It’s Monday, and I’m on my way back to the office after a lunch meeting with a pharmaceutical rep. When my phone buzzes and I see Brooke’s name on the screen, I can’t help but smile.
“Hi, beautiful.”
“Hey.” Her voice is low and sultry. “What are you doing?”
“Just got back from a lunch meeting.”
“Ugh. I didn’t even have time to eat lunch. I’ve got a staging and two properties that sold so I need to be there for the furniture removals.” She sighs. “I wish I could come to your office for dessert.”
Brooke’s office visits are always full of surprises and there’s nothing I would enjoy more right now than giving her that desk fuck she requested weeks ago.
“I wish you could, too. I missed you last night.” After we stopped by the hospital, Brooke went to brunch with her friend, Sam, then said she was going to spend the night at her place. It made me realize we have slept in the same bed every night since our first date. Last night felt odd without Brooke there. I’ve easily grown accustomed to her soft breathing beside me, the way her sleep-warm body cuddles up next to mine during the middle of the night. And nothing beats the sight of her first thing in the morning, bright green eyes, wild dark hair and her sleepy smile. “But I’ll see you tonight?”
“Yeah, I’ll pick up dim sum on my way over.”
“Sounds great.”
That’s when I see her familiar shape standing by the elevator bank. She’s got her phone to her ear while waiting for the elevator. I chuckle at her telling me she’s busy at work, her attempt at throwing me off her trail.
I walk up close to her back and lower my head toward hers.
“Well, this is a nice surprise.”
She startles, whipping her body around to face me and when her green eyes meet mine, I can’t miss how her brows knit together in confusion, and her lips tighten into a thin line as she side-steps in the opposite direction from me. She moves her phone, which she still appears to be on, away from her head.
“Excuse me?” She looks pissed.
It only takes me a second to notice the absence of the freckle that Brooke has above the right side of her lip, and moments later when I see the ring on her left hand, which is still clutching her cell phone, I know that she isn’t Brooke.
“I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.” I clear my throat and take a step back from Brooke’s twin sister. “I thought you were Brooke.”
“Oh.” Her eyes are still wary as she looks me up and down. She hits a button on her phone and drops it in her purse. Either she was listening to voicemails or she just hung up on somebody.
Brooke has told me a lot about Ellie, but we’ve never actually met, so the moment feels a little odd. I extend my hand out to her.
“I’m Cole.”
“Ellie.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Ellie’s death stare finally relaxes, but she still looks confused. Her eyes drop to the credential badge clipped to my pants’ pocket.
“Oh, are you a doctor here?”
“Yes. Maternal-Fetal Medicine, my office is on three.”
The elevator opens, and we both stand back to let people out before stepping in. She punches the button for floor five on her side of the elevator, while I punch three on mine. I don’t want to stare, but it is uncanny how much they look alike. From the back it was hard to tell the difference. Watching Ellie now, I see similar mannerisms to Brooke, but I can also see their differences.
“I’m sorry, but how do you know my sister?”
“We’ve been seeing each other.” Even though we haven’t met yet, I’m surprised Ellie has no idea who I am. Brooke and I are together, we have been for weeks now. In my eyes, it’s a committed relationship. I’ll admit, I haven’t told Brooke exactly how I feel. That I’m in love with her. I know my feelings for her are real, but I’m also afraid it’s too soon. I’ve thought about telling her, but am afraid of scaring her off.
She considers this for a moment before responding, “Huh. She didn’t mention she was seeing anyone else besides Dr. Yang. Is an MFM specialist typical in surrogacy cases?”
“Dr. Yang?” Now I’m confused.
“Well, she’s my fertility doctor, but for the surrogacy she’s Brooke’s doctor, too.”
