you would help me tonight.” Taylin followed her twin into her bedroom. Clothes—some of which were Taylin’s—were scattered all over the floor and unmade bed. “I need you.”
Ashlee laughed and slipped on a pair of red stilettos. “You do not. We both know the invite was because you felt sorry for me after that jerk of a boyfriend of mine cheated on me.”
“Maybe, but I really could use your help, and the kids like you.”
“They like you better. Besides, you should get Jared to help you. He’s into all things Xbox, right?”
Taylin held back an eye roll. The one and only time she’d asked her boyfriend to help her at the youth center, he’d told her he wasn’t into churchy stuff other than his sporadic church attendance on Sunday.
“Since dancing doesn’t involve shooting or killing then I doubt he’d be interested.”
“Get Pastor Dave’s wife. She loves that kind of thing.” Ashlee slipped on a leather jacket. Taylin’s new leather jacket.
“Where are you going anyway?” Taylin asked, feeling slightly irritable that Ashlee hadn’t asked if she could wear the coat.
“Grayson, a new guy at the office, asked me to dinner tonight.” Ashlee’s blue eyes lit up. “He’s so cute and a little on the shy side. If I turned him down, even for something as legit as volunteering at the youth center, he’d never get up the guts to ask me out again.”
Taylin wasn’t sure what new guy her sister was referring to since she had a new crush almost weekly. To be honest, Taylin didn’t even know what office Ashlee currently worked for. She changed jobs almost as fast as boyfriends.
Ashlee spritzed on some perfume. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful,” Taylin said. Although they looked similar, and most people thought she and Ashlee were identical twins, Taylin always felt like her sister was prettier.
“Thank you.” She hugged Taylin. “By the way, do you mind if I borrow your new jacket? Please?”
Ashlee had a tendency to misplace items like sweaters, jackets and occasionally shoes. Taylin had no idea how it happened, but loaning her sister clothing always held a risk.
“No, I don’t mind. Just please don’t lose it.” Taylin pulled back. “I’ve only worn it once.”
“I promise not to lose it.” Ashlee grabbed her purse. “Good luck tonight.”
“Thanks.”
Both girls heard the doorbell chime.
“That’s him!” Ashlee squealed. “I’ll see you later.”
Ashlee darted out of the room, and Taylin slowly followed behind her. Since their parents weren’t at home, Ashlee answered the door. Staying out of sight, Taylin watched her sister work her magic. The girl might struggle with finding a career, but she knew how to flirt.
Her date was pretty cute. He looked a little like Ryan Reynolds. A nervous Ryan Reynolds. Ashlee said something that made him laugh and the guy seemed to loosen up a little. He seemed like a decent guy. At least he was gentleman enough to come to the door.
That was more than could be said for Jared. Since they’d been dating the past few months, he rarely came to the door to get her. Usually he sent her a text to notify her he was on his way, and she’d watch for him out the window. Or, lately, Taylin ended up meeting him over at his condo. Either way, her parents weren’t impressed with Jared.
After grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge, Taylin made her way outside. A warm breeze tousled her long hair. She loved the weather in Georgia, especially this time of year. Not too hot, and definitely not too cold. It was perfect.
She climbed into her car and started the engine, noting the outside temperature on the overhead console. Lifting her phone up, she took a picture of the number eighty-two and then sent the picture to her brother Chase. He and his wife, Addie, lived in Idaho, and even though this was his sixth year living out West, Chase still missed the warmer temps of his home state.
The leaves in the Idaho Mountains not far from