FOURTEEN

"I can't believe you're hitting this," Xander's look-alike says with a smirk, dropping onto the couch like he owns the place, completely unfazed by what he's just walked in on.

Cara's jaw drops slightly. Not that this is the most awkward situation she's ever been in—getting caught having sex in the janitor's closet back in high school still holds that title—but at least the teacher who caught them had the decency to look away. Unlike this guy, who's just... staring.

Xander snaps out of his shock, setting Cara down carefully as he smooths his rumpled shirt. Cara quickly grabs her own shirt, pulling it over her chest. "Can you maybe turn around?" she says, her voice tight with annoyance.

Xander heads out of the room without a word, and his clone takes the hint, trailing after him.

"I'll be right back, darling," the twin says with a wink before disappearing.

Cara rolls her eyes. At least the twin didn't inherit Xander's snobby genes.

---

Xander stands by his desk in the study, waiting for his brother to walk in. It only takes a second. Xavier steps inside, shutting the door behind him and glancing around the room like it's his first time here, which only irritates Xander more.

"I leave for a few months, and you've gotten rid of Liza—thank God for that," Xavier says, clasping his hands together and looking up at the ceiling in mock prayer. "Then you, Mr. Player, get yourself a new chick—who's hot, by the way—and now she's pregnant."

Xander watches his brother closely, focusing on his hands. The last time he noticed the shaky left hand, the constant sniffing, the nail-biting... but it all went unnoticed until things got worse. Now, though, he looks... okay. No shaking, no sniffing, no biting.

"What do you want, Xavier?" Xander asks, crossing to his desk. He opens a drawer and pulls out a checkbook.

"W-what?" Xavier lets out a low laugh, which quickly fades when he realizes Xander is serious.

"Let me rephrase that. How much do you want?" Xander asks, picking up a pen.

"Fuck you. Fuck your money. I don't want your money."

"Are you sure about that?" Xander raises an eyebrow, tapping the checkbook with his pen. At this point, his brother usually caves and says what he came for.

"I'm fine, okay? I've been clean for three months now, I'm in a good place. I don't need your money. The show I was on last year just got renewed, and I'm a series regular. I'm also starring in an upcoming movie, so you can shove your money up your ass," Xavier snaps, though deep down he knows he has no right to be angry at his brother.

"So, what are you doing here?" Xander asks, hiding the fact that he's proud Xavier is doing better.

"Lots of things have changed, but you're still an ass," Xavier mutters. "After three months of social media cleanse—thanks to my therapist—I come online and see my brother splashed all over the tabloids. I thought I was the controversial one, but you proved me wrong." Xavier smirks. "So, I came to confirm the news myself."

Xander's study door opens, and Jonathan steps in, a big smile on his face. "A little birdie told me you were around," he says, greeting Xavier with open arms.

Xavier's frown melts into a smile as he turns to hug Jonathan. "I missed you, man," he says, sinking into the embrace. Jonathan has always been like a second dad to him—the only dad he has now.

"I'm glad to see you doing well," Jonathan says, patting his back.

Xander doesn't want to kill the warm mood, but he's not going to pretend everything's fine either. He slides the checkbook back into the drawer and walks out of the study.

Jonathan and Xavier watch Xander leave, annoyed. "Give him some time. He's still mad about Christmas Eve," Jonathan says.

Christmas Eve was the last straw for Xander. Toward the end of last year, they were in a good place—or so Xander thought. He should have known better. Xavier has always been the one to leave, ever since their parents died.

They hung out a lot last year, and Xander was excited to have his brother back. Xavier even made an effort to tolerate Liza, which Xander appreciated. But on Christmas Eve, Xavier came to Xander's study, asking for a huge sum of money, which Xander gave him, trusting his brother again. All he asked was for Xavier to show up at an important event where Xander was signing a huge deal. There was a dinner party. Xavier did show up—with snow under his nose, high as fuck. Turns out the money was for drugs. He ruined the entire dinner.

Even so, Xander looked after him the whole night, only to wake up to the news that Xavier had packed up and disappeared.

"I deserve it," Xavier says quietly.

---

"Whoa," Xavier says, joining Cara in the living room.

"What?" Cara asks, glancing down at her chest where his eyes are locked.

"Almost didn't recognize you with clothes on," Xavier teases.

