Sitting across from the twins, I tried to find my words, but my brain just…froze. They both stared at me like I was some kind of ghost from their past—one they weren’t sure they wanted to see.
And honestly? Maybe I was.
Were they ever going to say something? Or were we just going to sit here and have a staring contest?
God, why did they have to look so fucking good? They were dressed exactly the same, like they’d planned it just to mess with me. The only way I could tell them apart was that one had a little more scruff on his jaw.
If Theo hadn’t spoken up when I walked in, I’d still have no clue which one was which.
I finally managed to take a breath and force out a sentence. “Thank you for meeting with me today.”
The twins glanced at each other, sharing some secret smile, then turned back to me.
“We’ve read over your resume,” Will said, glancing down at the paper in front of him. “You’ve been living in Jonesboro?”
I nodded. “Yes. I’ve—”
“How long?” Theo cut in.
~Why does it matter how long I’ve lived there?~ “Since we graduated high school.”
They exchanged another look. It was honestly a little creepy how they could talk without saying a word.
“Seven years,” Theo said, his voice low.
“What?” I blinked, thrown off by his tone.
“You’ve been gone seven years,” Will answered for him. “It’s been seven years this month.”
I swallowed hard. Was it weird they knew that? I didn’t even know the exact number.
I just knew it had been…a while.
“Why did you leave?” Will asked.
I met his eyes. “You both know why I left this town.”
“Then why are you back?” Theo asked, raising an eyebrow.
~Good question.~ I didn’t even know the answer myself. I knew why I was back in Cass, but not why I was sitting here in front of them, feeling like I was about to be judged for every decision I’d ever made.
I looked down. My reasons for coming back weren’t simple.
After I left Cass, things with my parents just…fell apart. Now, with my dad gone, my mom was barely hanging on to her house.
She called me crying, right in the middle of my own personal meltdown. My job had dumped a ton of extra work on me after someone retired, but didn’t bother to give me a raise.
My apartment lease was up, and the rent had gone up—again.
And, just to make things even more fun, my on-again, off-again boyfriend was suddenly pushing for something serious. I broke it off for good.
I told my mom I’d see what I could do. At first, I didn’t plan on helping.
But if she lost the house, she’d have nowhere to go. As much as I resented her, I couldn’t let her end up on the street.
The twins were still waiting, so I gave them the short version. “My mom needs help with her house.”
“I’m sorry about your dad,” Theo said. When I looked up, his eyes actually looked…soft. Real.
“You’re living with your mom again?” Will asked, leaning back in his chair.
“For now. I just moved back this week.”
“Were you so sure you’d get this job?” Will asked.
I swallowed. “No. My lease was up, and it was either move out or sign a new one.”
Will frowned. “So you just quit your job and moved here with no plan for how you’re going to support yourself and your mom?”
“I…” I took a breath, feeling my nerves fray. “I needed to get away. I have enough in savings to get by for a few months. This wasn’t some impulsive thing. Believe me, coming back here was the last thing I wanted to do.”
“Then why the fuck are you here?” Theo asked again.
“Here as in Cass? Or here, as in your office?”
Theo smirked. “Both, Red. But I really want to know the answer to the second one.”
~Too bad.~ “I already told you why I’m back in Cass. My mom needs help. I’m here in your office because your company has a job opening I’m qualified for.”
Theo and Will exchanged another look.
“You’re not the most qualified,” Will said.
Theo nodded. “Not by far.”
My chest felt like it was caving in. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was never about an interview—they just wanted to mess with me.
Give me a little hope, then rip it away and make me feel like a complete idiot.
I shoved my chair back, sarcasm dripping from my voice. “Sorry I wasted your time,” I said as I stood up.
“Sit the fuck down, Red,” Theo growled.
My body reacted before my brain could catch up. I sat. Both twins stared at me, and a shiver ran down my spine.
~Why did I just listen to him?~ I should have walked out. I should have left them in the dust.
