Page 52

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SEVEN

SARAH

I groan and touch myself while watching the video of Lex and Eli fucking me for the first time. I listen to my moans as Aiden zooms in on Lex spreading my ass cheeks and captures the moment he enters me.

Fuck.

I bite my lip and come hard over my fingers.

As soon as the wave of pleasure tapers, a deep emptiness replaces my momentary bliss. I miss the guys. Until I see them again, the video is all I have to satisfy my desires.

I reread Lex’s text for what feels like the hundredth time. I have two phones—one that Dad monitors and my real one. I’ve had two since I realized that he installed hidden software to read my messages, which has come in handy.

Since Dad caught me and Eli together, I’ve been under house arrest. He escorts me and Erin to and from school.

He’s locked my windows to stop me from climbing out at night and positioned motion-triggered alarms on every door to the outside, so he knows if anyone leaves the house.

When I’m not at home or school, I’m in different therapists’ offices.

He’s trying everything to stamp out my ‘rebellious’ nature, but he doesn’t understand that I’m just being me.

I text Lex.

Can’t wait to see you.

I only have to wait two more days. The secluded hunting cabin will be a perfect meeting spot. In the meantime, all I have to do is figure out a way around Dad’s security measures.

“Sarah!” Mom calls up the stairs. “Breakfast!”

I groan. “I’m not hungry.”

Boxes are piled up in my room. We’re officially moving to Pasturesville next week.

Our move has been delayed a few times because of building renovations.

Secretly, I think Dad’s been delaying things purposefully until he ‘fixes’ me.

He doesn’t want his daughter showing him up at the posh academy we’re starting.

I quickly check under my pillow to make sure my diary is there before going to hide it in my secret spot in the wardrobe.

I’m not the type of girl who keeps a diary—that’s more Erin’s thing.

However, since helping the guys search for evidence of what’s happening at Sunnycrest, I decided to start keeping evidence of my own.

If anything ever happens to me, I want a record of what Dad’s done; the nights he’s locked me in the asylum, his fights with Mom… all of it.

A knock on my door makes me throw a pillow across the room.

“I told you, Mom,” I yell. “I’m not hungry.”

The door inches open, and Erin pokes her head around it.

“What do you want?”

She shuffles inside and shuts the door quietly behind her.

“What are you wearing?” I frown. “You look like you’re going to a funeral.”

Her black shapeless below-the-knee dress and buttoned-up cardigan do nothing for her figure.

Mom’s taken Erin shopping countless times, but they always return with the same type of clothes.

I’ve seen less conservative outfits at a Sunday church service.

When Mom and I go shopping, we burn through Dad’s platinum credit card with glee, but Erin treats it as a chore.

Considering how miserable he makes us, we may as well take advantage of the opportunity.

“It’s the last day of school.” Erin blushes and plays with the hem of her dowdy dress. “I thought I’d dress up.”

“Seriously, Erin, you look like a nun,” I say. “Why don’t you borrow something? We’re the same size.”

I jump out of bed, wearing only a crop top and panties. Her eyes bulge at my tiny lace thong. She probably wears huge white bloomers.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Erin murmurs. “We don’t exactly have the same style.”

“We’re almost eighteen, not eighty.” I roll my eyes. “It won’t kill you to look or act your age. We’re moving soon. Why don’t you leave with a bang?”

She chews her bottom lip thoughtfully, the way she always does when she’s conflicted about something.

We used to be close when we were kids. Her quiet personality complemented mine.

I was the performer, and she was the perfect audience.

She always encouraged me, clapping when I danced and did silly things, but she was too shy and self-conscious to take part herself, even though I could tell she secretly wanted to.

For identical twins, I seemed to have got all the confidence genes.

“What is it?” I ask. She’s obviously holding something back. “I know we’re not as close as we used to be.” I soften my tone. “But you can still talk to me.”

She stays quiet.

“Come on,” I encourage. “Spit it out then.”

“Is it true that you and Max have split up?” she asks, her eyes sparkling with hope. “I heard some girls talking about it yesterday in gym class.”

“We were never really together,” I reply. “We went on a few dates. That’s all. He’s not my type.”

