Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

RENE

I tried calling Ryan again. He'd been pissed at me before for blowing him off and not going out on his boat with him. But he'd always forgiven me. Two days' worth was a bit excessive even for his tantrums. He wasn't answering his phone, he wasn't home, his bike was gone. The only place I hadn't checked was his boat.

My I.D. for work was needed to punch in tomorrow. Yeah, so he did me a favor, which was why Ryan had my wallet to begin with. We usually talked every day for one reason or another. Dad always said it was a twin thing. He was right.

Mom passed away giving birth to us, so it had always just been Dad, and he gave us his all. Now that Dad was gone, I needed to be more considerate of my twin. From the time we were born, we could always sense if something was going on with the other. I'd be damned if I sensed zip now. Ryan, just where the hell are you?

I'd go to the marina. If Ryan wasn't there, I'd take my speedboat out. My bike was in the shop for maintenance and inspection. Guess I'd have to ask Lex, my soon-to-be ex-boyfriend. We would have been fine if he hadn't gotten his knickers in a twist when that blonde bombshell hit on me. He knew I was bi, so my getting turned on by her rack shouldn't have been a surprise. It wasn't as if anything happened besides a momentary light flirt.

"Hey, Lex, can you give me a lift to the marina? I need to go find Ryan." I hollered from the kitchen, but he was within earshot in my living room. That was a thing I liked about open concept. He was playing on his phone, texting, so I knew he heard me. Getting him out of my house couldn't happen too soon. He only had a bag here, another reason for his attitude, I wouldn't let him move in with me.

"Lex!" I hated to raise my voice. No response.

I went to the hallway and picked up his bag that was always packed and put it next to the entry table. His keys were on the entry table, so I took my house key off his keyring.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?"

That got his attention. He jumped up from the sofa and looked at his keys in my hand, then noticed the house key in my other hand.

"So, you're kicking me out? Are we breaking up too?" His face looked like it would melt, then he'd start the tears.

I'd swear I should have expected a meltdown.

"Look Lex. I tried to talk with you and you ignored me. Ryan is missing and I needed a lift to the marina so I can try to find my brother."

"Your brother, your twin, blah, blah, blah so predictable and boring."

When he looked at my face, he could tell he had crossed a line that we would never recover from.

"I'm sorry, Rene. It's just…"

"Just nothing." I couldn't have been or felt colder if I had taken the polar plunge. "Can you take me to the marina or not?" I stood still, waiting for some type of response. Lex only picked at a piece of lint on his shirt, then gave a sideway glance at me. "Well, yes or no?"

"If I say yes, will you let me stay?"

Really? He thought his bedroom eyes would salvage this bullshit? I touched his chin and lifted his face so his eyes were staring into mine.

"No."

Lex stomped his foot. "This isn't fair! You needed me when we started up."

"Don't you say another word. Get your shit and get out of my house. Do not return, and lose my phone number. You have your own apartment, so it's not like you'll be homeless. We are over. No return, no nothing. Your bag is there, and I took my book out of it. If you didn't read it in three months, you had no intention in reading it."

"Fine. Fine. I'll give you a ride to the marina. We'll talk after you've found Ryan and cooled off."

Lex walked out the door as I pocketed the key he once had. I grabbed Ryan's wallet, my keys and phone. The bag was still by the door. I picked it up on my way out and tossed it in his back seat. He looked surprised, but said nothing.

"To the marina then, Rene? Do you want help looking for Ryan? I could help." The whine was a bit much.

I nodded and he headed toward the marina. Lex kept reaching over like we would hold hands while he drove, like we used to. I put my hands in my lap.

"Come on, Rene. You know you'll get over this and we'll be together. You'll forgive me and maybe after a time, you'll let me move in."

I hit the dashboard with my fist and he hit the brakes then pulled over to the side of the road. Good thing we weren't going fast or we'd both have gone through the windshield. I'd had enough!

"WE ARE NOT GETTING BACK TOGETHER AT ALL FOR ANY REASON!!" I was yelling at the top of my lungs. Something I hadn't done since Ryan and I were kids and he made me try that sour candy. I hated that stuff almost as much as I hated this conversation.

"Well then, you can get your ass out of my car." He looked like a bobble head when he spoke.

I got out and Lex sped off, leaving me stranded by the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere. That had to have been the most interesting thing he'd done in months.

A glance around at the road signs showed that I wasn't as stranded as I'd thought. The Fish-n-Dip convenience store was actually close. I'd just go there, hitch a ride to the marina from whoever, then try to find Ryan.