We weren’t in high school anymore. They didn’t scare me now.
~That’s a lie, and they know it.~
“Look,” I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. “We all know you’re just playing your stupid games. Just let me go.”
Theo grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Are you going to beg, Red?” His tongue flicked out, tracing his lower lip, and I had to look away.
~Fuck.~
I glanced at Will, my hands twisting together in my lap. “Are we done?”
Will looked at Theo, and then both of them started laughing.
My eyes stung. ~How do they still make me feel so small?~
Theo tilted his head, watching me. He leaned forward, hands on the table, and I couldn’t help but notice the tattoos winding up his arm. “How familiar are you with QuickBooks?”
“I’ve used it for the last five years. I don’t know everything, but I know a lot.”
He nodded. “We write a lot of high-dollar checks. Our bills have to be paid on time.”
I met Theo’s eyes. “Of course.”
Theo glanced at Will, raising his eyebrow like he was asking a silent question. Will just shrugged, and then both of them smirked.
I braced myself for another round of their bullshit. I was ready for it.
That was all I’d ever gotten from them. But the look they gave me wasn’t what I expected.
If I hadn’t known better, I’d have said it was…desire.
~No way. They just like tormenting me. Maybe that’s what gets them off.~
“When can you start?” Will asked, out of nowhere.
“What?”
“He asked when you can start,” Theo said, raising his brow like I was slow.
“I…” ~Wait, what?~ “You’re offering me the job?”
“Answer the question, Red,” Theo snapped.
“But you said I wasn’t qualified.”
Will cut in. “We said you weren’t the most qualified.”
“But—”
“Do you want the job or not?” Theo asked.
A big part of me wanted to say no. This was a terrible idea, and I knew it. Theo and Will hadn’t changed at all since high school.
Not when it came to me. They still wouldn’t even use my real name. I didn’t think they ever had.
“We don’t have all day, Red,” Will said.
I looked up at him. “My name is Reece.”
The twins burst out laughing, like I’d just told the funniest joke.
I stood up, crossing my arms. “I want two dollars more an hour than what you posted online. And I want vacation time right away. I’m not waiting a whole year to earn it.”
Theo looked at Will, shrugged, then looked back at me. “Done.”
My jaw dropped. I hadn’t expected them to just agree.
I’d thrown those demands out there because, yeah, I wanted them, but mostly I just wanted to piss them off.
“Done?”
Will frowned. “Get your shit together, Red. I want you here Monday at eight a.m. Don’t be late.”
Theo and Will both stood, and I automatically took a step back.
Up close, I could see they were still built—broader than they’d been in high school. Ink started at their wrists and disappeared under their sleeves.
I shook my head, trying not to think about what else might be under those shirts. I looked away. “Thank you for the opportunity…”
“Don’t thank us yet, Red,” Theo cut in.
Before I could say anything else stupid, I turned and walked out, shutting the door behind me.
I needed space. I needed to breathe—somewhere I couldn’t smell their cologne.
Walking out of their office, my chest felt tight—like someone had wrapped a rubber band around my ribs and just kept twisting. What the hell had I just done?
They were still the same assholes from high school, the ones who’d made my life hell.
But damn it, they were still hot. Maybe even hotter now, which was just unfair.
Was I really about to let myself be their punching bag again? After all these years?
Did I really want to deal with their stupid jokes and constant digs?
I slid into my car, the door shutting with a soft thud. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way they’d looked at me.
The way their eyes had traveled over my body, slow and hungry. The way Theo’s tongue had flicked over his bottom lip, his gaze dark and full of something I didn’t want to name.
This was such a bad idea.
No, scratch that—this was a fucking terrible idea.
Did I even say yes to the job? I must have, because they told me when to start.
~Great. Just great.~
~Are you going to beg, Red?~ Theo’s voice echoed in my head, sending a shiver down my spine.
I hadn’t expected to feel anything for them after all this time. But I guess some things never change.
We always want what we can’t have.