Seeing Double: Six Years with the Hayes Twins

I had been with Rowan Hayes for six years. When I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I heard an argument outside the bedroom door. But it was just the two of us in the apartment. Who was Rowan talking to? I peeked through the crack in the door, only to see... two Rowans? "Bro, you've had Lily to yourself all week. It's my turn today." I slumped to the floor in absolute terror, my mind a chaotic mess. The door suddenly swung open. The two impossibly handsome men stood there, both wearing identical expressions of faint regret. "Busted..." "Well then, Lily. Guess which one is Rowan?" My lips trembled, but I couldn't form a single word. Damn it all to hell, I have face blindness! 01 They took a step closer, their tall, broad figures casting a shadow that completely engulfed me. One of the "Rowans" crouched down to my eye level, his attractive, fox-like eyes narrowing into a smile. "Lily, guess which one is Rowan?" My lips quivered, but nothing came out. Taking my reaction exactly as expected, his smile deepened. "Oh, I forgot. Our Lily has face blindness." ... I first met Rowan Hayes during my sophomore year of high school. He went to a different school and was two grades above me. I was top of my class in STEM, but compared to him, I was leagues behind. Our teachers eventually paired us up for the State Math Olympiad. Rowan was a guy of incredibly few words. During the training camp, unless I was actively asking him a question, he treated his words like they cost a hundred bucks each. But I never got tired of it. I followed him around every single day, pestering him with questions. Are you kidding? He was ranked first in the state. If I didn't cling to his coattails now, when would I? It got to the point where Rowan would just sigh, reach out, and take my textbook the moment he saw me running over. "Which one are you stuck on?" After we won the championship, I asked Rowan what college he was aiming for. Rowan looked down at me, probably thinking to himself that he'd accidentally adopted a clingy kitten. "Stanford." It felt miles out of my reach, but the word buried itself in my heart like a seed. "Then wait for me. I'll definitely get in." After spending two months together, Rowan knew exactly what I was capable of. He gave a soft "Hmm," and then he smiled. His usually cold, handsome face softened instantly. "I'll wait for you." Two years later, during freshman orientation, I saw him again. He was standing on stage, giving a speech as the student representative. I waved at him. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly lowered his gaze and focused on reading his script. I figured Rowan was just shy. From then on, whenever I ran into him on campus, I'd enthusiastically greet him, never getting tired of it. As time went on, Rowan went from just giving me a polite nod to actually smiling back. Sometimes, when he smiled, the California sun would outline his sharp jawline in a soft golden halo. It made everything else pale in comparison. It felt exactly like that afternoon two years ago. That hidden seed was finally breaking through the soil. I started asking Rowan to go to the library to study. Honestly, Rowan didn't need to study. He basically memorized things on the first read. Mostly, it was just me burying my head in endless calculus problems, and Rowan naturally becoming my unpaid private tutor. In return, I'd treat him to dinner. Even though Rowan was nearly six-foot-three, he didn't eat that much. I, on the other hand, at five-foot-six, ate like a feral hog released from a pen. I couldn't help but complain, "Rowan, do you work out a lot?" He looked down at me, thought for a second, and gave a soft "Hmm." "No wonder your body looks like that." Rowan gave me a weird look. "You haven't even..." Then he seemed to remember something, his face flushed bright red, and he clammed up. I remember one time we were walking back from the library when a sudden torrential downpour hit. The street was empty, and there was nowhere to take cover. Rowan and I sprinted to a small park gazebo. I was wearing a white chiffon blouse that day. Rowan was brushing the rain off his shoulders, but when he turned to look at me, his gaze snapped away like he'd been burned. I was panting heavily, my pale face flushed pink from the sprint. A few strands of wet hair were plastered to my cheeks. He frantically stripped off his jacket and, ignoring my protests, forced it over my shoulders. Raindrops dripped from his wet hair, sliding down his cheek, tracing his neck, and soaking his white t-shirt. The defined ridges of his abs were faintly visible through the wet fabric. It took every ounce of my willpower to look away. In the end, neither of us