Replace Me (Kin #2)(45)
Author: Jennifer Foor

But it never did.

After that night, I promised that I’d stay away from Sky’s until I knew I was able to see Joey without hurting. It was the hardest thing that I’d had to do, pretending that I could be strong on the outside when my insides felt like they’d been stabbed a zillion times.

After four whole weeks, Joey hadn’t called. Shayne still left messages, but I erased them before listening. All of my progress would have been for nothing if I allowed myself to feel bad about ignoring him.

I saw Sky at school, but she knew better than to talk about either of the guys. Instead, she talked about Ford and how well he was doing working for her father. As happy as I was for her, I still envied her life. Ford was the perfect guy. He was so in love with Sky that he never even looked at other women. Several times I asked what she did to keep him so happy, thinking maybe there was some secret, but she said I was crazy. She told me that I needed to keep doing what I was doing and happiness would find me.

There was only one problem with her theory. I wasn’t going to find love someday, because I already was in love, with a man that never offered me anything but a good time. The longer I was away from Joey, the more I knew that my feelings for him had grown into something more. The worst part about it, was knowing that he’d never feel the same way about me.

Chapter 21

Shayne

After a while it’s normal to get sick of moping around. For weeks I’d dwelled on all of my failures instead of taking into account everything I was doing for my family. They may not have known it, but I was protecting them, being responsible, and making sure that we had a part in the newest members of our family’s lives.

It had taken my dad a month before he would finally talk to me about anything non work related. Even though his grudge was still apparent, I found compromise when he broke down and invited me and Ashley to come to dinner.

My sister was the only person who appeared to be genuinely excited, but it was a step in the right direction. Ashley seemed more nervous than me. They knew we weren’t a real couple, so it wasn’t like they were expecting us to hold hands or be affectionate.

We were just two people that shared one night together. Out of that night we made a baby and chose to raise it as two loving parents.

On the outside it sounded almost perfect. For me, never willing to be tied down, it made sense. Nobody expected me to be this knight in shining armor.

We were invited over on a Saturday and Ashley must have changed her clothes ten times. She was nervous and I tried my best to reassure her. “Will you calm down? You barely look pregnant. Everything you’ve put on looks cute.”

“Cute? I don’t want to look cute. I need to look mature, like a mother.”

I rolled my eyes and covered my face to prevent her from seeing me frustrated. “Ash, please put something comfortable on. You don’t have to impress any of them. It’s not like they’ve never met you before.”

She sat down next to me and put her head on my shoulder. “I know. I’m trying to be at my best knowing that this lie could blow up at any time. Since your family already hates me, I’d like to have some sort of dignity once the truth is out.”

I patted her leg. “Everyone will love the twins. Ain’t that what matters the most?”

She smiled. Since we’d been living together, Ashley had changed. She cared about what other’s thought and had been so focused on learning everything she could about being a mother. Her stepmother was close to our age, which did nothing for Ashley’s need for a mother figure. She tried though, always doing what she thought was going to get her in good graces with Ashley.

Her real mother left town a few years back. She married some other government official and barely spoke to her daughter. I always thought Ashley would end up being selfish like her, but this pregnancy had changed her.

“I’m just goin’ to wear this. We can go whenever you’re ready.” She smiled, but I could tell she was anxious.

“I’ve been ready for nearly an hour,” I teased.

She gave me a dirty look as we headed out the door.

The car ride was quiet. She fidgeted with her hands, picking at her fingernails and biting them at times. I looked through the mirror toward the backseat and clenched my jaws. “Guess I’m goin’ to have to get a new ride soon. This car isn’t made to hold car seats, especially two of em’.”

She looked back and laughed. “I never noticed. Wow, guess you never get action in that thing.”

“This car was for pickin’ up women. The action started when we got back to a bed.”

Ashley laughed more. “You’re never goin’ to change are you, Shayne?”

“Be nice. Honestly, it gets lonely. I sit around and watch my friends and family settling down and a part of me wants that.”

“You had it with Lacey. That girl chased you for years, didn’t she? I remember seein’ her around.”

“Yeah, her family had a place at the beach near mine. I’ve known her for years, since we were teenagers.”

“What will it take for someone like you to settle down?”

I looked over at her and then back to the road. “Please tell me that you’re askin’ in general. You know you and I won’t work, right?”

Ash nudged my arm. “Eww. No! I’m not askin’ for me. I was just bein’ a friend, you douche. Two guys in the same family are too much for me.”

“Hey, you got what you wanted. Didn’t you always say you wanted to be a part of our family? The two kids in your stomach made that happen.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.” I offended her and I felt bad. She’d been the only solid friend in my life lately.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to piss you off.”

“It’s fine.” She paused and looked out the window. “Shayne, can I tell you somethin’?”

“Sure.”

“You’re my only friend. I can’t talk to anyone else. You know my secrets. Somehow, you always do. I know for a while you hated me, but I appreciate everything you’re doing. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”

Ashley reached over and grabbed my hand. I squeezed it. “We’re cool. I know I said I hated you, but I was only sayin’ it because I was so pissed.”

“I know I shouldn’t have lied to Ford. At least he’s happy now. Your sister said he’s doin’ real good at his job.”

“He talks to the family more. It’s good that he’s back to bein’ normal. I mean, we all thought he’d marry you.”