Falling For My Sister's Ex

She's had to force her feelings for him away.
Now that he's no longer with her sister, does she dare take a chance?

Jeremy was the boy next door.
Blaire's first love.
Her first kiss.

After he graduated from college and moved back to Harvest Ranch, his attention shifted to Blaire's twin sister, Savannah, instead. Blaire has been forced to suppress her feelings and watch their relationship grow faster than the tulips in the field her family owns.

But right in the middle of their engagement, they break up.

Savannah claims he cheated.

Jeremy's brother says she did.

Blaire isn't sure who is telling the truth, so she goes right to the source. She meant to remain an impartial seeker of the truth, but talking to Jeremy has always had the ability to scramble her senses. When she finds out what really happened, she's left with a painful decision--

Following her heart means turning against her family's wishes and her own resolve. Can she trust the man she's always loved or is she better off without him?

Fans of second chance romances and love that is constant and true will drink in this clean romance by Catelyn Meadows!

Chapter One

Blaire bolted up the sidewalk and into her parents’ living room. She charged straight past Mama’s collection of vintage dolls, from original plastic figurines to old-fashioned porcelain models, positioned on metal stands on surfaces on either side of the baby grand piano and on shelves above it—it was a doll shrine, really—and into the kitchen.
Mama stood hugging Savannah, who was crying, wiping her eyes only for more tears to come.
“Why would he do this to me?” Savannah sobbed.
“Because some men are selfish creatures who only care about themselves. Not countin’ your daddy, but heaven knows that man has his moments,” Mama said. She wore her jalapeño pepper apron sporting burned patches and stains from the many times she’d used the apron in place of hot pads or towels.
Savannah gave off a little chuckle that turned into a wail. She stepped back, but the space between the fridge and the cupboards was barely big enough to allow for the dishwasher to stick out its tongue. Savannah collided. She hit her forehead on the open cupboard where Mama had been putting away the dishes.
With a frustrated squawk that could rival any bird, Savannah screeched and simultaneously slammed the insulting cupboard door as hard as she could and kicked. Blaire lunged for the unsuspecting dishwasher door, but it was too late. The hit had been made, though it didn’t have the effect her twin sister seemed to hope for—whatever that was. Savannah squealed again and clutched her now hurt leg and released a string of curse words.
Blaire was still trying to grasp what was causing her sister to act like she’d failed to sell her cow at an auction. She’d rushed to Harvest Ranch the instant work ended, almost immediately after she’d received Savannah’s panic-streaked text.
Everything is wrong, Savannah had messaged. Meet me at Mama’s ASAP.
Warning and worry had exploded in Blaire’s brain. Every possible worst-case scenario added fireworks to the show, and she’d driven like a girl on the run to see what the matter was.
But Mama wasn’t dying on the side of the road.
Daddy wasn’t being life-flighted after having fallen off a cliff.
Savannah was being dramatic, and Blaire cursed herself for falling victim to her flair for spectacle again.
“I know you’ve had your hopes crushed, but a broken heart is no reason to break my dishwasher,” Mama reprimanded.
Blaire bent and closed the—fortunately—unbroken appliance. The action served like opening a gate to where Mama and Savannah stood.
Blaire waited for them to notice she’d arrived and fill her in but neither did. “I got your text,” she said. “Are you going to tell me what this is all about?”
“He broke it off!” Savannah displayed her now-ringless left hand.
“Jeremy? Why?” Blaire asked. She wasn’t unused to her sister’s dramatic flair, but it had been a while since she’d seen it in person. Savannah always went over the top whenever anything went wrong. “What happened?”
Blaire tried ushering Savannah to the dining table on the opposite side of the bar, but Savannah sniffed and brushed her dark hair from her shoulders. Mama took a tissue to Savannah’s face as if she were two instead of twenty-seven.
“It came out of nowhere,” Savannah said, batting Mama away and wiping her own eyes. “We had everything in motion. I just got my dress sized.”
Blaire remembered the day a few weeks ago, helping Savannah try on gown after gown until finding what she’d alleged was the perfect one. And the dress really was beautiful, with a mermaid silhouette that perfectly hugged and accentuated all her curves. “The cake was ordered. The invitations were just about to go out.”
“Good thing they weren’t,” Mama fumed, “or that would be a fair amount of dish water.”
Savannah rolled her eyes. “Everything was in order. We were talking about our honeymoon, looking for flights, planning how many kids we wanted to have, and then he just—ended it.”
“But why?” Blaire asked again. “That doesn’t sound like something Jeremy would do.”
