We exchange a glance with each other, knowing that we’ll find twenty-one, one-dollar bills inside our respective birthday cards. A tradition our mom started and our dad continued. I think it makes him feel better. It’s one small thing he can always to do, and probably like my fear of letting go of my birthday wish, he’ll be sticking singles in our cards even when we’re in our forties.
“What do the two of you have on your agendas for tonight?”
I look across the table to Leo, silently telling him to fess up to his plans first. But instead, he sucks down his milkshake and grabs his head, pretending to get a brain freeze. I roll my eyes at his low-budget acting job.
“Chlo and I are going to the bar down the street from our apartment and using my real ID for the first time.”
“Proud father moment.” My dad eyes me sarcastically and I return it with a toothy grin.
“My team is taking me out toThe Midnight Club.”
“What’s that? A strip club?”
I choke on my ice cream and Chloe palms her face.
“Do you really think that I would announce to my dad, my sister, and her platonic wife that I am going to a strip club?”
My dad makes a face, shrugging while he adjusts the black watch on his wrist.
“No. It’s a nightclub. Just good old-fashioned drinks and dancing.”
“Ahh. And have you been to thisnightclubbefore?” He finger-quotes the word ‘nightclub’.
“Of course not.” Leo smiles. “That would be illegal.”
He might be my twin, but sometimes I want to knock his smug little lying face in.
“Mhmm.” My dad grunts before turning his attention to me. “Paloma told me you’re already starting the interview process for an internship for next semester.”
Traitor.
I rub my sweaty palms together under the table. “Uhh, yeah. I applied for one with the rugby team for next season.” I purposely leave out the part where I let my emotions override any sense of logic and decided to go to a frat party instead, so they had to reschedule. Before I can let my mind drift off to said party, I clear my throat. “And I just recently saw a position for an assistant management internship with the basketball team. They’re mid-season and still looking for help, so they’re either going to be desperate or they’ve been super picky.”
“Assistant management internship. That’s a mouthful.” Chloe laughs, scooping a finger through her whipped cream. “What does a job like that entail?”
“Honestly, it’s probably just a fancy name for the water boy,” I say.
“I know you weren’t interested before, but if you don’t find another team, you know I can always make room for you?—”
“Not necessary, Dad.” I put my hand up, cutting him off before he can even attempt to come in on his white horse. I pat his shoulder, resting my head there—silently telling him thank you, but no thank you. I know everything he does, every breath he takes, is for Leo and me. But I need to know I can do this on my own, and he needs to know that I can, too.
There’s no need to mention that I’m already struggling to keep Noah at an arm’s distance in the single class we share. Seeing him every day at practice would have me crumbling like a dried leaf.
“Alright, I’ve waited long enough.” Leo rubs his hands together, cracking two knuckles, which is his tell that he’s nervous. All eyes focus on him. “I’m kind of seeing someone.”
I’m sure Chloe is staring at him, wide-eyed and my dad is probably smiling, but I don’t look at them.
“Her name is Paige. She’s super smart, and very funny. I think you’ll like her,” he says, directing that part specifically to my dad. “Anyway, I think I’m going to bring her to dinner next week.”
I sit back in my seat with critically narrowed eyes on him.
“Don’t be like that.”
“Like what?” I try to sound nonchalant, but I hear the attitude in my own voice. “We’re just bringing strangers to dinner now?”
“She’s not a stranger to me, and if I bring her around, she won’t be a stranger to you.”
While Leo and I are both allergic to celery, have the same brown eyes, and a notch below black hair, we differ in how we let people in. Leo wants to make friends with everyone and stay surrounded by a group of people at all times, regardless of his past relationships.
