Falling For The Wrong Twin

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Maverick

Barbara broke the awkward silence that seemed to stretch for approximately two minutes.

Her eyes fluttered continuously. “Please come in–” she said before disappearing inside.

I snaked a hand around Gia’s waist, who didn’t make it less obvious that she was judging the s**t out of Barbara. The moment she mentioned that she was my dad’s girlfriend, Gia’s lips parted, pupils dilating as she looked from Barbara to me.

“You are judging, muffin,”

“Was it that obvious? I think I made her uncomfortable. That is not a good first impression,”

“It’s pretty normal. Barbara must be used to it by now,”

“s**t—” she whispered under her breath. “That was so stupid of me. Are you older or is she?”

“I am. She is twenty-four,”

Gia’s gaze snapped to mine. “Cool. And your dad?”

“Fifty-six”

Her mouth hung open again before she clamped it shut, a smile creeping through my face as I stared at her—completely amused. “Very cool,”

Barbara poked her head back outside, now wearing a saccharine smile. “I thought you were following. Your dad’s waiting.” Her gaze dropped to the suitcases. “You can leave those there. I’ll have someone bring them inside. Gia, please come in,”

Vivenne’s grating laugh mixed with the faint sound of Für Elise drifted into my ear. She’s been sitting at the piano ever since she arrived with Mitch this morning. Her attempt to get on Robert’s good side. She must have done her research and found out that he loved playing the piano

“Did I just hear Vivienne?”

“Yes,”

She glanced up at me, frowning. And she was the cutest when she did that. “You didn’t tell me Vivienne and Mitch are already here?”

“You never asked. Did you?”

She rolled her eyes and I grinned at the same time Vivienne spoke as we approached the dining room.

“It was my dream to become a pianist. Get accepted into Juilliard but life has a way of messing one up. I broke my hand so I thought I would never have to play again but getting here…it seems like there’s magic in the air somehow, healing past wounds. This place is magical, Robert. It is beautiful,”

“Thank you for the kind words, Vivienne. And I’m sorry about Juilliard…your hand too. You play beautifully, though. Honestly, I might have to hire you for my wedding.”

Gia whispered. “It was never her dream to become a pianist. She was forced to learn it as a child and she hated it,”

“I know,”

“Like a lot”

Barbara uttered delightfully as we entered the room. “They are here,”

The piano stopped and I was grateful for that moment of peace. Dad set his glass down.

“Gia. I think I remember you. The memory is foggy but you were so little then. So small”

I dropped my hand from her waist as he pulled her into a brief hug before turning his gaze toward me. “Tell me, is my son treating you well? He isn’t exactly the nicest person I know,”

Gia glanced at me, mischief gleaming in her eyes as she mouthed only for me to hear. ‘Exactly’

She darted her eyes back to him and I could hear the sarcasm dripping from her voice. “I don't know about the others but he is really sweet to me. The sweetest person I know–”

“I’m glad and relieved to hear that. Please join us for lunch,”

I caught up with her, voice dipped low. “You think I’m sweet?”

“No. You aren't. You are the worst person I've ever met. You are a terrible influence. I hardly ever lie but I had to tell one right in front of your dad. All thanks to you, Maverick Delwanosky” She poked a finger against my chest.

My lips tipped into a smile as I watched her saunter after Barbara.

“Child. You’ve got to put that away,” Dad patted Mitch on the shoulder and my chest tightened at the way Gia’s steps slowly faltered, fingers curling around her jort.

Mitch slowly removed his AirPods, lifting his gaze from the laptop before his eyes slowly moved to Gia and he froze.

I could see the panic in his eyes as he mouthed. “What the f**k are you doing here?”

I pulled out the chair for her. “Do you have something to say to my girlfriend, twin brother?”

His jaw flexed, eyes darkening as they narrowed on me.

Vivienne sat beside him. “Hi Maverick and Gia…hi”

Gia tilted her head towards her. “Hi Vivienne,”

We had grilled turkey, alfredo pasta, and roasted asparagus for lunch. While we ate in silence, I watched Gia carefully—noticing how she picked at her food, barely touching the asparagus and separating them from the pasta. And that told me everything I needed to know. She still hated them.

