My Beautiful Neighbor (The Greene Family Book 1)

by Piper Rayne

  I gulp down half the bottle and sigh. I haven’t gotten drunk in fucking ages.

  “Take my truck, Adam. I’ll drive him home in his,” Jed says.

  “Why?” Adam asks.

  “Because when he pukes again, it’ll be in his own truck.”

  We drive home as Jed continues to lecture me about addressing my issues. He goes on and on about how I’m being ridiculous when it comes to Presley, but I don’t wanna hear it.

  “Okay, mister one-night stand.” I roll down the window for some air. It runs through my hair and I get why dogs do this. It feels like heaven. Not like when I’m deep in Presley, but nice.

  I cringe when I think the word nice. I can’t believe I said that to her after we had sex.

  “We’re not the same. We have two very different fucked-up problems. And I don’t have one-night stands, I just don’t do relationships. It’s different.”

  “And I don’t either.”

  “You do. You’ve been in a relationship with Presley for however long you’ve been messing around with her. You’re just pretending you’re not and torturing yourself in the process.”

  “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say. He slams on the brakes and I fly forward, hitting my head on the dashboard. I hold my head. “Jackass.”

  “Still haven’t come to your senses yet, huh? Should I slam them again?” He does, but this time I’m prepared and get my hand on the dash before my head slams into it.

  “Ha,” I say, and he waves me off.

  We pull into the driveway and I see that her light is on. Jed puts the truck in park, and I stare at the window.

  “I’ll see you later,” I say.

  “Don’t go up there tonight,” he says and exits the truck.

  I open my door and hop out, and Adam almost runs me over when he drives up in Jed’s truck. I step back fast. “He almost killed me.”

  “No, he didn’t.” Jed is there, blocking the stairs to go up to Presley’s.

  “Come on. I want to go up there,” I whine.

  “Why? One reason other than sex,” Jed asks, crossing his arms.

  Adam tugs on my shirt. “Let her be tonight.”

  Do they know something I don’t? “What am I missing?”

  “If you’re going up there for a piece of ass, you gotta turn around and go home. Shower, sober up, and see her in the morning,” Adam says.

  “What? Did something happen?” I step closer, but Jed pushes his chest into mine and I fall back onto my ass.

  “Just tell me,” I say to Adam.

  He looks at me then at Jed before his gaze lands back on me. “You might’ve ruined your chance. You really hurt her.”

  “How… I mean, she told you that?”

  “Everyone knows. Where the hell have you been the last few days?” Jed yells, not moving from his bodyguard stance.

  “Are you fucking her now?” I say to him.

  Jed narrows his eyes and outright glares at me. “We’re not going through this again. She doesn’t want me, and I think I have a proven track record that I don’t take your girl.”

  “She’s really not mine,” I sulk.

  “She could’ve been, but you fucking ruined it.”

  God, can Jed just chill the fuck out for a hot second? So I flipped out for a few days.

  “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up. Nothing good is gonna come from you going up there now.” Adam nudges me toward our house.

  I look one more time at her door, but what my brothers are saying make sense. Tomorrow I’ll make amends with her.

  I’m not in my house for five minutes before I crash face-first on my bed and pass out.

  The shop door opens and my mom rushes in, her arms wide open. She wraps them around me and squeezes so tight, you’d think I’d been declared missing.

  “Hey, Mom,” I say.

  She draws back and places her hands on my upper arms. “What? What happened?”

  I shake my head. “Nothing. Just nerves.”

  Lie. Lie. Lie.

  The fact is, tonight is the duo night and I’ve done all the planning with Jed. Cade has made excuse after excuse not to come to the meetings. I’m not an idiot—he’s dodging me after we made love. I almost offered him an out right after I came out of the bathroom and he had his pants on. But I’m done with that. If he wants to break it off, he can come here and tell me himself.

  “Is this about the boy?”

  “What boy?” I stopped telling my mom about boys after Lincoln because I realized I didn’t want her opinion to tarnish my own.

  “That Cade boy you were always talking about. He owns the brewery, right?”

  I guess I divulged more than I thought I did. “He does. We’re doing a duo night with them tonight. It’s a big thing in this town.” I pick up one of the beer-and-books markers Jed had made that says which beer goes with which book.

  “Oh, this is cute. I should do this for the girls in my book club except it would have to be with wine.”

  I get the impression there’s more wine than books going on at her book club, but I guess when your child grows up, you have to find something to do with your time.

  I circle around with my arms open. “So what do you think?”

  I would love to say my mother’s opinion of my store doesn’t matter, but it does.

  She walks around and picks up a book here and there. Touches the wall the apple tree is painted on. Smiles at the toadstools. Frowns at the young adult section. When I hit thirteen, my mom feared how much books could teach me about boys. But that’s still my favorite genre to read.

  “It’s cute. You did a great job. I knew you would.”

  Then I realize that my dad still hasn’t come in. I thought maybe he was parking the car or something. “Where’s Dad?”

