Fool Me Once

“You got a girl pregnant?” Mom asks. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”

“Tell me it wasn’t a girl at Carterville,” Dad says. I know what he’s thinking, so I shake my head.

“She does go to Carterville…” Dad opens his mouth, but I stop him. “But I didn’t meet her there.”

“Let’s sit down,” Mom suggests, so we do.

“I met her four years ago,” I tell them. “Right after Keith died and Kolton left.”

I explain to them about my time with her and how I got her number and then lost it. They both listen without interrupting while I tell them how Blakely ended up in the class Kolton is TAing for, and how she ran into both of us. Mom giggles a little at her not knowing we’re twins. For years, we would play tricks on everyone, including our teachers. Once, my girlfriend made out with my brother, not knowing it was him and not me.

“His name is Zane Keegan Jacobs, and he just turned three in December. I don’t know the date, though. There’s a lot I don’t know, actually.”

“Wow,” Mom says through a smile. “When can we meet him?”

I grin, happy she’s willing to accept him so easily.

“Blakely wants to take things slowly. She’s going to introduce us tonight. I was actually hoping maybe we could go shopping. I would like to bring him a small gift or something.” I shrug, completely out of my element here.

“I’m very glad you’re going to get to know your son,” my dad says. “You said she goes to Carterville?”

Always in work mode. “Yeah, and I know what you’re thinking—maybe it would be best if someone else…”

“You’re already in too deep,” he says matter-of-factly. “We’ll talk about this later. Go shopping with your mom, go meet your son, take some pictures, and give him a hug from us. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Blakely

“I can already tell Psychology of Inequality is going to be the death of me,” I tell Brenton as we walk to our next class, Child Psychology.

“It was only the second class,” he says.

“Exactly, and did you see what the requirements are?”

“You do this every semester, Blakely.” Brenton laughs. “We’ll get a study group together, and we’ll be fine.”

“Okay.”

“Want to study tonight? I can bring over some pizza, and we can get ahead after Zane goes to bed.”

“Umm…” Shit, I was hoping not to bring up Keegan so soon. Brenton seems to be back to normal. “Keegan’s actually coming over to meet Zane tonight.”

Brenton’s shoulders tighten, and his back straightens, but he doesn’t say anything. He’s quiet the rest of the way to class, and the entire time we’re in there. After the professor dismisses us, he tells me he has some things to take care of and will see me tomorrow. It’s not unusual for Brenton to take off after class since he works at his brother’s cell phone shop, but we usually study together first, and once it’s time for me to pick up Zane, he takes off.

After picking up Zane from daycare, I bring him home and give him a bath, so he won’t have to take one later. I get some studying in while he naps, and once he’s awake, we spend the afternoon playing with his Legos until Keegan arrives. He texted me earlier asking what we would like to eat. Since Sierra is working, it will be just the three of us. I suggested the BBQ place down the street. Zane loves their mac n cheese, and I love their chicken pasta.

When I open the door, Keegan is sporting a gray beanie, a shirt with a brand I recognize as one all the skateboarders wear, and a pair of ripped jeans and Vans. He looks every bit the skateboarder-slash-surfer I know him to be, and looking back, it’s comical to think I thought for even a second he was his twin brother, Kolton. Aside from their faces being identical, everything else about them is different. Including the various tattoos Keegan is sporting. Some I recognize from our time together all those years ago, and some are new.

“Like what you see?” he asks with a smirk. His green eyes sparkle, and I roll mine, even though I know damn well I was checking him out. He might be off-limits, but I’m not blind. Keegan was hot four years ago. Now, he’s freaking gorgeous. The little bit of boy that lingered back then has turned into all man. The muscles that were developing are now fully developed. He’s sporting a short-sleeve shirt, and his biceps and forearms are on display. The guy clearly works out.

“The BBQ?” I joke, taking the takeout bag out of his hands and setting it on the table. “Definitely.”

Keegan laughs. “Fight it all you want, Jailbird, but you and me… it’s inevitable.”