I took Gia’s plate, dumping them in mine.

“What's wrong, Maverick,” Barbara asked.

“It slipped my mind. Gia doesn't like asparagus. She usually says that it tastes like lawn clippings”

Gia's eyes widened.

Mitch butted in. “How do you know she says exactly that?”

I darted my eyes back to him. “I’m her boyfriend. I know her likes and dislikes. What sort of rhetorical question is that?”

Barbara cut in quickly. “I’m sorry Gia…”

“No you don't have to be. It’s fine,”

Barbara’s cheeks pinched up with a smile, her focus now on me. “Sweet. You know, I actually would have never imagined that you have a girlfriend,”

I c****d a brow.

Mitch crossed his arms above his chest. “I’m equally surprised too. I used to think he was this playboy,” his eyes pierced into mine. “Who would have thought that he had been in a long-term relationship with my best friend? You both did a good job of hiding it. It is impressive,”

I dropped my chin in my palm, leveling him with a stare. “Have you been snooping around in my business, Mitch?”

He huffed out a laugh. “Why would I be? Some of us have jobs you know,”

I tilted my head, studying him carefully. “Does mum know that you are here, spending your summer break with dad?”

His cheeks drained of color.

Exactly what I thought.

I leaned back in the chair, satisfied.

“Maverick!” Dad snapped. “What is that supposed to mean? He is an adult. He can decide to do whatever he wants and reconnect with whoever he wants to!” Vivienne nodded in support.

“Mitch is no longer the seven-year-old or the teenager who was taught to hate me by Adeline by filling his head with all sorts of nonsense about me. She wouldn't even allow me to meet him…” he shifted his gaze back to Mitch whose shoulders had tensed. “I wanted to be present but you know Adeline. She can be pretty problematic and dramatic. I really didn't want to tear you and Maverick apart. She caused everything,”

Mitch’s throat worked as he sucked in a deep breath. “Yes…”

“I am glad that when I reached out, you didn't shut me out. You don't know how much it means to me that you are here with your brother, with me—like I have always wanted. Thank you for giving me a second chance, Mitch,”

His lips twitched into a smile that wavered quickly. “Yes dad,”

He wasn't here for any form of reconciliation. He was here to claim the trust fund. It was all in his eyes.

Mitch eyed me before digging back into his pasta.

Gia muttered under her breath. “You shouldn't have said th—”

Before she could finish, Barbara spoke, her words directed to Vivienne. “How are your wedding plans going, Vivienne?”

Vivienne’s chest fell with a sharp exhale. “I haven't started yet but thinking about it is already stressful, exhausting, and mentally draining,”

“I know how that feels. Planning almost took a toll on me but thanks to my prince charming—” Dad grinned as she leaned in for a quick kiss. “He took the stress off me. Hired an event planner. Baby how much was it again?”

“Paid around seventy thousand for our wedding,”

Vivienne’s jaw dropped to the floor, alongside her fork. “That's crazy,”

“I know but when you have a man who loves you. He would do anything for you,”

She glanced at Mitch, swallowed, and let out an awkward grin. “Mitch and I don't have the luxury for that yet. We plan on buying a house so we are thinking of hiring someone who is not too expensive. Not that $70k. Someone affordable—cheap perhaps. You know not charge much,”

Barbara laughed while Vivienne’s gaze slowly settled on Gia.

“And that leads me to my fiancé’s best friend, Gia,” she smirked and my blood boiled. “I feel like you know Mitch much more than I do. Understands his preferences. I mean, you have known him longer than I have. So, Gia, would you please be our event planner” Vivienne shot a wink at her.

“What do you think baby?”

“I don't know. Good?”

Gia’s jaw clenched, eyes blazing with anger. I reached for her hands under the table, threading my fingers through hers.

“Sorry to disappoint you both, but Gia doesn’t have time for low-budget wedding planning. She told me someone once paid eighteen thousand just for a consultation,”

“What!” Vivienne blurted.

“Right, muffin?”

Gia’s eyes gleamed brightly, emotions flaring alive in them. “Yes,”

“So, find someone affordable. Moreover, Gia and I will be getting married soon so she is unavailable.”