by Rayne, Piper
Three
Brooklyn
“What do you mean he’s not letting me out of the lease?” I direct my question to Savannah. No isn’t a word in her vocabulary, but she just accepted his denial.
I line the scissors up on the next hemline of my dress, clipping away thread by thread while I sit on the floor in front of the coffee table.
“Can we please just rip it?” Savannah asks, her hands inching toward the dress.
I scowl and she rolls her eyes.
“I think we should talk about the hottie with the head wound. I got this incredible energy when he walked in.” Juno props her feet up on the coffee table Holly restored for Jeff and me as a wedding gift. Poor Holly putting all that work into something for nothing.
“Juno. Focus.” Savannah shoots her a death glare.
“If I wasn’t a scorned bride, and hell-bent on making the entire male population pay, I’d be all over that.”
I can’t deny the guy is heart pounding, belly-flipping goodness. I might not want to head to bed with the man, but the guy has that air about him. You know what I mean. He walks, talks and looks like he’d make you come three times in one night.
“What?” Savannah asks shocked, her eyebrows just about up to her hairline. She obviously got the wrong idea.
“Go for it, Juno,” I say. “Unless you and Colton…”
She narrows her eyes. “How many times have I told you, we’re just friends. Best friends.”
Savannah playfully rolls her eyes at me.
Juno throws a pillow at her.
“Hey!” she says, throwing it back, but Juno catches it.
Told you, she’s got the reflexes of a cat. I bet if I pushed her off a building she’d land on her feet.
“Back to the apartment. Joel says that—”
“Who’s Joel?” I ask, taking the small scissors along the seam and clipping. It’s oddly therapeutic.
“Your landlord. Come on, Brooklyn.” Savannah acts like I’m a flake, as always.
Should I mention that she’s currently sitting across from a sister who believes she’s been born with the gift of matchmaking, but I’m the flake because I cure things with essential oils.
“I didn’t get his name.” I shrug.
Clip. Clip. Clip.
I release a cleansing breath.
“Well, he said you signed the lease and since Jeff is nowhere to be found that leaves you on the hook.”
“Anyway…” Juno sends Savannah a look. “The hottie is your new neighbor.” Juno waggles her eyebrows.
I have no idea what happened with the guy because his comment was the straw that broke me. I locked myself in the bedroom, the tears finally cresting to the surface.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Savannah sips her wine.
“I have a feeling about him, too.” Juno looks off into space for a second.
I swear, my sister. She says she predicted my oldest brother, Austin and his girlfriend, Holly, getting together last year, but unless she shoved alcohol down their throats and stuffed them into his Jeep behind Lucky’s Tavern, it wasn’t her doing. They were hot news… well, still are. They were in the town’s online gossip blog for months.
“Oh God.” I drop the scissors on my lap. “Buzz Wheel!” My forehead hits the coffee table.
Savannah runs her hand in small circles on my back. “I’m sure they’ll be kind.”
Juno huffs. “A Bailey being stood up at the altar?”
I miss the look I’m sure Savannah gives Juno.
“Just maybe stay off for a few days,” Savannah says.
I’ve always loved that site. The Lake Starlight Buzz Wheel is a sick obsession I’ve indulged in my entire life. Well, most of my life. I really don’t quite remember when it started, but Juno’s right. I need to stay clear of it for the next day or two. Since the site is updated with new content at midnight every day there’ll be no record of… my mind trails to what they could unfold.
“Do you think they got a picture of Jeff?” I ask, pressing both my hands on the table to rise from the floor.
“No. Don’t read it, Brooklyn.” Savannah’s hand plants on my arm to keep me put.
“Sooner or later I’ll have to face it.”
Juno pulls her phone out. “I’ll read it.” Her thumbs run along the screen.
I move toward my phone, but Savannah doesn’t let go of my arm. “Let Juno,” she pleads.
I nod, my ass falling back down to the floor, picking up my scissors and getting to work unstitching the bodice from the skirt.
Juno laughs and positions her phone so we can see.
