by Rayne, Piper
“FUCK!” a male voice yells from the hallway.
Savannah’s eyes widen and she turns toward the sound.
I nibble on my lip, praying it was one of my brothers.
Juno places the two bags on the table and follows Savannah.
The manager slides along the wall so he doesn’t have to come close to the possessed bride and heads toward the door.
“What the hell?” a deep male voice says.
Nobody has to leave the apartment though because the person I hit holds Jeff’s book in one hand while rubbing his head with his other. There’s a small trickle of blood running down through the crease of his fingers.
“Oh, we’re so sorry!” Savannah takes the reins because she’s the one who handles any crisis in the Bailey family.
“Are you really?” His tall figure eats up the entire doorway. He’s in a pair of slacks and an untucked button-down shirt. You’d think he was a guest invited to my wedding.
His dark beard is scruffy, his hair neatly gelled except one chunk that’s fallen loose, probably from the book hitting him.
“I am sorry, really,” I say and take a step forward.
His gaze moves from Savannah to me. He blinks his eyes three times like he can’t believe what he’s seeing. After a few seconds, he stares down at himself and chuckles. “Nope. I’m not naked or in a tux… thank fuck. For a second I thought my worst nightmare had come true.”
I raise my arms in the air. “Great, just what I need. Another man afraid of commitment!”
“Let me grab you some ice.” Juno breezes into the kitchen. “Oh, a broken coffee mug.” She picks up a piece and holds the evidence up to Savannah. “What does our family have against coffee mugs?”
The laughter Juno’s going for never arrives.
I disappear down the hall and slam my bedroom door. I know this is only the second worst day of my life. The first was the day I lost my parents, but at the present moment, it sure feels a hell of a lot like things couldn’t be worse.
Two
Wyatt
I crack my neck, passing the sign on the side of the road that welcomes me to Lake Starlight. According to it, it’s ‘my new home and I just don’t know it yet.’
Whatever.
Small town life isn’t meant for me. The only exciting thing to happen since renting my car at the airport and driving the hour west were the goats walking up a cliff on the side of a mountain. I took the bait and parked my car next to the scattered line of vehicles alongside the highway, joining the rest of the people watching a baby mountain goat try to follow its mama or daddy. I’m not sure which. Does one sex have horns and the other doesn’t?
See, I’m not meant for this life. I’ll admit it was interesting though. Not a moose, but it beats the ass cracks I see from the street vendors in New York on a daily basis.
My phone rings through the Bluetooth speaker.
“Hey, Mom,” I answer.
“Wyatt. You landed safely I presume?”
“Yeah, sorry. Everything here is like extracting a tooth with a pair of pliers and no drugs.”
She giggles. “Enjoy it. Maybe you’ll like a slower-paced life.”
“Doubtful.” I’m no sooner in Lake Starlight before I’m in their “downtown,” which I think might have been inspired by Stars Hollow.
Yes, I know Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. I have a sister who used to spy on me and then blackmail me by forcing me to cede control of the television to her. Mom had this ridiculous rule of having only one television in a ten-bedroom mansion. Mom was a reader, so now that I’m an adult I can understand her reasoning a little more. Luckily, Haylee is her fiancé, Bradley’s, problem now.
“You’ll be back for the wedding?” my mom asks.
Right now, only two things matter in my mom’s life—my sister’s nuptials and who’s going to be my date for the big event.
“Yes. We’ve been over this.” I bring the car to a stop at the stoplight.
“And?”
“And I’m probably coming stag.”
“Unless you find someone in that cute town.” Eagerness fills her voice.
“Doubtful.”
A long, exasperated breath flows through the receiver. “Wyatt, I don’t know why you insist on this bachelor life. Weren’t your father and I a good example of how much a committed relationship can bring to your life? I know we’ve had our fights, but we love one another. Your sister is doing great.”
I roll my eyes to myself and press the gas when the light turns green. “It’s not off the table, but I have a lot more I want to do before I’m stuck in Connecticut playing house.”
“Most people don’t feel like marriage is being stuck, Wyatt.”
“See Mom, I’m not like most people. I’m the exception. Remember?”
She giggles again. One thing I’m great at is making my mother laugh.
“You’ve always been the exception to every rule. I think I’ve convinced your dad to come out there after the wedding. I’m eager to see the new place.”
I roll my eyes, pulling a right to head toward the latest hotel my dad has bought to add to his empire.
“Mom. It’s a small podunk hotel. Probably a three star.”
“I’ve spoiled you. When I was younger—”
“Yeah, you were a poor peasant girl begging for a crumb of bread on a corner.”
“Wyatt Whitmore, you better take back that tone. I’m serious. You need to find a wife. Fall in love. Live for someone else besides yourself. You do what you want, when you want without any regard for anyone else.”
“That’s the whole point of being single.”
I blow out a breath. Man, she must be stressed to ping between moods so fast. I’m not sure why my mom is so obsessed with the idea that I get married. If I did, I’d be divorced a month later after the lust phase ended.