dared to look at the other. We just sat there in awkward silence for two hours, waiting for the rain to stop. But the distance between us had definitely shrunk. My roommate, Chloe, couldn't stop teasing me. "Girl, I told you! With that kind of crazy persistence, you could conquer the world." I giggled like an idiot. "Chloe, do you think he'd say yes if I asked him out on a real date?" A weird silence filled the room. "...I'm Chloe's sister, actually..." "...Oh." Damn it. I really hate my face blindness. For the next few weeks, I constantly brought cream puffs and little pastries to Rowan. But Rowan didn't have a sweet tooth. He'd take one tiny bite at most. Over time, Rowan quietly memorized all my favorite flavors, and eventually, he was the one bringing the desserts. But mostly, he just sat there quietly, watching me stuff my cheeks like a chipmunk. Rowan felt like he was raising a soft, fluffy kitten. Proud, cute, and completely food-motivated. Gradually, I started to feel like Rowan and I were just one step away from making it official. So the next day, I ordered a bouquet of red roses. When I came back with the flowers, I saw Rowan hugging another girl. His back was to me. The girl was petite, practically buried in his chest. I froze in the doorway. Rowan turned his head and clearly saw me. He frowned, his eyes dropping to the roses in my arms. He looked completely stunned. I didn't wait for his reaction. I spun on my heel and bolted down the hall as fast as my legs could carry me. God, why do you have to play me like this? 02 When I got back to the dorm, I burst into loud, ugly sobs. Chloe clenched her fists in righteous fury. "I knew he was trash!" I sniffled. "But I haven't even told him how I feel yet." "Say no more, bestie. I know exactly what this is. As a veteran of the dating trenches, you're suffering from a broken heart." I cried even harder. I laid my heart bare, and he stomped on it. Chloe couldn't take it anymore. She yanked me off the bed. She squished my tear-stained cheeks, looking disgusted. "Stop crying, girl. Your face is wrinkling up like a raisin." "Come on, get dressed. We're going out to party." Before I knew what was happening, Chloe had dragged me to a VIP lounge and shoved me onto a leather couch between two six-foot guys with shredded abs. One was shirtless, wearing some kind of leather harness that pressed against his chest and arms, leaving faint pink marks on his skin. The other was wearing fluffy black fox ears and gold-rimmed glasses, smiling at me with devastatingly handsome features. They kept calling me "pretty lady." My scalp tingled, my entire body went rigid, and I didn't dare relax for a single second. Chloe started organizing drinking games. After three rounds, my head was spinning, and I passed out against her shoulder. When I woke up, I heard Chloe arguing with someone. I rubbed my eyes and groggily saw Rowan... and two girls? My head was pounding. I held my temples and sat up. What was this? Was he afraid I'd keep pestering him, so he brought his girlfriend to warn me off? I bravely raised my hand and pointed a shaky finger at Rowan. Chloe gently adjusted my arm so I was actually pointing at him. "He's over there." "Even though I... I like you... since you have a girlfriend, I won't bother you anymore! Waaah..." I was doing so well, but my tear ducts betrayed me. My lip quivered, and I started wailing all over again. The girl standing next to him immediately panicked and waved her hands. "Hey, pretty girl, you've got it all wrong! Here's what actually happened this afternoon..." She explained that she had been sitting down for too long, and when she stood up, her low blood sugar hit. Her vision went black, and she collapsed. Rowan just happened to catch her. After she finished explaining, she even pulled out a piece of paper. "Rowan knew you misunderstood, so he dragged me to the campus clinic to get a doctor's note to prove I passed out." I looked at Rowan. He was standing there, the tips of his ears bright red, looking like a little kid who'd been caught doing something wrong. Chloe, staying completely in character, rolled her eyes at him, grabbed the club promoters, and moved to another booth to give us privacy. The girl quietly slipped away too. Rowan and I sat side-by-side. At this point, I don't know where I found the liquid courage, but I grabbed the cup in front of me and took a massive gulp. Except I grabbed the wrong cup. I grabbed Chloe's. It was a lethal concoction of vodka, tequila, and beer. Completely unaware of the danger, I turned to Rowan. "I like you." Rowan nodded. "I know. Aren't we already dating?" My brain started to deep-fry. "Since when?" "Didn't you accept my flowers this afternoon?" "Huh?" I opened my phone and