Page 126 of Their Little Ghost

She rotates to see herself from all angles in the mirror.

“Don’t you think it’s a little…” She looks at her cleavage. “Revealing?”

“You’re pretending to be me, remember? It’s perfect,” I say. “We just need to dye your hair, and I’ll do your makeup. No onewill know. If Dad finds out about the party, I’ll be the one getting in trouble—not you. You’ve got nothing to lose.”

“Twin switch,” she says, nodding. “One last time. And you have to promise to re-dye my hair before Dad gets home.”

“Consider it done,” I say, holding out my hand.

We shake on it.

Both of us will get what we want on Friday night.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-EIGHT

SARAH

“Are you sure about this?”Erin asks. “Do you really think it’ll work?”

“Of course,” I say. “If I can hardly tell us apart, no one else will.”

After giving Erin a makeover and style re-haul, looking at her is like staring into a mirror. Our eerie likeness is unnerving.

“What if Max can tell?” she says.

“Boys don’t pay real attention when they’re trying to get into your pants,” I say. “Just smile and laugh at whatever he says. You’ll have him eating out of the palm of your hand in no time.”

She giggles nervously, and her cheeks flush. When was the last time I saw her this happy? I’m struck by a sense of pride. Maybe I’ll turn my obedient sister into a rebel after all.

Erin shakes her head. “I still can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“You’ll do great,” I say, adjusting the hairline on my itchy wig.

With Erin pretending to be me, I needed a disguise. I cut a black wig I once wore for Halloween into a sharp-cut bob, like Uma Thurman inPulp Fiction.

“Are you still not telling me where you’re going?” she asks.

We wait under the streetlights on a street corner a few blocks away from home, waiting for two separate cabs to take us to our next locations. Climbing out of Erin’s window and sneaking through the backyard was easy. Mom has friends over—they’re too busy drinking and complaining about another woman in their book club to notice our absence.

I shake my head. “I told you, where I’m going doesn’t matter.”

“Well, I hope he’s worth it,” she replies knowingly.

I can’t help but grin. They are.

The first cab comes to a stop in front of us, and I give Erin an encouraging push.

“Have fun,” I say.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she says, pausing before getting in. “And, Sarah?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks for… you know.”

I wink. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”