  She sets her purse on the counter, near the cash register. “He sends his apologies. He had to work. You know how it is.”

  I really don’t, but it’s the same excuse she always gives when it comes to him. “Oh, okay.”

  “But he wanted me to tell you how proud of you he is. I think you’ll be getting a special delivery tomorrow.” She winks, which means a giant bouquet is on its way. It’s his go-to move. My dad should invest in growers with the amount of flowers he has to send every year.

  “I’m sure I’ll love them.”

  She winds her arm through mine. “Do we need to do anything beforehand?”

  I look around. “I think I’m ready.”

  I could use a bottle of vodka to calm my nerves before I unlock those doors and welcome all of Sunrise Bay. I’m not gonna lie, I wish Cade was here with me, but clearly whatever we were is over.

  “Then show me the town,” she says as though Sunrise Bay is Disney World.

  “Yeah. Want to do lunch?”

  “Not at the brewery though, right?”

  Although they have great food, I am not entering that establishment until I have to. “Nope. We’ll find somewhere else. A lot of the places on the bay have opened up now that tourist season is almost here.”

  She pats my hand. “I can’t wait to spend the day with you.”

  She beams, seeming like she’s genuinely on cloud nine with me. She tried for years for a child and always says I was her blessing, her answered prayer. This might be the first time in a long time that I’m really feeling it though and it took me coming here for it to happen.

  As we step out of the store and I lock it, Cade is crossing the road from The Grind, a drink in his hand. He looks horrible. When he glances over, he stops. Mom’s too busy chatting about how the town looks like a place Dad took her up in Vermont to notice.

  My eyes lock with Cade’s, and I wish more than anything that I knew what made him do a one-eighty with me. What scared him away? I wish he could talk to me about it.

  I turn my mom in the other direction and I don’t look back because as it is, I’m sucking back tears. Where did it all go wrong in such a short amount of time? But my breakdown will have t
o wait. Right now, I’m going to enjoy the time with someone who wants to be with me.

  Clara bites her lip and nods. “Do it.”

  I unlock the door and she claps. My mom is busy rearranging the kids’ section because she said I should put my most loved books from when I was younger, front and center. I watch while the people of Sunrise Bay walk into my new store for the first time.

  “Now you can sample the beers over at Truth or Dare, but we both have the bundles of the beer and books to purchase,” I announce, but everyone is looking around and they don’t seem to pay much attention.

  Clara elbows me. “Everything’s going great. A few old ladies are in the romance section, pretending to be lost.”

  I’m not surprised that I recognize them from the Northern Lights Retirement Center.

  A few customers ask me for specific books, telling me they love that I’ll be just down the street. Others ask me about special orders and if they can place a request. A woman approaches me about starting a book club one night a month because she loves discussing books but none of her friends like to read what she does.

  Everything is going great. Midway through the night, the crowd dwindles because I’m sure most of them are congregated over in Truth or Dare—hopefully buying more books and beer. Jed said it’s important that we sell a lot tonight, that there’s some kind of bragging rights for the two companies that earn the most.

  “Seems everyone loves your store.” Mom comes alongside me as I’m checking a woman out.

  “I think so.”

  “Now you just have to hope it continues and it’s not a one-night thing.”

  My mom can be pessimistic when it comes to something that’s working against her. And The Story Shop succeeding is definitely working against her because it means I’ll stay here.

  Over the years, I’ve learned not to fight with her but go with the flow. No need to rile her up when nothing is final. “I hope so.”

  Her hand runs down my back. “You did a great job. I’m going to head next door and check out what they’re doing to drive business here.”

  “Really?” I ask because a brewery is not my mom’s scene.

  “Well, I want to make sure they’re showing off your books just as much as they are their beer.”

  Clara smiles from across the room.

  “Clara, do you want to take her over there?” I ask.

  She sets down the book in her hand. “Sure. Come on, Mrs. Knight. You might like one of the beers.”

  “Oh no, I do not drink beer.” My mom looks at Clara for a moment. She hasn’t yet addressed the fact that Clara’s my biological sister. I’m pretty sure it’s Mom’s way of pretending it’s not happening. “If you had blonde hair, the two of you would be spitting images of one another.”

  Clara glances at me over my mom’s shoulder in surprise, and I’m sure I match her expression.

  I waggle my eyebrows at Clara. “Maybe you should go blonde.”

  “I did, about a decade ago. Too much maintenance,” she says with a smile.

  “Truth. Maybe I should go brunette.”

  My mom’s head whips in my direction and she gives a small shake of her head. That’s the difference between Clara and me. Where I grew up, you don’t leave your house without a full face of makeup, dressed to impress. Anything natural isn’t the norm, hence my blonde hair. I’m starting to think maybe it’s time for a change though.

  “We’ll be right back.” Clara leads my mom out of the store, and they veer left through the crowd of people outside.

  Then I spot Cade in the crowd. He’s a little taller than the people he’s with, but he’s got a beer in his hand. Again I question what went wrong with us. I thought a friendship was growing between us. I admit I caught feelings, but I wasn’t going to tell him that or pressure him to make it something more.