saw several missed calls and a text from a delivery driver. It was a picture of a bouquet of roses left on the porch of my dorm. "You ordered flowers too?" Rowan immediately spotted the issue. We stared at each other for a second, then both burst out laughing. I pouted playfully, mumbling, "You still owe me fresh flowers." "I already bought some on the way here." 03 "Lily?" The familiar voice pulled me back to reality. "There's a punishment for guessing wrong, you know." I looked up at the two identical men standing in front of me, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. Their clothes, their eyes, their hair, even their exact height—completely identical. One of them crouched down, meeting my eyes. His warm thumb gently stroked my cheek. The deep affection and tenderness in his eyes felt like a net, trapping me completely. The other one just stood there. The shadow of his hair hid his expression, but I could tell he was smiling. "Lily's spacing out like this... Doesn't it look exactly like when she's sleepwalking?" A lightbulb went off in my head. I do have a history of sleepwalking! I immediately let my eyes unfocus, staring blankly ahead, pretending I couldn't see the person right in front of me. My gaze passed right through them. "Looks like she really is sleepwalking." A regretful, amused voice spoke. The one standing up turned to leave. Halfway to the door, he stopped and said, "Rhys, make sure you turn the heat up. Lily gets cold easily." "I know." Rhys scooped me up into his arms. I kept my face entirely blank until he gently laid me down on the mattress. I kept my breathing perfectly even. Rhys leaned over, pressing his forehead against mine to check my temperature. "Why is she always so cold?" He shifted, wrapped his arm around me, and pulled me flush against him. I didn't dare move a muscle, staying curled up in the crook of his arm. His bare, muscular chest was pressed tightly against me. Rhys held me, his other hand absentmindedly stroking down my back, from my neck to my spine. Like he was petting a cat. The familiar, warm scent wrapped around me, and I instantly relaxed, stifling a silent yawn. Whenever I was stressed, "Rowan" used to comfort me exactly like this. I was so used to this dynamic that once the tension left my body, a wave of exhaustion hit me. As I drifted off to sleep, Rhys opened his tightly shut eyes. There wasn't an ounce of sleepiness in them. 04 I should have realized it. I actually met Rhys the very first time I visited Rowan's apartment. Rowan had gone overseas for a competition and won. To celebrate, I bought a gift and rushed over to his place the day he got back. I dropped the bags, threw my arms around him, and buried my face in his chest, mumbling, "I thought you weren't coming back until the day after tomorrow?" "Rowan" tilted my head up, kissed my lips, and gave a warm, gentle smile. "Because I missed you." It was a simple, honest, and passionate confession. He started cooking dinner. The soft kitchen lights hit his perfect side profile, and I practically drooled. You have to understand, I've been chronically single my entire life. He looked like an absolute snack. So, I hugged him from behind, my hands starting to wander. A deep flush spread across his face, making him look like a shy, blushing bride. My hands roamed over his abs, poking and squeezing. "L-Lily, don't..." "I'm just checking to see if you kept up with your workouts while you were in Europe." Feeling mischievous, my hand slipped slightly lower and gave a firm squeeze. I nodded in absolute satisfaction. Yep, perfectly toned. He swallowed hard, letting out a low, muffled groan. The veins on the arm holding the spatula bulged against his skin. He looked like he was battling restraint, agony, and pure desire all at once. Realizing I might have played with fire, I tried to make a break for it. Without even turning around, he pinned me with one arm, pulling me back and trapping me completely against his body. My legs were locked against his, our bodies pressed flush together. I could literally feel something burning hot standing at attention, saying a very friendly hello. I froze, terrified to move. He lowered his head, resting his chin on my shoulder. "You need to focus when you're cooking." His hot breath tickled my ear, making me shrink my neck. He pressed a soft kiss to the tip of my ear. "Don't get distracted. You have to make sure both sides get cooked." He won. I couldn't out-flirt him, and I ultimately fled the kitchen in defeat. His low, rumbling laughter echoed behind me, making my face burn even hotter. 