Her lips twitch into a tiny smile. “Oh, okay…”

“You like him, don’t you?”

She quickly glances over her shoulder, even though the door’s closed.

“Don’t worry. Dad’s already left. He’s away for the weekend, remember? Some business trip.” That’s why this weekend will be the perfect time to meet the guys. “I won’t tell him that his little angel has a crush.”

“Well, I wouldn’t call it a crush…”

“You can’t lie to me,” I say. “It’s written all over your face. You like Max. Admit it.”

I still don’t get Max’s appeal, but I can understand how a clean-cut hockey player seems enticing to Erin. She’s watched too many movies about sports stars falling for the nerdy girls.

Erin would get a lot of male attention if she put herself out there. Her ugly clothes and lack of effort don’t help. Appearance is everything in a school like ours.

“I guess Max is cute,” she says reluctantly.

“So borrow a dress,” I say. “He’ll notice you then.”

“I’m not like you, Sarah.” She sighs wistfully. “Your clothes won’t look good on me.”

“Have you looked in the mirror lately? We’re identical twins!” I say. “What looks good on me looks good on you.”

“I don’t know…”

“Did you hear about the party on Friday night?” I ask, getting an idea that could be advantageous for us both. “A final blowout to celebrate the end of the semester.”

Her eyes narrow in suspicion. “What about it?”

“You should go,” I say. “Everyone’s invited.”

She shakes her head vigorously. “No, I can’t.” Her eyes almost pop out of their sockets. “And neither can you! What if Dad finds out? The cameras will see you. He’ll be watching.”

“Relax,” I say. “First, he’s out of town. And second, I’m not going to the party.”

“I can’t go alone,” she says. “I never go to parties. I don’t know what to say to people.”

I flick through the many outfits hanging in my closet and pick out a dress I know Max likes. It’s a navy slinky bodycon. I wore it on our first date, as it’s the hockey team’s color. That’ll draw his attention. I hold it up against Erin. It’ll be perfect.

“Do you remember the game we used to play when we were little?” I ask. “Twin switch?”

Back then, it was almost impossible to tell us apart. Since I started dying my hair blonde and wearing makeup, it’s made it easier.

“Yeah.” Erin giggles. “That was fun.”

Sometimes, we’d switch places. Mom and Dad never noticed. For a wallflower, Erin did a great job of coming out of her shell when she pretended to be me.

“Why don’t we play it again on Friday?” I wiggle my eyebrows. “You pretend to be me at the party and see Max?”

“That’d never work.” She gasps. “Plus, we have different hair. People will know.”

I rummage around in the back of the closet and find a box of bleach.

“We have time to give you a makeover before then,” I say. “We can pull it off.”

“But I’d be lying,” she says.

“So what?” I roll my eyes. “We’re moving to Pasturesville. This will be the last time we ever see these people. What’s wrong with having a little fun for one night?”

“What do you get out of it?”

Erin’s not stupid.

I bat my eyelashes innocently. “What do you mean?”

“I know you, Sarah,” she says. “If I’m at the party pretending to be you, I know you’re not gonna stay home and do homework. What are you planning?”

“What I’m doing doesn’t matter,” I say. “Let’s just say it’ll be mutually beneficial.”

“If I agree, and that’s a big if,” she says. “How will we get out? The front door’s alarmed and your window’s locked.”

“Your bedroom,” I say, excitement bubbling in my stomach.

If Erin agrees to break the rules, this will work.

“He hasn’t locked your window. We can climb out onto the garage, then shimmy down.

Mom will be busy drowning her sorrows with a bottle of wine and won’t notice we’re gone, and we’ll be back by morning. Easy-peasy!”

“I don’t know…”

“Live a little!” I shake the blue dress enticingly. “You could be making out with Max in a few days.” I thrust the dress into her hands. “At least try it on.”

She beams, and her entire face lights up. “Fine. I guess trying it on won’t hurt…”

It’s been a long time since she’s smiled like that. Maybe we should spend more time together. Dad’s constant comparison game has created a divide between us. This is the first step to rebuilding our relationship.

When she’s dressed, I wolf-whistle. “You look hot.”

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 one will 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.