Fake Maid by Cassie Mint
Six
Billie
Whoever said love hurts hit the nail on the freaking head. When Eli strides out of the pool house, my chest cracks open down the middle. I’m surprised I don’t bleed out into a puddle on the floor.
Why him?
Why did it have to be Coral’s boss? Why did I have to meet him while pretending to be my twin?
A cruel slideshow plays before my eyes: how things could have gone. How we might have met on any other day. There would have been no need for this pain, for all this rejection and crushed hope. I would have leaped into his arms and never let go.
I curl up in a ball, like if I crush my knees to my chest and wrap my arms tight, I can hold all the heartbreak inside. Sobs wrack my frame, and when the pool house door pushes open, I barely have the energy to lift my head.
“Coral!” It’s the housekeeper from earlier. She hustles over to me, eyes wide with alarm. “Goodness, dear. Are you ill?”
“Yes,” I sniff. Better to say that than to admit what I’ve really been doing. I’ve already caused such a mess for my sister—I won’t add any more to that. “I have a terrible headache.”
“Well go home!” The housekeeper helps me up and ushers me to the doorway. “Go home and rest, dear. We’ll manage for the rest of your shift.”
I barely cleaned for the beginning of it either, and right now I feel two inches tall. All I’ve done today is wreak havoc—I’ve messed around on the job, hooked up with the boss, and poor Coral will have to deal with the wreckage.
God. She’ll hate me. Hot tears slide down my cheeks.
I’ll make it up to her. I’ll make things right. And first—I duck into the library on my way through the halls. I cross to the desk, digging through the drawers until I find a notepad and pen. Something meant for writing, not display, like the fancy fountain pen and sheaf of paper.
My note is short. A peace offering. No real explanation, but I hope it will make my sister’s life easier.
Eli,
I’m so sorry about today. I wish more than anything that I could explain, but I can’t. It’s not only my secret to tell.
Please know that what happened between us meant a lot to me. And though it can never happen again, I won’t forget it either.
Miss Walsh
I fold it up and address it to him, then ask a passing staff member to take it to the boss. I watch the man hurry away down the hall, my note gripped in his hand, then turn and make my way to the front door.
My wrist aches inside my cast, and the sun blinds me when I step onto the driveway. I walk quickly, my legs still wobbly from the way Eli made me come, arousal still clenched tight in my core.
Better. I’ll do better. I’ll make it up to Coral, and I’ll never be so thoughtless again.
And hopefully, if I’m lucky, one day I’ll think of Eli without wanting to cry.
* * *When Coral comes through our apartment door, she looks how I feel. Sad and tired, her eyes red from crying, like we’re two teddy bears with the stuffing knocked out of us.
We sit together quietly. Share the comfort that only sisters can bring, with soft breaths and closed eyes and murmured questions, our heads tipped back against the sofa. Evening sunshine slants through the windows, painting the apartment gold, and the potted plants wave in the gentle breeze.
And when we finally push up to cook dinner, to move on with this terrible day, at least we’re doing it together.
Coral and I are a team. Always. No matter how hard things get.
Then the calls come.
We’re clearing up dishes, bellies full of pasta, when Coral’s phone starts to vibrate on the counter. We both ignore it, the kitchen filled with the gentle slosh of Coral’s arms in the sink.
The phone stops. There’s a beat of silence. Then it starts to buzz again.
Cold dread slides down my spine.
I snatch the phone up before Coral can see the screen, my sister gaping at my crazy behavior. But then my phone starts to buzz too, and she sprints for it faster than I’ve ever seen her move.
Crap.
Okay.
Okay.
Apparently we’ve both had… unusual days. And when it all comes out, with Coral knocking on my bedroom door, her face pale and my phone clutched in her hand, I choke back a manic laugh.
We’ve both fallen for each other’s boss. Gotten mixed up with men who don’t even know our real names. Maybe it’s selfish, but a tiny part of me is glad that we’re going through this together. That we’ve both made mistakes.
We agree: I’ll go and meet Archer Westbrook in Coral’s place and break their fling off. And Coral will call Eli and turn him down for me.
Neither of us can face it otherwise. And we can’t tell these men about our lie. Not when they’ve already burrowed into our hearts.
It’s a relief to have a plan, but I’m not proud as I grab my jacket and head out the door.
Poor Eli. He deserves so much more.