Jeremy was constant and steady, like a river that had run the same course, curved around the same bend in the trees for ages, and would continue to do so. Savannah, on the other hand, was like a railroad switch, moving from one track to the next at the pull of a handle. Savannah had claimed that was what made her and Jeremy such a great match, because no matter how many times she changed her mind, Jeremy would always be there to keep her grounded.
That statement had kept Blaire’s teeth grounded, that was for sure.
Savannah glared at her sister. “Sure, take his side.”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side.” Blaire lifted her hands. “I’m just trying to understand where this is all coming from. You guys have seemed really happy.”
“We were,” Savannah said with a muffled wail, followed by more tears.
Mama looked on in helpless sympathy. Blaire closed in and put her arms around her identical twin, so the three women were wedged in Mama’s little kitchen like they had done when Mama had taught them how to bake pies or make drop biscuits. Life was simpler then.
Savannah rested her head on Blaire’s shoulder. The sisters had been there for each other like this countless times before, but every other time, Blaire had been ready to condemn the latest heartbreaker and toilet paper his house.
But Jeremy Birch? She couldn’t instantly hate Jeremy. Instead, she held wrath for him in reserve.
For the last year, Blaire had avoided the topic of Jeremy as much as possible. She didn’t particularly want to broach the topic now, but Savannah was devastated. What had gone on between them to cause this?
“You still haven’t told us what happened exactly,” Blaire reminded her twin.
“I’d like the answer to that myself,” Mama said, weaving around the bar to settle herself on one of the stools.
“He cheated on me, okay?”
Mama’s foot slipped and kicked below the counter. Blaire reared her head back in undiluted shock. “Jeremy did?”
Her sister wiped her cheeks again. “Who else do you think I’m talking about? Of course, Jeremy. Jeremy Birch, the boy next door, the town pharmacist who everyone thinks is so great and friendly, cheated. On me.”
“Oh, honey,” Mama said from her place on the barstool. She placed a hand on her neck. “There’s a special place in the afterlife for men like that. When did this happen? How did you find out about it?”
Savannah sniffed. “I don’t want to go into all the details right now, honestly, but when I confronted him about it, he said maybe it was a good thing I knew and that we should call things off until we got it figured out. So here we are.”
“I’m so sorry, honey,” Mama said, making her way back into the crowded kitchen to hug her daughter again. “I wonder if it’s too late to get a refund on the dress.”
This comment made Savannah glare. “Send the bill to Jeremy. He’s good for it.”
Mama paused only long enough to exchange a disbelieving glance with Blaire. Blaire accepted the expression wholeheartedly. Everything she knew about Jeremy was dashed in an instant. Her sister may be dramatic at times, but she wouldn’t lie about something this serious.
Much as Blaire wanted to deny the accusation and defend Jeremy’s good name for the sake of all the history between the three of them, she couldn’t. Savannah was heartbroken. This was real. It was too serious for Savannah to have made it up. This affected her entire life, and Jeremy’s too, for that matter.
“You don’t believe me, do you?” Savannah said.
Blaire blinked, realizing her sister was looking right at her. “I—I want to.”
“I’m not lying. Not about this.”
The words sounded too genuine. What other choice did Blaire have? She reached for her sister’s hand and squeezed it. “I’m just shocked. I’m so sorry this happened.”
Tears filled Savannah’s eyes again and she squeezed back. “Thanks, Nugget,” she said, using their dad’s pet name for her.
Mama got on the phone with the caterer, the cake company, and the invitations and put everything on hold. Her confirmation at the end of every phone call only made Savannah sob harder. Blaire went to the freezer and returned with necessary pints of mint chocolate chunk ice cream and the three of them commiserated while the remaining plans were postponed.
“Sorry about all of this, Mama,” Savannah said after another spoonful of ice cream.
“Don’t even worry about it,” Mama said. “There’s somethin’ good to be had about all of this.”
Savannah sniffled. Blaire softened toward her sister the longer they sat there. Men were evil—that was all there was to it. Jeremy had broken her own heart too, ten years ago, though he probably had no idea it had belonged to him in the first place when he’d broken it. Blaire decided it was time to hold that fact against him all over again, in Savannah’s honor.
“Like what?” Savannah asked. “What good can possibly come from this?”
“You can start datin’ again,” Mama said by way of suggestion.
“That’s right. The world and all the hot guys in it are at your disposal,” Blaire said, trying to add to Mama’s outlook, hoping it would do the trick. Blaire and Mama began bouncing their positives off one another.
“No more saying no to guys who ask you out.”
“No more wonderin’ if you’re doing the right thing marryin’ him.”
“No more crying over him.”
“No more passin’ the pharmacy and wonderin’ why he’s workin’ so late.”
“Hot guys,” Blaire added as if the point needed to be hit again.
Savannah laughed and wiped away the latest strain of tears. “Thanks.” She straightened her shoulders. “You’re right. I’m looking at this all the wrong ways. Did I love him? Sure. Did I want to spend the rest of my life with him? Yes. Did I imagine having the four kids we talked about the night he ended this?” Little by little, every question chiseled away at whatever silver lining she’d recently found, until any gleaming traces were long gone. Her bottom lip quivered and on came a new rush of emotion.
“Yes!” she sobbed. “I wanted those kids. I wanted to marry him. I wanted the life we’d talked about, and now it’s never going to happen because Mama canceled all our plans.” She sobbed again.
Mama’s mouth dropped. “Now hold on. I was helpin’ you,” she argued. “You said it was over. The plans have been postponed is all, till we’re sure—”
“It’s over, Mama.” Savannah’s tone was incontestable. “That much I’m sure of.”
Blaire linked her elbow with Savannah’s and hurriedly waved Mama off. She knew better than anyone how overexcited Savannah got, especially with something this drastic. “Come on. Let’s walk for a little bit. Some fresh air will help.” Just as long as Jeremy didn’t have the same idea at the same time they did.
Blaire loved Harvest Ranch, their small Virginia town, but small towns definitely had their quirks. Breakups in a small town were the equivalent of a forest fire. One person neglected to douse their campfire, and before you knew it, a dozen other trees caught flame. That tendency was one reason Blaire had moved to Charleston.
One reason.
After a few more requests, Savannah finally relented and allowed Blaire to lead her toward the split-level stairs that led down to the front door of their parents’ quaint farmhouse.
“Blaire,” Mama called.
“Hang on, I’ll be right there,” Blaire assured Savannah before darting back up the stairs.
Mama gestured with her chin toward the kitchen once more. She stood where she could still keep an eye on Savannah at the front door and spoke softly. “I know it’s rotten timin’, and y’all know I’d go anywhere else if I could, but Daddy needs his prescription. It won’t be pretty if I run into that Jeremy Birch tonight. I need a day or two to cool before I see that man.”
“Mama.” Blaire couldn’t tell if her tone was a whine or a warning.
“I have to head to the field—I don’t have time to go pick it up now, not after spendin’ so long talking to you girls. Winter’ll be here before we know it, and the ground’s got to be prepped before next tulip season. The crew is goin’ to be there, and I’ve got to open up the shop so they can get it ready. Please?”
The last place Blaire wanted to go was the pharmacy on a good day. She avoided Jeremy as often as she could but today? After what Savannah had claimed? How could she face her old friend knowing he’d cheated on her sister and been responsible for their broken engagement?
“Does Daddy know?”
Mama’s eyes leveled at Blaire’s in a significant way, a way Blaire knew all too well. No, Daddy didn’t know about Jeremy and Savannah’s break up . . . or the reason behind it.
“Might need to make sure he’s had a good day in the field first,” Blaire suggested.
“I wouldn’t put it past your daddy, but—”
Footsteps sounded and Savannah appeared at the top of the short stairs again. “You coming, or am I going to commiserate with myself?”
“Yes, coming,” Blaire said. “Sorry.”
Savannah’s long, dark hair, about the same length as Blaire’s, swayed with every trudging step she took. She was already halfway down the walk to the gravel driveway. Orange sunlight blazed in the sky, turning the neighboring field a hazy shade of dusk. Clouds fought for attention, dragging their skirts in the pool of burning light being cast by the setting sun.
Jeremy’s childhood home was the only neighboring structure this far out of Harvest Ranch. They were about ten miles outside of town. In the field beyond theirs, Grandpa’s red barn marked the center of the fields Blaire’s dad inherited and converted into a town gathering that hosted Harvest Ranch’s tulip festival every spring.
Blaire slung her arm around Savannah as they strolled past Blaire’s used two-door car. She offered to give Savannah a ride to her apartment in town, and the sisters climbed in and waited for the automatic seatbelts to slide as their doors closed.
“What did Mama want?” Savannah asked.
“Nothing,” Blaire said. “Mama was just talking about having me head to the hardware store. Need to pick up some more of that stuff that gets sticky goo off of surfaces.”
The twins rode in silence. Blaire turned away from Jeremy’s house next door and all the memories wafting from the brick bungalow. The drive down Maple and then onto Main Street took all of five minutes, and Blaire took the nearest available spot so they could have their walk.
The autumn evening bit with sharp, cold teeth. What few leaves remained on corner trees dangled and gave a fleeting effort at holding on just a little longer to their branches.
“Did you come back into town just for me?” Savannah asked after a few minutes.
“Yes, ma’am,” Blaire said. “My sister gives me a distress signal, I answer it.”
Savannah rested her head on Blaire’s shoulder as they walked. They were equal in height, build, hair color, pretty much everything. When they were babies, the only way Mama could tell them apart was a blood tumor situated on Blaire’s forehead. The hemangioma had been removed when Blaire was nine years old, leaving an inch-long scar on her forehead, and from that point on, everyone in town had been able to keep the two of them separate a little easier. Blaire supposed it was God’s way of distinguishing her from her sister since he made everything else about their appearance the same.
Their similarities only went as far as appearances, though. Savannah was rambunctious, outgoing, a coordinated dancer, and loved being the center of attention. Blaire had been a supporting role, happy to be less noticed by everyone.
Well, mostly everyone. But she’d gotten over that—or she thought she had. All this talk of Jeremy today stung more than she cared to admit. Blaire pushed the sour feelings down and focused on Savannah. She could deal with them later.
The sisters talked until they made it down Main Street, past Harold’s Harvest Market to Savannah’s apartment above Life On Canvas, an art studio. Pieces of newsprint had been plastered inside the glass to keep passersby from viewing the stairs leading up to the apartment within. They stopped. “He’d bought us a house, Blaire. We were going to move some of my stuff out this weekend,” Savannah said introspectively. “Things were getting so real. So almost there.”
“Yeah, you only had what, a month left?” Blaire said. She knew the two had decided on a Halloween wedding date. October twenty-seventh was coming fast.
Instead of heading to the side door and its newsprint-covered glass, Savannah sat on the bench situated outside.
“We did,” she said resignedly. “We finally did and then the bomb dropped. He said he just wasn’t ready.”
Blaire scraped the store’s cement base with the toe of her shoe. “So that meant he had to cheat on you?”
A sniff. “In his mind, I guess so. Who knows why men do the things they do?”
An autumn breeze swept through, adding to the goosebumps crawling up Blaire’s spine. Cars edged slowly down Main. Wynn Westbrook greeted them as she passed in front of the Spencer twins, and Blaire gave Wynn a smile before turning back to Savannah.
“We should swear them off completely,” Blaire said.
Savannah quirked a brow. “You already have.”
“No, I haven’t.” Blaire hated how defensive she sounded.
“Come on. Have you been on any dates lately?”
“Does it matter?” Blaire really didn’t want to talk about this. She was here to talk about Savannah.
“Sorry,” Savannah said. “That was low.”
“It’s okay,” Blaire said. “I haven’t sworn off dating completely. It’s just that—” She wasn’t like her sister. She wasn’t one to fling herself and go all out for a guy from the start. She’d gone out on a limb for a boy once and that had ended in disaster and embarrassment that caused her to turn her back on a town and a home she’d loved just to avoid him.
Blaire wasn’t about to go into any of that, so she just said, “Dating doesn’t work out for me.”
“But think of the hot guys,” Savannah said. “That whole world of hot guys you were telling me about.”
Blaire flattened her shoulders against the building’s brick exterior. “I don’t want a world of hot guys,” she said.
“I do.”
Blaire frowned. “This coming from the woman who an hour ago was wailing that one of those guys cheated on you?”
Savannah stared at the gazebo in the park across the street, unfazed. “Coping, remember?” She reached out a hand and nudged her sister. “Crying is exhausting,” she said, glancing up at her apartment’s side door entrance. “You want to come inside?”
Blaire peeked at her phone. Five thirty-seven. “No, thanks. Mama asked me to pick up that thing. I’d better get it.”
“Now?”
“Now.” She didn’t want to prolong this any more than she had to. All it took was a walk back across Main Street to the drugstore.
Savannah slapped her hands on her knees and then stood and hugged Blaire. Blaire inhaled her sister’s familiar cardamom perfume. Too ritzy and resinous for her tastes, but then, Savannah had always preferred velvet in life. Blaire didn’t mind a little dirt and leather now and then.
“Thanks for coming to see me. It means so much.”
“I’m sorry about your engagement.”
Savannah gave a feeble smile and a defeated shrug. “Hot guys, right?”
Blaire tucked her sister’s hair behind her shoulders. Savannah beamed at the loving, pampering gesture. “That’s right. Just focus on that. On moving on because you will. Things always work out, Ann. This will too.”
Another smile. “Thanks, twin. I’ll see you around?”
“Of course.” Blaire stood at the door until Savannah’s steps were no longer audible through the glass. She then turned to face the town with a longer memory than an elephant’s and drew in a long, chilled breath.
Harvest Ranch was inside of her. It defined her. Every street held a portion of her, whether it was a street she’d walked on the way home from the school after a ball game or en route to the park, or the hardware store where she’d discovered how her grandpa wasn’t just hers—how he’d been a sort of grandpa to the other kids in the town who’d flocked around him knowing he kept a stash of candy in his pockets. Every significant moment of her life had happened in this town, these streets. That was why leaving had been so hard. Hard but necessary.
Blaire glanced at her phone again. Maybe Jeremy wasn’t the pharmacist on duty. Maybe she wouldn’t have to look into the eyes of the man who’d single-handedly made both Spencer twins fall fast for him. The man who’d broken both of their hearts.

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