The Evil Twin? (10 page)

“You should go with us, Vinnie,” Annie said interrupting my thoughts.

“I zoned out, where should I go with you guys?” I asked shaking my head.

“Friday night, Indian DJ event!!” Annie beamed.

“I have never been to an Indian club.”

“You have to go with us, it’ll be fun,” she said with excitement.

“I am good at working those events guys, not going to such event, remember?” I snorted.

“Vinnie, you have to go. There is nothing Indian about it. It’ll be fun,” she insisted.

“Who else is going?” I knew Reyan was out of town, and I didn’t really want to go if he wasn’t going to go.

“The usual suspects, and…” Annie paused and when I turned to look at her she had a wicked grin on her face.

“Is that guy from the dating website going?” I took a shot in the dark.

“Oh my god!! We are true soul sisters,” Annie cheered and added, “Reyan didn’t like the guy so I am wondering if he would be pissed off if I invited him.”

“Why does it matter?” I asked curiously.

“Well, Reyan was the one who got us the tickets to the event and I know he won’t be there, but I am wondering if I should tell him,” Annie debated out loud.

“Do you like the guy, Annie?” I asked turning around to look at her.

She nodded with a sheepish smile on her face.

“Annie, if you like the guy, it doesn’t matter what Reyan thinks about that dude. Right Neel?” I winked at Neel signaling him to back me up.

“Leave me out of it gals. You know how Reyan can be, Annie. Are you willing to take the risk of pissing him off and bear the brunt of it?” Neel said being a complete spoiled sport.

“What the crap, he doesn’t get to choose who you date, that’s ridiculous.” I shook my head in disbelief.

“I know, but he is an overly protective guy, and he is always right when he says he doesn’t have a good feeling about someone,” Annie grumbled.

“It’s good that he is protective Annie, but he needs to let you meet the wrong guy so you know when you meet your Mr. Right,” I encouraged.

“She is right, Annie. You should ask the guy to meet you on Friday,” Neel said to Annie, looking at her in the rear view mirror.

“Okay, I am going to text the dude and have him come meet me at the club. Should I tell Reyan?” Annie wondered out loud.

“Yes, you should!!” I said and added, “There’s nothing to hide Annie.”

Annie laughed and said, “Sure, I’ll have you deal with him.”

“Anything for you!!” I smiled at Annie.

Thirty minutes later, Neel pulled into the parking lot of the Indian wedding boutique. The boutique had extravagant outfits displayed in the window, and I swallowed looking at the way the midriff on the mannequin was exposed.

“Annie, I don’t think I can pull off these outfits. There is no way I am exposing my mid-section,” I whispered to Annie as we walked into the store.

“You will be fine and this kind of outfit will look great on you,” Annie said pointing to a specific mannequin.

“I don’t know Annie. We might have to find another fake girlfriend for Neel,” I said feeling intimidated by the overly dressy outfits.

“Too late girl, he already sent a picture of you to his parents,” Annie giggled.

“What? Why?” I asked in disbelief.

Annie laughed and said, “I have no idea why, but you are his fake girlfriend.”

“Annie you don’t understand. I can’t expose my midriff. I have stuff on my skin that I don’t want anyone to see,” I blurted out and then realized that I actually told Annie something I had not told anyone. My aunt was the only one who knew about the scars, not even Meg. I wasn’t sure if Reyan felt the scars on my skin when he touched me, but I wasn’t ready to talk about them with anybody.

“Vinnie, there’s nothing makeup can’t cover up, and it would be a shame if you didn’t wear something traditional.

“These outfits are designed for tall chicks like you and people like me need to get reinforcements under our feet to put these on,” she said holding out a deep red, flowing silk, maxi skirt that had a lot of golden thread work and embellishments.

“Fine, I will try it on,” I smiled at her.

Thirty minutes later and after trying on a dozen different outfits, I settled on two outfits. One for the wedding and another for the reception.

“You’ll need more than two outfits,” Annie reminded me.

“Why?” I asked surprised.

“You have no idea how many events lead up to the wedding. You need to pick two more in addition to the ones you put aside for the main events.”

“Annie, are you on a ‘Make Neel Go Bankrupt’ mission?”

“He makes enough to pay for his fake girlfriend’s outfits,” she teased winking at Neel who looked up from his phone when he heard his name.

“Annie, I am not used to wearing outfits that are so bright,” I whined.

