Falling For The Wrong Twin

Cake

Maverick

Barbara let out a loud sniffle, staring into space for what stretched like a minute.

She wiped away the tears that pearled at the corners of her eyes. “I’d been isolating myself for months after a rough breakup. My friends practically dragged me out to a party. Then I saw you. Our eyes met, and sparks flew between us. I was wearing a dusty rose-colored dress that night. You told me the color blended perfectly with my skin.”

"I wore that same color today. Wore this bikini for you but you wouldn't even look at me..." She dragged in a shaky breath. "I'm tired of these stupid games. Dread where this is escalating to. Tired of you watching her in a way you never did with me—like she's a dessert you can't wait to have melting on your tongue,"

"One part of me thinks that you are doing all of this to get a reaction from me. But you kissed her and I don't even know what to think anymore. Let's just end this..."

Her gaze drifted towards me.

"Tell me you want me,” she whispered. “Apologize for reporting me to the cops. Then, I'll forgive you, cancel the wedding with Robert,"

A sadistic smile cracked my lips.

To think that I believed I had escaped Barbara and her madness, until she showed up at the ski resort—her arm linked with dad’s—as she introduced herself as his girlfriend.

Then my smile faded, eyes darkening on her. “You are insane. Anyone who overheard this bullshit would think we were exes. Getting a reaction out of you? Why would I bother when you’re not even important to me?”

Her lips pressed in a tight smile that definitely hurt.

I leaned forward, leveling her with a stare. "This whole revenge thing only makes you more miserable with each passing day. Imagine going this far to prove a point to me and the worst part, I don't even care,”

“My offer still stands. Meet with my therapist and book a session with him,"

Therapy.

Her trigger word.

That image of a wronged and heartbroken woman vanished into nothing.

A storm rolled through her eyes, building slowly, small as her bottom lip quaked. That horrible temper was resurfacing again and in one swift movement, she swiped the plate with the cake on it to the floor, the harsh sound echoing through the space.

Whenever Barbara wasn't in her psycho element, she could actually be the sweetest.

"Therapy? You are the one driving me insane and you think that you get to throw the word around like that?” her voice was rising.

“I’m not crazy! Call whatever we had that night casual but it was more than that to me. The aftercare, the calls to make sure I got home safely. I could rant to you about anything on the phone and you'll listen,”

"That isn't casual to me and no one treats their partner from a one-night stand like that!”

"We obviously have chemistry and you have to be short-sighted to not be open to the idea of exploring it!"

I smiled. "Chemistry? No. That was a disaster in the making,”

“All the things you mentioned are perfectly normal to me. It’s not my fault you’ve had bad experiences with men and started misinterpreting every act of care as some hidden declaration of affection. Seek therapy!”

Barbara tilted her head, her eyes holding mine. “Maverick, you do realise that the moment I walk down that aisle and say yes to your dad, you’ll lose me forever,”

That was the whole point. To never see her again. And because Barbara knew that all too well, she made it impossible. So, she inserted herself into my life, to prove a point that I could never avoid her.

“Are you threatening me with a good time?”

Her jaw tightened.

I straightened. “I heard your dad and your brothers have no plan of attending your wedding. If you ever need someone to walk you down the aisle. You know where to find me,”

Fire blazed in her eyes as she grabbed a fistful of cake, mashed it in her hand, and hurled it straight at my chest.

“I hope you have a panic attack on that day!”

I stared down at the mess smeared across my chest, dipping my finger into the cream and bringing it to my tongue. “Mmm…Vanilla. My favorite,”

Before she could walk away, I called out. “Barbara Giovanni,”

She spun, tears already pouring down her cheeks.

This time, I fixed her with a stern stare. “The next time you blow up my phone with threatening messages, I’ll file for a restraining order. And you know what that means—cancelled wedding. You also know Robert isn’t the kind of man who would let something like that slide.”

She cut in. “I know. I don't need you to remind me,”

“Good. Then stay away from me. And stay away from Gia, too. This attempt at becoming close friends with her? Don’t. There’s no need to pretend you like her when we both know you don’t.”

Barbara scoffed, spun on her heels and stormed out.

My gaze settled back on the mess on my chest, a hiss leaving my mouth.

Now, how do I clean this up?

“The f**k” I cussed under my breath.

I found Gia sitting next to the pool. I had to get in the shower after getting rid of the mess Barbara made on my chest. She had her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, her focus fixed on the laptop balanced across her thighs as her fingers drummed against the keyboard.

“What are you doing?”

I dropped a cup of coffee beside her. “Writing” she said without lifting her gaze.

“Writing what?”

“A good girl's guide to murder”

“Doesn't that book exist already?

“Mine is different. Mine is about a million ways to kill a certain man called Maverick,” She shut the laptop, shooting me a glare. “I’m mad at you!”

I lounged on the poolside chair, a smile stretching my lips. “What rights do you have to be mad, Gia? I gave you a condition, you didn't follow it and—”

A shriek broke off from a distance, cutting off my words, my head snapping up. Mitch had his arms wrapped around a sobbing Vivienne who tried to wiggle her way out.

Gia set her laptop aside, rising to her feet. “Oh my God…what is this about again?”

“Does this happen very often?”

“You don't even want to know,”

Then Mitch raised his voice so loud that his words were audible this time. “Calm the f**k down and stop being unreasonable,”

In a fit of rage, Vivienne slammed her hand against his chest and pushed him until he teetered back before walking straight into the water.

Interesting.

Gia hurriedly slipped her feet into her sandals, hurrying to them when she stopped and turned to look at me. “Don't tell me you are not coming with me?”

“Not my business. Not my problem”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” she hurried over to me, grabbed me by the hand and forced me to my feet.

“Oh…Gia!”

Gia basically dragged me to the shore.

“You have lost your mind. I told you I would buy you another one! What's wrong with you Vivienne?”

Gia dropped my hand and went to join Mitch by his side, a small growl of disapproval leaving my mouth. “What is happening?”

His tone clipped. “She lost the engagement ring and she has refused to leave the beach until she finds it. How am I supposed to find a f*****g ring in the ocean?”

“Vivienne drives me crazy.”