Stuck Between Bad Brothers

Chapter 2

Jolene goes stone-still and I'm right there with her. Lindsay is the one to say "Here! Here!" and I hardly know what's going on when Lindsay grabs Jo's arms and tugs her through the line, the sea of people parting to make way for us. Eyes glare with jealously and envy and lips part to ask other people who we are. It's like a taste of being famous.

Jo is shaking. It makes me want to laugh and cry and kiss her, and I would probably do all three if it weren't for the boys. Ethan, or the one who I think is Ethan, must have changed. He does have blue hair, like Lindsay said, but it's just two streaks at the front of his messy dark hair. Besides that in the jacket, it's the same jeans and same smile. He winks at me and then bend down to hug my sister.

When he hugs her, I glance between him and the other brother. They're identical. No doubt about it. The face, the bodies... it unparalleled. Like a clone. The only way I could tell them apart is the hair. Ethan's is messy with the blue streaks and Grayson's is shaved short on the sides and spiked in the front. His hair is highlighted blonde.

"Hey," Grayson says. He smirks and I almost lose my footing. It says a lot considering I'm on flat solid ground and that I looked at his twin brother, but didn't feel this way. It's his aura. He's got one ear priced with a hoop through it and a barbell through the cartilage, tattoos of geometric shapes on his fingers, and his eyes are the most brilliant green I've ever seen. I blink, wondering if they're contacts. They look so real.

"Hi," I say stupidly. He puts his arms around me and squeezes, and I'm about to protest, to explain that I'm not a fan, that I don't even know him, when my body relaxes under the weight of him. His body is lean with muscle and I haven't remember feeling a man's hug in years. Melody lives alone and never brings guys home. My dad died when I was six from lung cancer.

"What's your name?" Grayson asks.

At the exact same time Ethan says, "Vee. Sorry I ran off."

I bite my lip to keep from laughing. This can't be happening. "Sorry for insulting you and calling whatever it is that you do talentless," I say. I should stop there, but my mouth keeps going, the way it does when I'm nervous. "Not that I take it back, but I would never have said it to your face if I knew it was you."

SHUP UP, VEE. I command. I have a real way with words around any boys, let alone ones as good-looking as these twins. If it weren't bad enough that there's two of them. Two sets of eyes and hands and lips to make me nervous. They're standing in front of me, neither of them are breaking the eye contact. Attention, even attention like this, is not my forte.

Grayson sees Lindsay and Jo waiting and starts to focus his attention on them. I stare at the way he takes Jolene's hand, the way his grin is so easy and automatic, the way he gives her his undecided attention like she deserves it. She smiles at him and I hear her tiny voice say in my head. I want Grayson. Now I understand why.

Ethan clears his throat and tuns a hand through the blue waves of his hair. "Good to know. Anyway, considering that you're not a fan of mine, but I'm a real fan of your work," he says, tapping his elbow, "can I get your number?"

Grayson looks up from signing Jo's shoe, and for some reason, I look down at the same time. He doesn't say anything, but there's a slight scowl in the lines of his face and for another reason I can't understand, I think he wants me to say no. The thought comes from nowhere with no evidence besides my gut. But I can tell. He wants me to turn his brother down.

Grayson and I don't know each other. I'm not deluding myself into believing he wants me for himself,. Anyone can see the difference between me and these boys. They're premium wrapped chocolate and I'm a sack of potatoes. That's not a ride on myself or my confidence or anything. It's just life, and unlike Lindsay who believes in marrying up the celebrity food chain, I've come to terms with the fact that it won't ever happen. The Ugly Duckling and Cinderella are stories for a reason.