05 During dinner, he opened a bottle of wine. I chattered away, telling him all about my week. His gaze was soft as water as he watched me. The pure affection in his eyes was completely unguarded. My throat got dry from talking, so I grabbed my glass and downed it in one go. It was a sweet, rich wine, not harsh at all. I smacked my lips. He slowly, elegantly took tiny sips from his own glass. Propping up my dizzy head, I looked at his barely touched plate and frowned in confusion. "Rowan, aren't you gonna eat?" His eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked at me adoringly, casually replying, "I'll eat later." Eat later? Was he planning on having a midnight snack? I groggily picked up my phone. It was 10:30 PM. If I didn't leave now, I'd miss dorm curfew. I sprang up from the chair, then instantly tipped over. Luckily, he had quick reflexes and caught me by the waist. My vision was blurry. Were the lights always this dim in his living room? My mind was floating, my hands instinctively resting against his solid chest. "Lily?" "Mmhmm?" I hummed softly, looking up at his worried expression and those... incredibly kissable pink lips. They looked so soft. I reached up and touched them. In the dim light, I couldn't see how dark his eyes had gotten, completely clouded with desire. I could only feel the arm around my waist tightening like a vise. I let out a soft whine, the sound coming out far more delicate and seductive than I intended. That little sound acted like a blade, instantly severing the last string of his self-control. He scooped me into his arms and carried me to the sofa. I clung to him, my body feeling like it had melted into jelly. A torrential storm of kisses rained down on me, catching me completely off guard. I tried to push him back gently, but he caught my hand and pressed a burning kiss to my palm. A shiver wrecked through my body, making my head spin even more. "Rowan." "Yeah?" "I love you..." "I love you too." The rest of my words were swallowed up in a kiss overflowing with emotion. He gently but firmly claimed every inch of me. I slowly melted into a puddle. Like a small boat caught in a rising tide, I was tossed to the highest peaks of the waves, only to crash back down. When we finally reached the shore, the little boat had nothing left to give, simply drifting with the current. I clung tightly to his back, crying and begging for mercy. He kissed away my tears, slowing his pace. "Lily, the night is still young." 06 I have no idea when I fell asleep, but when I woke up, the bed was empty. There was only a sticky note on the nightstand. Lily, I had to run to campus to meet with my advisor. Breakfast is on the table, make sure you eat it. Love you. He'd even drawn a little cartoon dog at the bottom. I couldn't help but smile. After I washed up and went downstairs, I was halfway through breakfast when the front door opened. I happily ran over and threw my arms around him in a massive hug. Then I grabbed his collar, pulled him down, and planted a huge smooch on his lips. He covered his mouth, a look of pure shock flashing across his eyes. I didn't notice a thing. I just dragged him to the table, complaining about how intensely we had "battled" last night, completely oblivious to the fact that this wasn't Rowan. He raised an eyebrow. His dark, ink-black eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and suspicion as he looked at me. After a long pause, a smile finally broke across his face. It was a faint, teasing smirk, playful and a little wicked. The corners of his eyes lifted, and a dangerous glint appeared in his gaze. He reached out, pinched my cheek, and leaned in intimately, practically purring, "Want to go out and do something fun today?" His voice was a magnetic, smooth baritone, with a slight lilt at the end of his sentences. Like a cat flicking the tip of its tail to draw you in. I had never seen "Rowan" act like this. It was pure, intoxicating seduction. As we were heading out, I asked him why his advisor needed to see him. "Probably something about a competition," he said nonchalantly. I stopped in my tracks and gave him a suspicious look. Realizing he had slipped up, he quickly backtracked, saying his advisor just needed him to fill out some forms for the next project proposal. I linked my arm through his, praising him without a second thought. "I knew my boyfriend was a genius." "Come on, I'm taking you to the amusement park." Because I didn't look up, I completely missed his bright red ears and the guilty, panicked look in his eyes. He looked exactly like a Golden Retriever that had just chewed up your favorite shoes. 07 Tired from walking, we sat down on a bench. He told me to rest while he went to buy some water. I watched his back as he walked away. I felt like "Rowan" was unusually energetic today. Was it just because we were out having fun? I reached into my pocket for my phone, only to realize he had tossed it into his backpack before we left the apartment. 