I pull up in front of Glacier Point Resort. Resort is being used loosely here. It could probably be torn down and rebuilt, but my dad bought it to have a presence in Alaska before anyone else. He wants to buy up these small independent hotels before his competition does. Thinks it’s the next great escape everyone will be flocking to. This isn’t a year or two operation though, his clear instructions were to get it done in six months. Before ski season starts.
“You make me feel like I’m a bad mom.”
I swear menopause is no fun for either my mother or myself.
“You’re not. I’m not even thirty.”
“A couple months shy,” she mumbles, but I hear the thickness in her voice from crying.
“A couple months? Mom, don’t buy me a walker yet. I have ten months before I’m thirty.”
She giggles.
Thank fuck she’s back to happy. For a second, I was going to tell her I’d marry the first girl I saw here. Could you imagine? That thought moves my thinking from the resort to who I’ll spend my nights with here. Six months here in Alaska and only one weekend with an excuse to head back to New York. Maybe I should take a vow of celibacy while I’m here and see if it helps me concentrate more. I could get out of here in four months.
“Where is your dad having you start?” Mom asks.
“Bellhop. For a man who doesn’t watch television, it’s odd that I’m doing something that feels like a reality show.”
“He just wants you to appreciate what you have. He didn’t have an easy road, you know? When he bought his first place, he had five investors—”
“I know, Mom. You and Dad had a horrible upbringing. I gotcha.”
Look at the line of pick-up trucks. My rental might be the only sedan in the parking lot.
“I just want you to be happy.”
“Which I am. Well, I will be once I finish here and dad finally hands over what he promised.”
She’s quiet. We both know there’s a chance my dad could change his mind. He swore to me that if I proved myself, he’d finally lift the reigns and let me own one of his many hotel chains myself. Not that I want whatever th
is chain in Alaska will be. I’d settle for our high-priced skyscraper hotels in the theatre district though.
“I know. But after this, maybe you’ll think about finding someone.”
I chuckle. “Isn’t love supposed to plow you over, take you by surprise? I don’t think I’m supposed to pencil in time to meet the love of my life.”
She laughs again. When I was younger, I’d always try to make her laugh with silly magic tricks or goofy faces. Same goal these days, just different tactic.
“I suppose not, but things nowadays have changed.”
I drive out of the parking lot of the resort, even if I’m anxious to get started on getting it back in the black. According to everyone in that building, come Monday morning I’m the new bellhop. Do they even have a bellhop? Probably not. My dad’s ludicrous idea is for me to work in every department while relaying to him what needs to be done and who should stay and who should go. I’m basically doing an untelevised version of Undercover Boss.
“Okay Mom, I promise to put a little more effort into finding ‘the one’ after Dad signs over some properties to me.”
I fail to mention that means I need to interview a lot of women and when I say interview, I mean in my bed.
“There’s that boy I love so much. You have way too big of a heart Wyatt, you need to find someone who appreciates it.”
“All right, I’m going to go and get settled. I have to find this landlord guy at the new place. I pray he got it furnished like he promised.”
“Okay, remember to keep your eye out. Your bride could pop up at any time.”
“Bye Mom, love you.”
“Love you.”
I click off the Bluetooth, pull into the parking lot of the apartment building I’m renting a unit in for a year, even though I’ll be here for six months. The landlord was a stickler on the length of the lease. Then he huffed and puffed when I asked about a furnished place, so I threw a few more thousand his way.
I hit the key fob to lock the doors of my rental sedan, no bells or whistles this far north. I haven’t sat in cloth seats in…well, maybe ever.
As I’m walking to the apartment number the landlord told me to go to, I dig in my pocket for the keys he sent me. At least he was nice enough to overnight them to me. I guess they haven’t progressed to keycode entries up in this mountain town.
“What the?” A piece of clothing falls on my head. I pluck it off, finding some guy’s boxer shorts. “What the fuck kind of place is this?” I glare at the pile of men’s clothes on the ground in front of me.
“Brooklyn,” I hear a girl’s plea right before the door to the building shuts.
Great. I look up to see a man splayed along the glass door on the third floor. I glance down to the keys in my hand. Three twenty-three, which means I’m on the same floor as whatever’s going on up there. I sure hope there’s more than one cop in this town.
I open the front door of the building and walk up the stairs. The carpet is slightly stained, but I can’t imagine it gets much reprieve with the shit weather in this part of the country.
I’m halfway up the second stairway and I really wish I would’ve brought my suitcase with me. Where’s the elevator in this place?
The screaming grows louder the higher up I get, which isn’t really a surprise.
I catch my breath when I reach the third floor and spot the door to another apartment open, a short redhead standing in the doorway. No one pays me any attention as I insert the key into my apartment’s door.
Thank fuck. I don’t want to be a witness to something and spend the rest of the day telling the police what I witnessed. I’m incognito in this town from this point forward.
“UGH!” I hear a woman scream.
I can’t help but turn in the direction of the sound. It’s like a reflex even though I should mind my own business.
Something hits my head with a huge thud.
“FUCK!” I yell.
What have I got myself into living here?
I bend down, retrieving my keys and the weapon of choice. A book depicting an alien invasion on the cover.