“Get used to it. Indian weddings are all about bling bling and you have nothing to worry about Vinnie, your eyes are so beautifully dark you can wear any color,” Annie complimented.

“Thank you, that’s very sweet of you Annie.”

“You will have guys drooling over you in these outfits,” Chloe chimed in as she stepped out of the dressing room in a navy blue flair dress with gold and copper embellishments.

“I love that dress on you, Chloe,” Annie cheered.

“Thanks Ann, and Vinnie you just need some metallic shimmer and pearl shadows for an awesome party look.”

“I fully trust you to make me look good for my boyfriend’s bother’s wedding,” I said holding the heavy outfits.

“Fake boyfriend, “ Neel reminded and added laughing, “I will get into trouble with Reyan if you didn’t clarify that.”

“Really?” Annie jumped in before I could react.

“Yes, and that’s all I can say,” Neel said looking at his phone.

“You mean there’s more than him wanting to take Vinnie on a date?” Chloe ran out of the dressing room dragging her dress.

What did he tell Neel about us?

“Girls, Neel is having too much fun at our expense. Ignore him.” I tried to distract them from the topic.

“Hang on Vinnie. There’s got to be something because Reyan’s been a bit weird lately, and I am trying to figure out if it’s because you refused to go on a date with him or if it is something else.”

“I thought you guys went on a date already,” Neel winked.

Crap. He knows everything.

“Heck no, we did not,” I objected not willing to give in.

Neel laughed and said, “Relax Vinnie, I was kidding. I can’t get a single word out of him about you, and I was hoping to get some from you.”

“That’s because there is nothing going on between us,” I declared.

Liar liar!! Pants on fire!!

“Vinnie, just in case you were on the fence about him, he is a good guy. He’s just not into serious stuff,” Annie said softly and Chloe nodded vigorously.

“Unless it’s different with Vinnie,” Neel interjected.

“What do you know Neel, and why aren’t you telling us anything?” Annie’s voice blared through the backroom of the boutique.

“Reyan didn’t tell me anything but I’ve known him for so long, I can guess a few things,” Neel said smiling at us.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked unable to bear the suspense.

“He had no need to go to New York this week, but he did. It almost seems like he was going away to think about something, something very important like Vinnie.”

“Stop it, Neel!! You are getting too dramatic about it.” I shook my head.

“He is right Vinnie. Reyan does want more from you,” Annie said with confidence.

Chapter 10

I sat next to Annie at a private booth on Friday night, twenty minutes before the event started. Annie was busy talking to the guy she had met on the dating website. Neel, Chloe, and Eddie were on the way, and I was missing Reyan terribly. I would probably beg him to not disappear from my life if he were to show up at that point. I remembered that I had less than twenty-four hours before I saw him and to decide if there was going to be an ‘us’ between him and me. I went all week tormented by not hearing his voice or having any kind of communication with him.

I spent a long ten minutes watching people trickle into the club. I finally got sick of looking around and pulled out my phone and texted Reyan.

Me: Hey, thanks for the party...it's so much fun without you

Reyan: Liar!!

Reyan: Missing me baby??

Me: Maybe I am

Me: I would have let you be my date if you were here..

Reyan: Really??

Me: Oh yes, too many guys hitting on me and I had to tell the guys I was waiting for my date..

Reyan: What would you do if your date showed up?

Me: You’ll never find out…

Reyan: What if I were your date...

Me: You can't...u r not here

Reyan: What if I was..

Me: Well, I would let you sit next to me and lick, sip, and suck…

I broke off the sentence on purpose and hit send smiling looking at the tequila shots the waitress was setting up in front of us.

Reyan: Suck on??

I laughed looking at my phone and that caught Annie’s attention.

“What’s so funny?” she whispered.

I showed her the messages I had sent to Reyan and continued to laugh.

“You guys text each other like this?” she asked completely taken aback.

“I am just messing with him Annie. I know he is in New York,” I clarified.

“I am sure Reyan is figuring out how to get back tonight after that lick, sip, and suck message.” She chuckled.

“I think he would have had a heart attack or may have passed out after that message,” I winked at Annie.

“He is not weak hearted, but what were you thinking of when you sent him that message?” she asked curiously.

“I meant lick the salt, sip the tequila, and suck on the lime wedge,” I said laughing.

“That’s wicked. Are you going to respond to his message?” Annie asked looking at my phone.

“Yup, wondering what I should tell him.”