“There’s a wanted poster with a weasel on it.”
My stomach sinks at the confirmation that my Dear Jane moment has made the Buzz Wheel. Not sure why I had that sliver of hope that I’d escaped it.
“Ready?” Juno asks, staring directly at me.
Savannah slides down to the ground with me, clasping her hand over mine.
“Go.” I nod.
Juno begins to read. “Well, the news is out and unfortunately, Brooklyn Bailey has been left at the altar. After two years of preparations, the Bailey clan with new addition, Holly Radcliffe, were ready to give away their sister, but no one was at the end of the aisle to take her. Rumor has it, she’s on their honeymoon by herself. Oldest brother, Austin, is rumored to have stated, ‘The guy has a death wish.’ He and the other three Bailey brothers then stalked out of the wedding in search of Jeff Brickle. I sure hope he’s bunkered down somewhere safe tonight. All in all, it’s sad news, but many men in Lake Starlight are questioning, how short of a time is too short to ask Brooklyn Bailey out?”
Juno’s thumb scrolls and I wait for more.
“Oh, and something about Austin and Holly in the truck outside Lucky’s again. Seriously, what sick fascination do they have with doing it in the back seat?” She clicks her screen off and drops her phone in her lap.
“They’re still in that screwing every minute phase,” I say in a morose voice.
Savannah shakes her head. “I can see those two never getting out of that phase.”
I laugh.
A real laugh.
I jolt and look around.
My sisters didn’t notice, but I shouldn’t be laughing right now. How can I? I should find no amusement in anything.
“You know what you need to do?” Juno pours herself another glass of wine. “Go on the honeymoon. You have the time off.” She leans back into the chair.
Savannah steals the bottle to refill our glasses. “She’s right. It’ll clear your head.”
“Yeah, walking on a beach solo when I should be there with my husband will be the best way to clear my mind. Good idea girls.”
Clip. Clip. Clip.
Ahhh.
“I’m serious, Brookie.” Juno uses the nickname she used when we were kids. “I think it’s exactly what you need. Get out of here for two weeks. In the meantime, we’ll figure this whole apartment thing out. I’ll move in to help. Kingston’s never home anyway.”
I stop cutting the strings that were supposed to bind my future. “No. I’m not going on a honeymoon for one and then having my sister move in with me out of pity, leaving my brother to move back home. Plus, Holly and Austin just got the house to themselves.”
“Not true. Rome is still there,” Savannah adds.
In case you weren’t keeping track, there are nine of us Bailey siblings. Don’t worry, you’ll get them all straight pretty quick.
“Not for long. He’s opening that restaurant and told me there’s a place above it he’s moving into.”
Savannah says nothing because she knows I’m right. None of us do anything without Savannah or Austin’s approval for some reason. I guess because they held the family together after our parents died. They played pseudo-mom and dad.
“Okay, whatever. Just go on the honeymoon,” Juno says. “And you should take that hottie.” She points to the door of my apartment.
“Do yo
u live on planet Earth?” Savannah asks her.
“I’m telling you, there’s something there.” She chews the inside of her cheek for a second. “If he would’ve stuck around for more questions, I would’ve predicted the why and the who, but he seemed kind of touchy.”
“Maybe because he got hit by a brick of a book and has a head wound as a result. Not exactly a great welcome committee,” I say.
“Yeah, Juno. He was scared that he walked into his own wedding when he saw Brooklyn. That’s not the guy she needs in her life.” Savannah is clearly unimpressed, but she’s a hard one to impress.
Juno sips her wine. “I’m just saying what I’m feeling and since I’m the one who inherited the matchmaking gene, I suggest you believe me when I say there’s something about him.”
Savannah shakes her head, pouring another glass of wine.
“If you let me set you up, you’d have no reason to think I’m not the real thing.” Juno widens her eyes in question to Savannah.
“Never.” Savannah nudges me. “Go on the trip. Come on. You’re already packed.” She’s pretty eager to change the subject.
