together. I have to get her out of here. "Go! I'll cover for Mom and Dad. Go see Dylan, if you want."

"But I want to stay here, with Ayden Tyler," she wiggles her eyebrows.

"Obviously he brought his girlfriend here-so you needn't entertain him," I say, avoiding eye contact with Ayden, all the while shoving Madelyn out the door. Madelyn starts to protest, but I stop her. "Georgie is waitng for you. She called and texted. Look, your phone is ringing." As if on cue, sent by God himself, her iPhone starts blaring "Good Girls Gone Bad." 

"If you need me, call me. I'll be back in less than five minutes," she says. She flirts and bats her eyelashes towards Ayden. "Especially you, Ayden Tyler." She flips her blonde hair and waves good-bye and then disappears into the night. 

"What are you doing here?" I ask once Madelyn is out of earshot. 

"She wanted to see you," Ayden talks. I give him a look. "Hi, Jade." I stare wide-eyed at Skylar, who shrugs her shoulders. 

"I told him. I hope that's alright. You told Ethan so why can't I tell my boyfriend?" she shoots at me. Ouch. Okay, I deserved that one. After all, I swooped in and took the guy she has had a crush on since grade school. But she is dating my ex. 

"Hello, Ayden," I say flatly as I welcome the two in. "Glad to see you here." I roll my eyes as I turn over one shoulder to walk to the kitchen to rejoin Ethan. He gasps when he sees Skylar, but then goes directly to my side. 

"Hey Skye!" Ethan exclaims as he jumps up out of his seat. He stands there awkwardly, looking down at his feet. 

"I'm Ayden," he outstretches his hand. Ethan looks up to him. God, why did I ever compare Ayden and Ethan? Obviously Ethan is the better man but still...Ethan has to be a little intimidated by my ex. He knows Ayden and I dated. I'm worried that his confidence is shaken. 

"Ethan," he says as he cautiously takes Ayden's hand and shakes it. He drops it suddenly and turns his attention to Skylar. "We've been working on the twin theory tonight." I nod in agreement. 

"We haven't found much. But we found addresses-places my mom-I mean your mom went when she was supposed to be pregnant with you," I instruct, looking towards Ethan for approval. Skye looks over accordingly, and then takes a long sigh. 

"I only came here to help. I don't want to dive knee deep in and find something out about my family that's horrible and makes me hate them forever. I can't do that. I can't do that to my parents," she says nervously. Ayden squeezes her hand tightly, and kisses her forehead. I look down at my own hands awkwardly. 

"So far, we've only found birth certificates and old contacts of your parents," Ethan informs, "we haven't found any adoption records, but I have a strong feeling we will." I beam at him. He wraps one arm around me. I sneak a peek over towards Ayden and Skye, and their fingers continue to intertwine. "I think we should make a roadtrip tomorrow to these addresses. The farthest address away is in Seattle. It's pretty far-but fortunately for Jade and me, Spring Break is this coming week."