Page 12 of Bones

“Shame,” she mutters, tucking her dark hair back behind her ear. Her gaze roams over my body. “What do you do for work? You never said.”

“I’m a mechanic. My brother and I own our own shop.”

“Your shop’s not open this weekend?” she asks with a cheeky smirk.

“It is, but we have staff that can handle it if both of us aren’t there.”

“Why is your brother not there?”

“He’s away for a few days with his woman,” I reply, not wanting to open up about Natalia just yet.

She nods slowly, as if she’s just pieced something together. “Do you like his woman?”

“Yeah, I do. She’s perfect for him,” I tell her honestly.

“But?”

I tilt my head to the side. “There is no but. She’s an amazing woman.”

“In my office, you said…” She trails off. “You feel left behind because his girlfriend is now his number one instead of you?”

Well, fucking ouch.

“Thanks for the reminder,” I mutter, and she just shakes her head.

“Nothing can ever stay the same, Nate. If it did, no one would have any growth. Your brother finding another person to love doesn’t mean he loves you any less. And what about when you meet someone? You’ll do the same and put her first, just like you’re meant to. And she will put you first in return,” she says gently, studying me a little too closely.

“Yeah, I know.” I didn’t think I’d ever meet someone I wanted to be solely mine. Bringing my beer to my lips, I take a drink.

“Just be honest with me. You brought me here to talk, so stop holding back. You can trust me. I’m sitting here on the couch with you, drinking a beer, after you kidnapped me!” she ungracefully reminds me.

If I’m too honest with her, she might not want anything to do with me.

“My brother is my twin,” I admit, and her eyes widen. “Identical twin. We used to do everything together. Now I get to ask you a question… you seeing anyone?”

“No, I’m single,” she replies. I arch my brow at her to give me more, and she sighs. “Two boyfriends. One in high school and one in college. Both ended up being assholes. You?”

“Single. Had a few girlfriends when I was younger, but nothing serious.”

“You’ve had no girlfriends in your adult life, no commitment?” she asks, a speculative look now etched on her face.

“Nope, just casual,” I say, clearing my throat.

“Interesting,” she muses, and I regret giving her that bit of information. “Scared of commitment?”

“No, just never felt that connected to someone to offer it.”

“Because the only person you’ve ever felt so connected to is your twin,” she says quietly, her eyes going back to the screen.

“I mean, I have close friends who are more like brothers. But my twin, we’ve been through everything together. You know?”

“Womb mates.” She grins, and I laugh.

“Exactly.”

She glances down at her beer, then back up to me. “I’m safe here?”

“You have my word.”