“Tell him he would find out if he were here,” Annie giggled. Reyan responded before I could text him back.

Reyan: I know what I want to lick..

I held my breath waiting for him to continue.

Reyan: I want to lick every inch of that velvety skin of yours

What did I do? Why did I start this?

Reyan: You are too boring to know what I want to sip while I suck...

Holy shit!!

I felt my cheeks fire up and my body quivered with a deep longing for him. Reyan was capable of turning me on even when he was 2,500 miles away. I took a deep breath and looked up as Neel, Chloe, and Eddie joined us.

“Neel, where is Reyan?” I whispered as Neel sat next to me.

“He is in New York,” he said absent mindedly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah…why do you ask?” he confirmed, looking at me.

“Not important, just wondering.”

I debated before I sent out the next message but couldn’t stop myself.

Me: Well...if you showed up you might find out I am not boring...

Reyan: Really?

Me: Yup

Reyan: Are you up for the lick, sip, and suck action tonight?

“Neel, are you positive Reyan is in New York?” I asked him again, and I was sure it annoyed him.

Neel laughed and said, “Yes, I am. I talked to him on my way here, and he said he was heading out to drinks with some friends.”

“Okay, cool. Thanks!!” I said relief flowing through my body.

Once I had the confirmation that there was no way Reyan could show up that night, I texted him back.

Me: I promise I won't object

Reyan: Object to what?

Me: Too funny..

Reyan: I want to see it…in writing…what are you not going to object to?

Me: Fine, I won’t object to the lick, sip, and suck action tonight

Reyan: Brace yourself for an interesting night sweetheart...

Me: Are you looking for a rocket that could bring you back to San Francisco tonight?

Reyan: Don’t need one...I am a time traveller

Me: So boring...without yo
u


Reyan: Btw red is my favorite color

I looked down at my red crepe dress and a shiver ran through my body when I saw the message.

Reyan: Red is definitely your color babe

Shit!!! How does he know I am in a red dress??

I almost choked on my drink and leaned closer to Neel, “Hey guys, did you post any of our pictures online or send it to someone?”

“Not yet. I think we should do a post,” Annie said, pulling out her phone and started to type on her phone.

My heart pounded away in my chest as I typed a response back to him.

Me: Good guess...how do u know I am wearing red?

Reyan: Because I am looking at you...

My heart stopped beating, my lungs collapsed, and I struggled to breathe as I scanned the room for Reyan. I scanned the dance floor and the DJ’s desk one last time before I let out a sigh of relief. I shook my head and smiled realizing how good Reyan was with his tricks.

Me: Not buying that...I know you are in NY

Reyan: Are you sure?

Me: You told me that didn’t you?

Reyan: I did but I am allowed to change my plans

I stared at the phone wondering if he was sitting in a hotel room in New York and texting me while laughing uncontrollably or if he was a few feet away looking at me and texting. Either way, he had me turned on to a point where I would melt in his arms if he were to show up.

Reyan: Don’t just keep staring at your phone...look up and find me baby

My heart sank, and I knew at that moment he was really looking at me, either through someone’s phone on a video conference or he was at the club.

I looked up to find Neel and Eddie engrossed in a deep conversation while Chloe and Annie chatted with her date, and none of them had their phones out. Annie caught the distress on my face and raised her eyebrows. I shook my head and smiled back at her.

She is a godsend soul sister.

Me: Stop messing with me Reyan

Reyan: I know you are hoping I am in NY but I am not...

I rested my back on the backrest unable to sit up straight.

Reyan: Easy…just as you are sitting…lift up those beautiful eyes and look to your right...

I turned swiftly to my right and scanned the private booths and the dance floor and everything in my sight and no Reyan.

Reyan: Sorry baby, to your right and on the upper level.

I looked up to the balcony level of the club to meet mocking brown eyes riveted on me. I held my breath as my body shuddered in reaction to his sheer masculinity and my lips parted inadvertently. He looked scorching hot in a crisp white silk shirt that screamed luxury paired with dark dress pants. His collar hung loosely around his thick neck making my body emit heat at the sight of his exposed skin.

I peeled my eyes away from him when my phone buzzed.

Reyan: That’s the face I waited a week to see…I missed you beautiful

I stared at the phone with my breathing labored and did not look at him for what seemed like an eternity.

Reyan: Look at me baby!!

I continued to stare at the phone, feeling his stare tickle the hair on the back on my neck.

Reyan: I know you missed me. Come to me...