True. My lonely honeymoon suitcase was the only one left in the closet.
Clip. Clip. Clip.
Ahhh.
It would get me away from the pitying looks on Lake Starlight’s resident’s faces. Not that I won’t be returning to them when I come back, but it’s not like I feel like going to work or sitting around in my new apartment that I can’t even afford for the next two weeks.
“I’ll go,” I say softly, dropping the scissors and tearing apart the rest of the dress, splitting it in two halves. “That felt fantastic.”
“YAY!” Juno jumps up. “Let’s go double check that you have everything you need.”
It seems crazy, but I need some time alone to come to terms with what Jeff’s done to me. I need to rid him from my body and soul. I thought I was on my way to becoming a stay at home mother, but since that ship has sailed right now, I need to figure out a plan and I can’t do that here. My family will design a wellness check rotation and drive me crazy in the process.
The buzzer from downstairs rings and Juno moves to press the button to answer.
“Who’s there?” she asks, a note of satisfaction in her voice now that I’ve agreed to go on the trip.
“Let us up,” Rome says, annoyance laced throughout his tone.
She presses the button and the thin walls of the apartment don’t hide the sound of numerous footsteps venturing up to the third floor.
Juno opens the door and one after the other the rest of my family files in, their eyes seeking me out.
“Pizza and beer.” Rome drops two pizzas on the table and a case of beer on the counter.
“More pizza and beer.” Denver drops two more pizzas and another case on the counter.
They each beeline it over to me.
“Get up,” they say in unison, their hands motioning for me to stand.
Once I’m on my feet, they pull me into their arms. “I will kill him as soon as I find him,” Rome whispers.
“Not if I get to him first,” Denver adds.
“Let me join in.” Kingston huddles in from the other side.
“What’s a brotherly hug without the eldest.” Soon Austin is on the other side and I’m suffocating from the smell of alcohol they’ve already consumed.
“Drinking so early, boys?” I mumble into someone’s chest.
They laugh and disperse, each pointing to the other.
Austin holds his hands up. “I was the driver.”
The other three shrug.
“He was a douchebag anyway.” Austin heads back to the kitchen to help Holly put the beer in the fridge.
“Sorry, Brooklyn.” Sedona hugs me and Phoenix comes next, hugging me without saying anything. She’s not one to display her emotions. Unless they’re bitchy. They both sit down on the couch, their heads in their phones almost instantly.
We all party with pizza, beer and wine acting like Jeff standing me up was the best thing to happen to me. I’m sure a few of them think it is but tell that to my heart.
“Guess what?” Juno asks, standing on a chair to grab everyone’s attention.
Surprisingly they grant her the floor.
“Brooklyn’s going on her honeymoon.”
“I call dibs on asshole’s ticket.” Denver raises his hand.
“No way, she loves me more.” Rome slides in front of him.
“Remember that time when I fixed your car for free?” Kingston joins in.
I laugh once more because I’m absolutely not going on my honeymoon with any of my brothers. I’m already embarrassed and ashamed enough.
“I’ll be going solo, thanks.”
The buzzer rings again. Juno rushes over to grab it.
“It’s not the hottie! Relax Juno,” Savannah screams out to her around a mouthful of pizza.
My own stomach is eating away at itself. The yogurt this morning wasn’t enough to fill me until dinner.
I probably shouldn’t be hungry either.
“Sorry, party is full unless you’re the hottie next door,” she says into the intercom then looks back, clearly having consumed too much wine. “That rhymes. I’m a rapper.”
Austin raises his eyebrows. “Kingston you’re getting her home tonight.”
“Let me up, Juno!” Grandma Dori yells through the speaker.
“Sure thing, G’ma.” She presses the buzzer and Rome heads out the apartment door to go help my grandma up the three flights of stairs.
Phoenix links her phone to my Bluetooth speaker and starts some music. Maybe a party is just what I need to get evicted from this place.
“Turn it up, Phoenix,” I call out to her.
She nods, for once listening to instruction.