“What the hell?” I stomp across the hall.
Three women and a man are inside the apartment. The man scared shitless sliding his body along the wall, eyes frantic.
A tall blonde woman meets me before I can fully step into the apartment. The redhead’s eyes flick to mine and then concentrate on her shoes.
“We’re so sorry,” the blonde says.
I blink a few times to clear my vision, probably looking like I have a twitch in my eyes. “Are you really?”
I stare between the blonde and the redhead, wondering which one of them should be pitching in major league baseball.
“I am,” a soft voice reminds me there’s someone else here.
I look away from the two women trying to give me some type of nonverbal communication with their eyes and I blink.
I blink again.
I blink one more time because my mom’s words from ten minutes ago haunt me like the ghost from Christmas past.
“Your bride could pop up at any time.”
The blonde bride is cute as hell and if it wasn’t for the flushed angry look on her face and loose strands of hair in every direction, she’d probably be the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. Forget that. I kind of like the runaway bride look.
I look down at myself, wondering if I was knocked out and am now dreaming then release a long breath.
“Nope. I’m not naked nor in a tux…thank fuck. For a second I thought my worst nightmare came true.” I speak the truth, though in hindsight I should’ve kept that thought to myself.
“Great, just what I need. Another man afraid of commitment.” The bride raises her arms in the air and disappears down the hall, slamming a door in the process.
“Let me get you some ice.” The redhead breezes past me to the kitchen.
“Have a seat.” The blonde pulls out a chair and I step over a ripped sports coat and sit down.
“Should I watch for flying books every time I leave my apartment?” I ask.
The redhead puts a bag of ice on the table.
“I’m Juno Bailey and this is my sister, Savannah.” She points down the hall. “That’s Brooklyn and um… it’s just not a good day for her today.”
She folds her small frame into the chair next to me, patting my wound with a wet paper towel. “It’s just a surface cut. I think you’ll be fine.”
“Are you the town doctor?” I deadpan.
She laughs and gives her sister a look. “Town matchmaker.”
“What?” Obviously, the hit to my head has affected my hearing.
“Is this the groom?” The guy, who now has color back in his face, walks over.
“I’m definitely no groom.”
He laughs. “Just messing with you.”
Juno rolls her eyes and a sound comes from Savannah’s throat. One that means she agrees with her sister. If I stick around long enough, maybe I’ll figure out their native tongue.
“Who are you?” Savannah asks.
“I’m Wyatt W… Moore. Someone here’s neighbor for the next year.”
Again, Juno looks to Savannah, but this time she smiles. Wide and welcoming. Another grunt comes from Savannah. They’re disagreeing now.
Look at me, I’m understanding how the natives communicate.
“So, who is my neighbor?” I ask.
The guy thumbs toward the hallway. “The jilted bride in there.”
“We still need to negotiate,” Savannah interrupts.
“I told you, she’s not getting out of the lease.” He puts his hand in front of me. “I’m Joel, your landlord. Nice to finally meet you.”
I hold out my free hand while holding the bag of ice to my forehead with the other.
“You good to walk? I can show you the apartment and go through everything with you now.”
Joel is eager to leave and I’m his excuse. Not that I want to stick around with three chick
s who are probably moments away from raising their pitchforks toward anyone with a member between their legs.
“Thanks for the head wound and the ice.” I nod, stepping toward the door.
“Anytime. And we do apologize. Just a bad day.” Juno tries to appease the situation.
Savannah doesn’t say anything.
“We’re going to have pizza later tonight if you’d like to join us.” Juno follows us to the door.
“Juno, stop,” Savannah says.
Juno glances over her shoulder and her sister rolls her eyes.
“Brooklyn really is a sweet girl. You’ll see, she’ll be a great neighbor.”
Her smile is so bright I feel like I’m in a remake of The Stepford Wives movie.
“Sure. Whatever you say.”
“Yeah, bye girls.” Joel reaches in and shuts their door. “Can you believe it? Left at the altar. And a Bailey at that. What a moron,” he says as though I understand any of it other than her being left at the altar.
What the hell does her being a Bailey have to do with it?
He inserts a key into the door and opens the apartment for me.
“The Baileys own the big lumber company in town.” He thumbs to the other apartment. “That’s three of them and there are six more.”
I nod, inspecting the furniture. Not the best, but not the worst either. I do a quick sweep of the apartment, see that he’s left the mail key on the kitchen counter along with a sheet giving instructions for garbage, etc.
“Thanks a lot, Joel, I’ll let you know if I need anything.”
“Sure thing. I’m glad this worked out. Normally this is a quiet apartment building. I don’t know what kind of idiot stands up Brooklyn Bailey.”
I huff. Joel obviously thinks I care about whatever happened to the bride. I have no interest in involving myself in any small-town gossip. I’m here to do a job. Get in. Get out.
Not that I disagree with him. Brooklyn was definitely gorgeous, but you have to watch out for a girl with an arm like that. I’m not sure how things are here, but in New York, nothing is ever as good as it seems. Maybe that’s the case with my new neighbor, too.