08 "Two bottles of water, please." Inside Rhys's pocket, the phone was buzzing non-stop. Looking visibly annoyed, Rhys pulled out the phone encased in a black cat phone case. He tentatively typed in his own birthday. Sure enough, it unlocked effortlessly. The lock screen was a photo of Lily and his brother. Rowan was looking down, his eyes filled with gentle affection for the girl in his arms. Rhys couldn't explain the feeling in his chest, but it felt suffocating. If anyone had the right to claim her, he had met her before his brother ever did. When he opened her messages, the contact name "6'3, Abs, Capricorn" practically leaped off the screen. Rhys couldn't help but laugh out loud. Who names their boyfriend that in their phone? [Lily, why aren't you at the apartment?] [Did you go back to campus?] [My little brother got back yesterday. Do you want to meet him?] [Baby, why aren't you answering me?] (Cartoon dog sticker) Rhys subconsciously touched his own lips, thinking about the kiss from that morning... Holding a cigarette between his lips, a wicked smile spread through the haze of smoke. With his long fingers, he swiped left on his brother's messages and hit "Delete." 09 He handed me the open bottle of water. I immediately caught the scent of tobacco. "Since when do you smoke?" He smoothly spat out a piece of gum, looking completely innocent. "The guy at the concession stand was smoking. I must have caught the smell standing there." I nodded, then patted the empty space on the bench next to me, motioning for him to sit closer. He hesitated for a second before sliding over. I lifted my wrist and started rubbing it against the skin just behind his ear. He froze, his entire body going rigid. Even the tips of his ears flushed a soft pink. It was adorable. I couldn't resist pinching his earlobe. At the feeling of skin rubbing against skin, he shivered. He leaned back slightly in shock, his chest rising and falling much faster than before. "Wh-What are you doing?" his voice wavered. I hooked my arm around his neck and pulled him back. He looked down, I looked up, and our eyes locked. His long eyelashes cast a shadow over his flawlessly sharp features, looking like a painting bathed in sunlight. My heart skipped a beat. I swallowed nervously and stammered, "I put on perfume before we left... I was just, um, sharing some with you." I panicked, broke eye contact, and tried to yank my hand back. The moment I pulled away, he grabbed my wrist and pressed a quick kiss to it. I tried to pull free again, but he just gripped me tighter. He raised an eyebrow, a wicked, amused smile playing on his lips, and leaned in... I slapped a hand over his mouth, my face burning. "Not until tonight." He frowned, his eyes darkening with an unreadable emotion. Tonight? He wasn't going to be the one kissing her tonight... He pinned my hands with one arm and crashed his lips onto mine. Suddenly, the phone in his pocket started ringing. It was my ringtone. I pushed against his chest, mumbling incoherently against his lips, "My... my phone... mmph..." His gaze darkened completely. Keeping me pinned, he pulled out the phone and glanced at the screen. Caller ID: [Hubby]. He unceremoniously hit decline. "Spam call." He cupped the back of my head and deepened the kiss. Afterward, I buried my face in my hands, curled up in his chest, blushing like a boiled lobster. Honestly, if I had just gone back to the apartment with him, I would have realized there was another Rowan waiting for me at home. But the university called an emergency meeting for my major, so I had to head straight back to campus. He saved his phone number in my phone, claiming it was just his secondary work line. After that, it felt like Rowan was spending way more time with me. One day he'd be out of state for an academic conference. The very next day, he'd miraculously appear right by my side to take me out. He took me to restaurants I had casually mentioned liking. Sometimes, though, his memory seemed a little spotty. We'd end up going to the same places twice. I just assumed it was because he really liked the food there, so I never questioned it. Our relationship only got better as the years went on. Until graduation day, our three-year anniversary. "Rowan" proposed to me. With a sparkling gold ring. He hugged me tightly, whispering, "Happy Graduation." I grinned from ear to ear and hugged him back fiercely. "I love you, Rowan." I felt his body stiffen slightly. Rowan? Guess it was time to put his cards on the table. He buried his face in my neck and kissed me, hard.

? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "391839", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel