Page 67 of Porter's Angel

“God tells us we can. The world tells us we can’t, so it just kind of depends on who you’re listening to.”

Her grip tightened over his. “What if I can’t be perfect all at once?”

“Well, you know what the best smell at church is, right?”

She didn’t even try to guess. “No.”

“It’s a man who reeks of alcohol, because… it means he hasn’t given up. He’s still coming; he’s still trying. That stink that you’re smelling is the smell of a man changing.”

Very well put.

God had put this open and loudmouthed man into her life for a reason. It was taking a bit of time, but she was starting to understand some of God’s mysterious ways.

She smiled at Porter. “Thanks.”

Chapter Twenty-One

They talked all the way down the river, floating through the peaceful current and watching the bright rays of the day turn into a sultry night. The fireworks were coming soon, and they were going to get loud.

Porter groaned inwardly. Angel clearly had no idea what he was trying to tell her about Nash at the geyser. Not even a little bit. There was no way that she’d let him off with a pie in the face, though he was beginning to wonder what he’d done besides the twin switch to deserve that one.

A lot of things.

He had to tell her soon. His heart quickened.

The laziness of this day was too seductive. The break from his work at the ranch was too nice and he didn’t want a thing to change between him and Angel. Would it? Did it matter? She’d talked about changing for the good, and he wasn’t about to be a lazy hypocrite and make her do all the work. No more dragging his feet.

He sighed. Angel wouldn’t distract him from facing this anymore. Hehadto do this. She sat at the end of the boat. She’d looped her arms over the side, pressing her chin against her hands as she stared down into the water. He joined her there on the logs, leaning next to her so that he could fit. “Remember when I told you that I’m not that guy you met in Nashville?”

She chuckled. “Yeah.”

It took everything in him not to join in her laughter when he remembered what she’d done to him after getting out onlyhalfof his confession. He manfully cleared his throat. “That was my brother you saw over there in Nashville. We’re twins.”

She looked confused. “Wait. You’re twins?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow.” Angel sat up, looking stunned. “I had no idea. Emilydidtalk about twins… I didn’t even put it together…”

His heart lurched. Porter twisted around, so that he could search her face for the dreaded betrayal that he might see there. “You want to kill me, huh?”

“What? Why? You can’t help that you have a twin.”

“Well, no, but I didn’t tell you. I just figured that I’d get to know you first. At first it seemed funny, but… you’re not mad? I mean, I went along with it way too long and…” What was he doing? Was he trying to get himself into more trouble? But she was being amazingly cool about this. It didn’t seem right.

“Don’t worry about it.” She kissed his cheek… in that sweet way of hers that had made him go crazy for her again and again.

He slumped against the raft in disbelief. A small part of him was surprised she hadn’t capsized the boat in a fit of anger. He ran a hand through his hair. “You have no idea how much this was eating me up inside.” He let out a relieved chuckle. Obviously, she hadn’t cared as much as he thought that she would. “I practiced my apology speech to Cole all day yesterday. I even swore to myself that I wouldn’t kiss you until I told you.”

She laughed. “Well,thatdidn’t work.”

“No, it didn’t.” He felt sheepish. “That’s part of my apology. I’m so sorry. You’re really sure that you’re okay?” He’d had enough women tell him that they were fine, only for them to explode later.

“I’m okay. Sheesh, Porter, you’d think you were announcing that you were related to Trout or something.”

His nose wrinkled in distaste. “At least it’s not that.” West was bad enough, but Nash wasn’t as horrible as she thought. Those two had definitely started out on the wrong foot, but that was because Nash always stuck that foot in his mouth. “My twin’sreallynot that bad. He’s just, um…” How to explain Nash? “He’s thoughtless, sometimes, but he’s really fun.”

She patted his arm. “You’re a great brother, you know that?” Obviously she didn’t agree. Angel let out a breath. “That’s really your confession? The big reveal that you’ve been talking about for days?”