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I could hear them before I even saw them. The moment they exited their home, my jaw was unhinged. It was like a scene from Baywatch. Two outrageously attractive guys walked out as if they were in slow motion. A middle school-aged girl trailed behind them, not looking pleased to be following their lead.

Perhaps the slow motion was just in my head.

My mother mentioned they were twins, but I would have never guessed they were even brothers. The one had brown hair so dark, it almost looked black, whereas the other had sun-kissed locks. Once they got closer, I noted their contrasting eye colors. Both would fit on the cover of Vogue, despite their different appearances.

The hazel-eyed brother reached us first. His radiant smile lit his entire face up with joy. The other looked as if someone kicked his puppy. He’d rather be anywhere else.

“Joshua.” My mother greeted the friendlier brother with a hug. “I could recognize those eyes anywhere.”

My mother wasn’t wrong. He seemed delighted by the sign of affection. She reached out to hug the other, but he recoiled.

“Hey.” He said.

“Asher, be nice.” His mother scolded.

“I said, hey.”

Mrs. Hart grimaced. She placed her hands on the younger girl’s shoulders.

“Hi, Gracie.” My mom said. “You’ve grown up so much.”

Noah, being Noah, extended his hand to the friendlier sibling.

“I’m Noah.”

He shook my brother’s hand.

“Noah is a hockey player, too.” My mother said.

I guess it was her way of trying to help Noah make friends, as if he needed it.

“You’re just in time for tryouts.” Joshua said.

Asher scoffed, and our heads turned to him.

“Can I go back inside now?”

We were unsure of how to respond or act.

“Do you always have to be such a jerk?”

Maybe his brother did.

“Do you always have to be such a kiss-ass?”

It was like every episode of a reality show, except this drama was unscripted.

“Boys, not now.” Their mother said.

The aggravated dirty blonde rolled his eyes and stormed back into his home, slamming the door behind him. His brother sighed, then turned to me with widened eyes, as if suddenly aware of my presence. He extended his hand to me.

“You must be Sawyer.”

I never knew brown eyes could be so enchanting, but he’d just proven me wrong. My face flushed at his intense gaze. I shook his hand.

“Nice to meet you.”

It shocked me that I could introduce myself without stuttering. I had little experience talking to boys who weren’t related to me.