I took a deep breath and put my phone aside and looked up at Reyan. He smiled at me and blew me a kiss.

“I’ll be right back,” I leaned in and whispered to Neel and Eddie and stepped out of the private booth approaching the bouncer who was standing to one side of the room.

“Hi there, which way to the balcony level?” I asked the bouncer who towered over me.

“May I please see your pass? Oh, hang on one second miss,” the bouncer pressed on his earpiece and then looked at me.

“This way please,” the bouncer said leading me to the other side of the club to a staircase that was being watched by another bouncer. I paused for a second and then set foot on the first step of the staircase. I knew there was no going back once I started ascending those steps, but nothing was going to stop me. I wanted to be in his arms at that minute and was ready to endure any heartache.

I was halfway up the staircase and turned to take the next flight of steps when I saw Reyan at the top of the staircase. I stood frozen looking at him, my heart jumping with joy at the sight in front of me, and my body a big blob of jelly yearning for his touch. I gripped onto the railing so hard my knuckles turned white.

Reyan came down the stairs without taking his eyes away from my face. I looked away from him and looked down at the stairs unable to hold his gaze.

He came down the stairs to take me into his arms and took his lips to my forehead.

“I didn’t mean to sneak up on you like this, but I couldn’t wait one more day to see you,” he said huskily.

“Reyan, I missed you too,” I said my voice barely audible.

His face broke into a smile as his lips came down to caress my jawline, and he went straight for my lower lip sucking on it like he had every right to. My fingers automatically snaked through his thick hair while the control freak in me fought tooth and nail with my body that was lost in the sea of new thrills and emotions. I let my resolve melt in his arms as he savored on my lower lip.

He released his hold on me slightly and said against my lips, “I still owe you all the fun I promised for tonight, and you will get what you asked for and more.”

“I can’t wait.” I twirled my tongue on his lower lip and felt the tremor run through his body and gather at his virility.

“Let’s get out of here,” he rasped against my ear.

“I want to go say bye to the gang and then head out.”

“Do we...” his voice trailed off when he heard a female voice call out his name.

He turned around to look at the woman standing at the top of the stairs beaming at him.

“Reyan, I haven’t see you in ages, where have you been?” The woman squealed as she came down the stairs to wrap her arms around Reyan. A sting of jealousy ran through my body when I saw the woman’s arm linger around his waist.

Reyan had my hand in his and when I attempted to break away from him, he gripped my hand and said to the woman, “Good to see you Nina and oh, this is my girlfriend, Vinnie.”

Girlfriend??

The woman was visibly upset, but she managed to shake my left hand awkwardly as Reyan wouldn’t let go of my right hand.

Reyan and I waded through the crowd back to the private booth hand in hand. The first one to spot Reyan and me together was Annie, and I saw a series of different expressions on her face as we walked towards the booth.

“Did you find Reyan’s clone?” Neel chuckled.

“When did you get back from New York?” Annie asked winking at me.

“I got back a few hours ago,” Reyan said looking at Neel who had a wicked grin on his face.

“Guys I got to go and take Vinnie with me,” Reyan declared.

“Oh c’mon, Reyan, I told Vinnie I’d teach her some Bollywood moves,” Annie objected.

“There’s a lot of time for her fake boyfriend’s brother’s wedding,” Reyan bumped Neel’s shoulder with his fist.

“If you guys are leaving, I am going to invite a few of my buddies to the club,” Annie jumped in.

“Sure, Annie. I’ll talk to the manager and have them take our spots,” Reyan smiled at Annie.

“You ready Vinnie?” Reyan asked softly.

“Dude, you can’t take her on your bike in that dress. Do you need my car?” Annie offered.

“Nope, I got my car.” Reyan smiled sheepishly.

“Hold it!!! Neel, did you hear that?” Annie got excited, and I wondered what the big deal was with Reyan’s car. I watched Neel almost spew his drink and glare at Reyan.

“Seriously?” Neel shook his head and the rest of the gang was in some kind of shock.

I looked at Annie not understanding why they were so pissed off at Reyan for bringing his car.

“Easy guys. You will get your turn,” he said in a calm tone.

“What are you guys talking about?” I blurted, unable to bear the suspense behind their reaction.

“This guy has the coolest car ever and so far in all these years, Neel was the only one who has set eyes on it, and Reyan refuses to give any one of us a glimpse of it, let alone a ride, and now he is going to take you in his car,” Annie fumed.