“Thank you,” I told her.
She gave one last, hopeful glance in his direction before pushing the cart to the next row. Kope’s head leaned back and his chest released a long, quiet breath. Poor guy. Must have been hard to be celibate, charming, and good-looking.
Landing in London affected me more than I’d expected. Passing guys with their English accents had my head spinning, eyes looking, heart squeezing and sputtering. I didn’t want to think of Kaidan. It hurt too much. But everything here was infused with him. I envisioned him walking the crowded sidewalks and entering a pub with band friends as we came to our hotel for check-in.
We left our suitcases in the rooms and immediately set off for the twins’ flat. Kope and I descended in silence into the Tube for our train.
“You are quiet,” Kope noted when we got off at our stop.
I forced a smile. “Just soaking it all in.”
When we neared the twins’ flat, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Marna.
“Hallooo?” she sang.
“Hello, yourself,” I responded. “I have a surprise for you. Kope and I are here for a visit.”
I pulled the phone from my ear when she screamed with glee and shouted to Ginger, which got a light chuckle from Kope.
“Seriously? You’re really here? I can’t believe it! Well, hurry on, then! But don’t take the lift—it’s terribly slow.” She gave one last excited scream before hanging up.
At their building we took the stairs to the second floor and rang their bell. When we made it in, Marna’s hug sent her and me both sprawling on the floor of their flat.
“Oh, pull it together, the two of you.” Ginger shut the door and gave Kope a quick hug before nudging Marna with her foot and muttering, “I suppose I’ll make some tea.”
Ginger shot me a mean look before going in the kitchen and I wondered if things would always be like that between us.
We got up from the floor and Marna hugged Kope around his waist. She looked as fresh and gorgeous as always with her big gray eyes, layered brown waves, and stylish clothes. Who wore dress slacks and strappy heels in the comfort of their own home? Only the twins.
Looking around at their flat, I was surprised by the immaculate severity of the decor. Not that I hadn’t expected it to be posh, but I hadn’t expected everything to be so white. The puffy couches and chairs and tables were all stark white or light ivory. Even the paintings and pictures hanging on the walls were in black and white. How ironic that the two most colorful girls I knew lived without color.
Ginger propped herself against the doorframe that separated the kitchen from the living area.
“Talked to Kaidan lately?” she asked, acknowledging me for the first time.
My stomach tightened. “I talked to him once. Why?”
“As if you don’t know.” Ginger’s eyes narrowed with distrust as she studied me.
My stomach compacted into a firm ball of nerves. “I don’t know.” I looked over at Marna. “Tell me.”
“Everything’s fine, luv,” Marna said, but I wasn’t convinced. Something was up. The electric kettle clicked off in the kitchen, forcing Ginger to break her death stare. I grasped Marna’s wrist.
“What’s going on?” I whispered.
She glanced nervously between me, Kope, and the open doorway, where her sister wasn’t available to instruct her. Fear caused my hand to tighten on her wrist in an urgent plea, and I dropped it, afraid I’d cut off her blood circulation if I kept it up.
“He and Blake are friends,” she whispered. “They’ve gotten chummy, and we talk to Blake when our fathers are both out of town.” I nodded for her to continue. She sent another peek toward the kitchen. “It seems that Kaidan . . . isn’t working as hard as usual these days.”
“Oh, cut the shite.” Ginger came in and slammed the small tea tray on the table, making the cups rattle. “He’s not working. At all. He’s faking it. Like her.”
She stared right at me with a hand on her hip.
“What do you mean . . . ?” He’d definitely had to work with that nasty Marissa when he’d come to Atlanta. My skin prickled and I felt edgy.
Ginger’s lip curled as she asked, “What do you think I mean, you stupid little—?”
“All right! I get it!” I shouted. “You can stop talking to me like that!”
Her eyes were full of anger. My pulse raced. Was it possible? Had Kaidan been avoiding work in L.A.? But that was so dangerous! And brave. So stupid and wonderful. The most selfish part of me rejoiced, but then I remembered what it could mean for him and terror struck. It wasn’t like Kaidan to risk getting himself killed.
“It doesn’t make sense,” I whispered. “Maybe he just doesn’t work as hard when he’s hanging out with Blake or something.”
“Are you deaf? He’s not working unless spirits come around, and even then it’s half-arsed!”
I tensed, sick of her snide tone.