Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (sight word books .txt) 📕

said he knew a guy last week, but it’s been one thingafter another and I’m having a hell of a time trying to land just the rightpiece. I had to come down to talk to Abel about a job I’m working on for him soI was hoping I might run into Beast.”

They stood there in the middle of the gym discussing the car Ninewas talking about. They’d been at it for a few minutes when he heard it. Thatunmistakable giggle, then an all-out laugh. It’d only been a day since he’dbeen witness to the nauseating sight of her kissing another guy, and already hisreaction to hearing the laughter had changed. It didn’t do what it normally didto him. Instead, he went instantly taut with utter irritation. Turning aroundto the direction it was coming from, his eyes zeroed in on her as she latchedboth arms around the guy she was walking with and continued to laugh.

“I am not!” she laughed leaning into him.

This guy was a new one. Not the meathead he’d seen her here withbefore. Though he hadn’t actually gotten a good look at the one she’d beenkissing yesterday, he wouldn’t be surprised if that was a different guy too. Hewatched as the dude she was with now rolled his eyes but laughed shaking hishead.

Byron’s feet were already moving before he could even think onit. With every heavy step he took, Byron reminded himself to keep his cool. Hejust needed to get what’d been on his mind all fucking day yesterday and todayoff his chest, but it’d be done without cussing or making a scene. He coulddo this.

Within seconds, he was in front of them blocking them fromcontinuing to walk. Her reaction to his blocking her from walking was asexpected, a bit startled. But also, and infuriatingly somewhat confused.As if she hadn’t a clue why he might be standing there looking ready tospit. “I know you said you had friends but just how many of them? I was lastweek, there was King Taco dude yesterday, and now this?”

Byron glared at the guy whose brows had begun to furrow inquestion now too. He looked as young as her—maybe younger. But of course, givenher stature he towered over her at nearly Byron’s height. As if sensing howugly this could get, she placed her hand on the guy’s shoulder. Instead ofdiffusing the situation, it only heightened the tension because the dude lookedready to get in Byron’s face now. Clenching his fists, Byron stared him downwith even more conviction, silently imploring the stupid fuck to make a move.

“Do I know you?”

Feeling his entire body flinch, Byron jerked his face away fromthe guy and in Vannah’s direction. She peered at him looking genuinely befuddled.As if his insides weren’t already on fire, Mrs. casual-dater-with-no-strings-attachedwas going to play this card to cover her ass?

He peered into those eyes. Despite what they did to him—this was bullshit—hecouldn’t believe how fast he’d gotten sucked in. “You’re fucking kidding mewith this shit, right?”

Fifteen

Bombshell

Vannah

The eruption of voices sounded like maybe a large groupof people had entered the gym suddenly. The gym was loud to begin with, whatwith the music playing and all the clanking of weights and such. It’s whyneither Vannah nor her dad thought anything of it at first. Until theyheard Nena trying to calm her brother, followed by Taz’s booming voice. Both Vannahand her dad turned immediately and saw the commotion. Nena and another guy wereholding her incensed brother back. Vannah and her dad immediately bolted intheir direction.

“Where the fuck do you get off—”

The rest of what her brother was ranting about, warped in Vannah’sears as she froze in place. Nine, Byron’s business partner, one of the otherguys he referred to as his brothers, was struggling to hold an equally enragedlooking Byron back from going at it—with her brother.

“What in the world . . .” she whispered as her heart poundedagainst her chest.

Reminding herself to walk, she started up again toward her dadwho was already there holding Taz back. “This fucker—”

“Alright! Alright!” Vannah’s dad said trying to calm Taz down.“Relax, son.”

“If it doesn’t matter, then why the act?” Byron barked at Nenajust as loudly.

Suddenly beginning to understand what the situation might be,Vannah scurried toward them, her heart at her throat because both her brotherand dad looked ready to burst and pummel Byron, she practically sprinted.“Byron!”

Byron glanced her way quickly, turned back to Nena just as quick,then jerked his face back to Vannah. His eyes bulged wide, and he looked asconfused as she completely understood he would be.

“She’s my twin,” Vannah explained as she made her way through theparting crowd. “Nena and I are identical twins.”

“I thought. . .”  He gasped, as Nine let him loose since he’dinstantly calmed.

Though the nosey crowd didn’t immediately disperse. Some stuckaround gawking and listening to how this would play out.

“I saw you—” Byron stopped and turned to Nena. “Was that you atKing Taco yesterday?”

They all turned to Nena as she thought about it for a moment thennodded. “I was there yesterday.” She smiled coyly glancing at her dad andbrother. “I always go there when I’m in town.”

Now the crowd began to dissolve slowly since things had begun to calm.“I . . .” Byron shook his head, his earlier blood-red face and neck going pale fast.“I’m sorry. I saw you with that guy at King Taco yesterday and I thought it wasVannah. Then today—”

“It’s okay,” Vannah said incredibly relieved because his text andhis anger now were suddenly making more sense and if her dad and brother weren’tthere she’d jump in his arms. “I should’ve mentioned I have a twin.” Turning toher dad, she smiled softening his hardened expression instantly. “Daddy, thisis Byron, a friend of mine.” She turned to her brother next. “Taz,” she said inher sweetest voice and squeezed his arm. “You big silly. He was justconfused because he thought she was me, okay? I don’t know what he said thatgot you so riled up, but I know it doesn’t take much.”

“Yeah, man. I’m sorry.” Byron shook his head again holding