Taking Chances by Ann Omasta (books for 7th graders .txt) 📕

myself further into the water. I felt as relaxed as a bowl of noodles, with the exception of my heart, which was about ready to beat out my chest, as it always did when Sam was near.

 

I had sensed the return of his façade, so I shifted the conversation. “Why would you think you are the evil twin?”

 

“Because Seth is so good, and I am so bad.” His answer was simple.

 

“Seth wouldn’t agree with that. He was quick to tell me that he wouldn’t be alive, if it weren’t for you and your ‘twin sense.’”

 

“Well, what he doesn’t know, what no one knows, is that I hesitated that day out on the boat.” He peered up at me from lowered lids as if concerned that I would be shocked by his confession. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I waited for him to continue.

 

I didn’t have to wait long. “Seth was born first, and ever since, I have been trying to catch up with him. He’s always been a little faster, a little smarter, and a little better at everything. The really annoying part is that he doesn’t even try. He doesn’t have a competitive bone in his body and couldn’t care less if he wins, but somehow he always comes out on top. I try not to let it bother me, but sometimes it gets to me.”

 

He ran a hand through his shiny black hair before forging on. “When we were out on the lake that day, no one else noticed that he didn’t surface right away. I could feel that he was in trouble and, I waited. I stood there imagining what life would be like without him, rather than immediately jumping in to save him.”

 

The tortured look on his face said more than his words. I grabbed his hands with mine before saying, “You did save him, that’s the important part. Anyone might have had wayward thoughts, but you overcame them and did the right thing.”

 

“I shouldn’t have hesitated. What if something had happened to him because I didn’t jump in right away?”

 

“Nothing bad happened. It all worked out in the end, so you need to stop beating yourself up about it. We all have thoughts that we aren’t proud of, but it’s our actions that matter.” I pictured the sexy fantasies that I imagined whenever I was with Sam.

 

I wondered if he could read my mind when he said, “What if I have naughty thoughts about my brother’s girlfriend?”

 

Was he teasing me? I couldn’t read him very well, but he certainly seemed sincere. I decided to play it off as a joke. “Oh please, I’m not your type at all.”

 

“How do you know what my type is?” he countered. “I’ve been thinking about you non-stop since our unbelievably hot make-out session in the bathroom at the charity auction.”

 

“I thought you were Seth,” I responded automatically.

 

“I know, and that makes it even worse. He always wins. Why did he get to you first, too?” He was looking down, shaking his head. “Now I sound like a whiny brat,” he muttered.

 

I realized what this was. He wasn’t interested in me. It was just another way to compete with his brother. “I won’t be a pawn in your rivalry with Seth.” I spat the words out.

 

“I thought that too, at first, but it’s more than that.” He placed my hand directly over his heart and I could feel it thumping wildly. It was beating almost as frantically as my own.

 

I yanked my hand back. “That is a purely physiological reaction. My heart is racing, too.” He held up a hand and wiggled his brows, indicating his willingness to feel mine. I shoved his hand away, chuckling at his naughtiness.

 

“I’m very attracted to you, Abby, and believe me, it has nothing to do with my brother.”

 

I felt flustered by his direct gaze and blunt words. I could feel my body reacting to him, wanting to pull him to me. I didn’t dare to admit, even to myself, how much I wanted him, but there was no denying that my body had a magnetic reaction to him.

 

He shifted so that he was face to face with me. “I do have one question before I jump your bones.” His words filled me with anticipation as arousal zinged through me. “Are you and Seth finished?”

 

I wasn’t sure how to respond. I desired this man more than I had ever wanted anyone, even though he had made it clear that he uses women for sex. I was appalled that I wasn’t utterly revolted by his attitude.

 

My brain wanted to tell him to buzz off, but every pore in my body was screaming at me to go for it. The rational side of me couldn’t fathom being intimate with brothers, especially not twins; but the lusty side of me just didn’t care. I wanted him. My body craved him.

 

I wondered if Seth would mind if he found out. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t like it, but hadn’t he given up the right to say anything about whom I slept with when he unceremoniously dumped me?

 

It’s just wrong, my brain screamed at me. Do you want to end up on a sleazy talk show?

 

“I’m waiting for an answer,” Sam reminded me.

 

I took a deep breath, still struggling to formulate my response.