Chapter 8

The crisp autumn air nipped at their noses as Alice and Ethan walked through the park, carrying warm wrapped sandwiches and hot cider from a nearby cafe. They found an empty bench near a quiet pond, where they could sit and talk privately.

“Thanks for buying lunch,” Alice said, taking a bite of her sandwich. “I’m starving.”

Ethan nodded, unwrapping his own sandwich. “Me too. Strategist Lee really worked us hard today. I didn’t expect that using our abilities would work up such an appetite. This morning went really well, though”

Alice nodded, taking a second to finish her bite to reply. “Our essence didn’t last as long as I had hoped. Strategist Lee is right about having to learn to toggle the boost at the right time. It’s going to take a lot of practice to learn how and when you decide to apply the boost. We’re going to have to learn how you think so all of us can be on the same page.”

They ate in comfortable silence for a few moments before Ethan spoke up. “So, we should probably talk about us.”

Alice looked at him, her expression serious. “Yea. I’m not really sure how to start.”

Ethan took a deep breath. “I know I’ve asked this over and over, but it’s important. I want to make sure that both of us are still comfortable with everything that’s happened and where it might lead.”

Alice nodded in agreement. “I’m okay with what’s happened, but I think we need to be honest with each other. We can’t lie to ourselves about where something like this leads.”

Ethan met her eyes. “You’re talking about us having sex?”

Alice met his gaze, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Yes. I mean, we’ve already done a lot together, and I think it’s only natural that things might escalate. We’ve kissed, I came on you, that’s not something to just brush off.” She gave a nervous laugh at her frankness. “It’s sex but it’s not ‘sex’ you know? I want to make sure that we’re both okay with it, the idea that more is going to happen.”

Ethan thought for a moment before speaking. “I’m not going to lie, the idea of having sex with my twin sister is weird. But it doesn’t scare me the way I think it should. I mean, we’ve already done so much together, and it’s been ... intense. But in a good way.”

Alice nodded in agreement. “I feel the same way. It’s like, we’ve crossed so many lines already, and none of them have felt wrong. Just different. We don’t have to rush things just because we’ve talked about it leading there, but I’m glad we’re able to just speak frankly about it.”

“So we keep seeing where this goes, then?” Ethan asked. “To the end, that is. And if either of us get uncomfortable or feel we’re moving too fast, we say something.”

“Yea. Now I kinda think this conversation might end up with us going faster, you know?” Alice paused to take a sip of her cider. “We kind of just agreed to fuck, right? That’s what we’re talking about. Hard to imagine going slower when we’ve already agreed to the end.”

Ethan took another bite of his sandwich before continuing, nearly coughing as Alice put it so bluntly. “I agree and the idea of it excites me, but I think we need to talk about Penny too. She’s as much a part of this as either of us.”

Alice looked down at her food, her expression thoughtful. “I’ve been thinking about that too. I mean, Penny and I have always been close, but lately, I’ve been discovering that some of my feelings for her go beyond just friendship.”

Ethan reached out, taking her hand in his. “It’s okay to feel that way. And it’s okay to act on those feelings, as long as we’re all comfortable with it. I didn’t miss what happened last night between you two.”

Alice looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I kissed Penny this morning while you were sleeping. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it just felt right in the moment.” She rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand to banish the tears. “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have gone behind your back. It was wrong of me and I’m so sorry.”

Ethan smiled softly at her and squeezed her hand. “Hey, hey hey. I know. I overheard your conversation this morning, but I didn’t want to interrupt your moment together.”

Alice looked surprised. “You did? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Ethan shrugged. “I didn’t want to make things awkward. And honestly, when it happened all I could do was smile. I love both of you, I mean that. Besides, it would feel selfish of me to demand that everything be focused on me and only me ... and I did see the two of you kiss last night. I didn’t feel upset then and I didn’t feel upset this morning, okay?”

Alice put her head down. “I don’t want to make you feel like Penny is cheating on you with me.”

Ethan smiled at her. “I trust both of you. There’s nobody else I love and trust more, but I think we need to have the conversation we’re having now with Penny. I think we’ve all talked separately but there’s no replacing getting together to make sure we’re all together on this. If we talk things out we can avoid the hurt feelings, yea?”

Ethan stood up, moving to the other side of the picnic table to sit next to Alice. He put an arm around her and pulled her close, putting his head down against hers. “I’m serious, okay? I love you and nobody has done anything wrong yet. We’re all feeling this out together.”