After what feels like forever, Rome opens the door, Grandma Dori nowhere in sight.
“Where is she?” I ask.
He thumbs behind him and smirks. “She found someone better to help her up the stairs.”
In she walks with my hot new neighbor attached to her arm.
Four
Wyatt
The guy ahead of us leers over his shoulder as we round from the second floor to the third like I’m trying to pick up the woman he refers to as G’ma D.
“You’re so sweet. What’s your name?” She pats my hand and stops at the landing with only half a staircase left. I don’t blame her for taking a breather. I run every morning but climbing these stairs three times today tells me I’m not as in shape as I thought.
“Wyatt, ma’am.”
“Don’t ma’am me,” she says.
The guy who came down to meet her stares down at us from the top step.
“She’s Dori,” he says, raising both eyebrows.
“Yes, and not to be confused with anything blue, like that damn fish,” the elderly woman snips.
My attention falls to her.
The guy above snickers.
“Unless you’re going to compliment my eyes.” She widens them, batting her eyelashes up at me.
“Very blue and very pretty.”
I refrain from mentioning that her hair only brings out a deeper shade of blue in her eyes.
“Thanks. My granddaughter, Brooklyn, has the same color.”
Ahh. The jilted bride is her granddaughter. Should’ve put those two things together.
“Yeah but she’s recently sworn off all douchebags,” the guy says.
I eye the guy. He’s typecast me pretty quick. Not that I haven’t him. I’d bet we’re similar in our thinking when it comes to settling down.
“I’m not looking,” I confirm.
“Brook’s not looking for any companionship.” His clarification is a clear warning to stay the fuck away.
Like I’d get involved with a scorned bride. What am I an idiot?
I nod. Message received—loud and clear.
“Stop it, Rome,” she scolds then turns to me. “He’s acting like a big
brother when the truth is, he’s the little brother.”
I glance up to him with a smirk on my face and he rolls his eyes.
“None of us really cared for the groom, truth be told. He was a fine boy, just not meant to be a part of the Baileys,” she whispers.
Rome chuckles. “We don’t take applications. Can we finish this trek? The pizza’s getting cold.”
Dori waves him off. “You go. Wyatt’s got me. Don’t you, dear?”
Rome’s eyes laser to mine. “Cool. He’s not looking for anyone anyway, right?”
He laughs and turns around, the sound of a door in the hallway above opening and closing.
“Okay, let’s go.” Dori steps on the first stair. “I’m not sure I’ll be visiting my granddaughter much with these stairs.”
“Maybe she’ll come to you.”
“You’ll watch out for her, won’t you?” she asks.
I want to cock my head back and shoot her a ‘you’re insane’ look. Is this what a small town brings you? In New York, I could see the same person on the elevator for three years and we’re both content with not saying one word to each other.
“Well…”
She pats my hand. “Thank you. Her ex-fiancé was a jerk, but the feeling of being unwanted has to be hurting her. She’ll put up a good front today because the family is here, but my Brookie keeps things in and thinks of everyone before herself. Always has.”
The genuine concern on Dori’s face and in her tone strips the New Yorker right out of me.
“Sure. I can do that.”
We finally reach the top of the stairs. I swear I could’ve gone up and down them ten times by now.
“You’re a lifesaver. It’s like fate moved you in across the hall.” She smiles up at me and I step forward to nudge her toward the apartment her granddaughter lives in. “Now come have pizza.”
Her grip grows tighter on me, leaving me no chance to escape and before I can do anything, we’re in the apartment with what seems like a million sets of eyes poised on us.
I do a double take twice because there are two sets of twins.
And the two women from earlier are here.
As heat rushes to my cheeks, my eyes stop mid scan across the room and land on Brooklyn. She’s freshly showered, the overabundance of makeup stripped to show her clean face. Her blonde hair is pulled up on the top of her head in a loose messy bun and redness tints her cheeks at finding me, a stranger, in her apartment once again. Or maybe she’s still embarrassed about hitting me with a book.