"Ha, ha, ha," Cara replies dryly.

"I'm Xavier Black," he introduces himself, sitting on the couch across from her.

"Cara," she says with a smile.

"Wait a minute—no 'OMG, I can't believe I'm sitting next to you, please sign my boobs!'" He tries to imitate a fangirl, and Cara has to stifle a laugh at how badly he fails.

"Are you Jesus?" she asks, and he shakes his head.

"Are you Beyoncé?"

"No."

"Then no," Cara says, dismissing him.

"I'm hurt, Cara Bear. How do you not know me?" He puts a hand dramatically over his heart.

Cara bristles at the nickname. "It's Cara," she corrects.

"Sorry about that, Caroline," Xavier says with a wink.

He's definitely different from Xander. And he's got a sense of humor. Cara likes him.

Now that she's thinking about it, she notices a few differences between the twins. Xavier's hair is blonde, while Xander's is black. Xavier's nose is a little crooked—clearly someone who's been punched a lot. Other than that, though, they're identical.

"Sooo, you're pregnant," Xavier says, glancing at her baby bump.

"No, I just had a big lunch," Cara says sarcastically. "Twins."

"Aww, you're going to have a mini-me and Xander," Xavier says with a pout.

"Hopefully not," Cara scoffs.

Xavier reaches for the remote on the coffee table beside him. "Don't play it—your brother's going to flip," Cara warns, seeing him eye the TV.

"Then we definitely have to play it," Xavier says with a smirk.

Did Cara mention that she likes this guy? She freaking loves him.

Before Xavier can press a button, they both hear footsteps heading downstairs. They turn to see Xander in a suit, briefcase in hand, heading for the door.

"I thought you were going to work from home," Cara calls out.

"I changed my mind," Xander replies, walking out the door.

Cara turns to his brother. "Did he just leave because of your arrival?"

"Yeah," Xavier says bluntly.

"Wow, I don't even chase him away that fast. Nice to see someone Xander is an asshole to besides me."

"Why would he be an asshole to you? Aren't you guys in love or something?"

Cara stares at him, surprised. "Wait a minute, he didn't tell you?"

---

"Wow," Xavier says, his mouth slightly open. Cara has just told him everything—from the motorcycle scratch to the twins she's having.

"I know. I'm insane."

"Yeah, but I love you. Seriously, I should get a ring. I'm going to marry you."

"And I might say yes depending on the carats of diamonds."

Xavier laughs as he finally presses play and the music comes on. "I like you," he says quietly, and their eyes meet.

She smiles, and he smiles back.

---

"Nah, girl, this is definitely a pregnancy bump," Dianne says, zooming in on a recent paparazzi picture of Cara. "Didn't you say Alexander is just lying to make you jealous? But it looks like he's telling the press the truth." Dianne pauses, waiting for Liza's reaction. As expected, Liza's stopped her makeup artist from applying contour, her eyes fixed on Dianne through the mirror, intent to kill.

Which only encourages Dianne. "If you ask me, I think he's really over you. He's got a new girl who's pregnant."

Liza's fists clench. "Well, no one is asking you, so shut up," she snaps.

"You know, maybe—"

"I said shut up. I don't even know why I keep you around. You're so negative."

The makeup artist tries to apply more makeup, but Liza swats the brush away, sending it flying across the room. "I said stop and leave!" she yells.

The makeup artist hurriedly starts packing up her things, but Liza shouts louder, "Go!"

She drops everything and runs out of the room, leaving Dianne smirking at the chaos.

"What are you still doing here? I want this room empty." Liza glares at Dianne through the mirror.

"Whatever, I'm leaving." Dianne grabs her Chanel bag and slings it over her shoulder. She stands, smoothing down her neon bandage dress.

"'Whatever, I'm leaving,'" Liza mimics in a mocking tone.

Dianne pauses at the door, turning back to face Liza. "You know, putting on a black wig and piling on makeup won't bring him back. Maybe it's time to move on." With that, she walks out.

Liza feels the anger bubbling up inside her. She wants to scream, and then she does, sweeping all the makeup off the counter with one furious motion.

She's not going to move on. They're soulmates. She may have messed up, but she's going to fix it. Their love can't just fade away like that. It won't. She's going to get him back.