  My thoughts are interrupted when the bell rings again and Ethel, Dori, and Midge walk in.

  “Parsley,” Ethel says, coming over while Dori and Midge walk around and check things out.

  I don’t bother correcting her on the name thing—I’m sure she’ll only deny it again. I’ve yet to put in security cameras and I really hope that Midge doesn’t help herself.

  As though Ethel sees me watching Midge, she pats my hand. “Dori will keep an eye on her.” Her gaze scatters around the store. “It’s beautiful. You did a great job.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I already bought the summer read and six-pack from next door. I’m giving the beer to Sal down at Northern Lights. They tell him he shouldn’t drink beer, but I sneak it into him.”

  I really hope when I’m older, I live somewhere like Northern Lights. Those elderly people are probably having more fun than high school kids.

  “Well, thank you for supporting duo night.”

  She smiles and pats my hand. “Now tell me why my grandson is out there looking so depressed.” She nods toward where I saw Cade before she came in.

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Is what Nikki’s saying true? You two are over?”

  I choke out a laugh. “We never even began.”

  “Oh, that’s not true and we both know it.”

  The door chimes again and of course it’s Reese who walks in, along with a woman carrying a baby to her chest.

  “Grandma Ethel!” Reese coos and prances over in her high heels with her arms out.

  But the truth is, I’ve never been so happy to see Reese. Her arrival means an end to this conversation with Ethel.

  “Reese,” Ethel says in a frigid tone but does hug her.

  “I missed you so much.”

  “Funny, I never got a card. Or a call.” She winds her arm through mine. “Have you met Presley Knight, Sunrise Bay’s newest resident?”

  Reese smiles. Man, she’d give the girls back in Connecticut a run for their money. “I did.”

  “So you know that she and Cade are—”

  The girl with the baby rolls her eyes and heads to the children’s section. I wish I could follow her. I glance around and catch Dori smacking Midge’s hand.

  “Oh, Cade just told me they’re just friends,” Reese says.

  “You know Cade,” Ethel says.

  “He keeps those feelings to himself,” she says. “I know, I still remember when he finally opened up to me about his mom.”

  Ethel glances at me from the corner of her eye and I swear it feels as if someone used a pair of tweezers and pulled the realization out of the back of my head. What the hell? How did I not put everything together? This whole time I thought Cade’s inability to open up to me had to do with Reese but it was actually about the loss of his mom.

  “It was a hard loss for him, and I don’t think we should all be gossiping about it,” Ethel says.

  By Reese’s twisted face, she’s just as surprised as I am that any subject is off the table to gossip about with Ethel.

  “Definitely.” But Reese’s smug look that says Cade’s shared more with her than he ever will with me sets my teeth on edge. God help me, I’m still jealous. Another bad sign. “I should join my friend. Sorry it didn’t work out, Presley. Cade is the bachelor of Sunrise Bay, but he only trusts a few people.”

  As if by speaking his name she made him appear, the door chimes and Cade walks in.

  I can’t deal with this right now. It’s all too overwhelming. My chest feels tight and my heart is racing and all I can think of is bolting.

  “I’m sorry, I need a breather. Can you watch the store?” Leaving it with Ethel isn’t the best option, but my throat is closing up. There’s no way I’m talking to him right now.

  Reese catches him first and beelines over to him, hugging him tightly. I walk toward the door.

  Cade dislodges himself from Reese. “Presley, wait.”

  But I don’t stop. I push the shop door open, almost hitting a man. “Sorry,” I say and walk away from the crowd congregated outside our businesses.

  “Presley!” Cade yells, and a deafening silence f
alls over the crowd.

  I turn around, exhausted. “What?”

  “Let’s talk.” He follows me in the direction of The Grind.

  “You’ve had time to talk, Cade.”

  He shoves his hands in his pockets and stares at his feet. He doesn’t really want to talk.

  “See? You can’t talk. Isn’t that the problem?” Unshed tears prick at my eyes and I hold them back, doing my best not to lose my shit right here in front of everyone. I thought the town would break me, but it was him. Anger and frustration stack up inside me and I stand straighter. I cross my arms and wait. “Okay, you want to talk? Talk.”

  “Let’s go somewhere else.”

  I look behind him at all the faces staring at us. “Why? Everyone here knows what’s going on with us.” I look around him at all the townspeople. “Yes, Nikki was right. Cade and I have been screwing for the past few weeks.”

  A few people laugh, some look on with sympathy, but I don’t care.

  I put up my hand. “Maybe I should clarify. We weren’t screwing. We were messing around until a week ago when he made love to me.”

  He looks up and the shame on his face breaks me. A tear slips down my cheek and he steps forward, but I swipe it away, stepping back.

  “Presley,” he says.

  I shake my head. “Don’t sweat it, Cade, I was just as naïve as you. I knew the stakes and the game I was playing. But I’m done. So you don’t have to gently break my heart by dodging me anymore. I’m giving you the out you’re looking for.”

  He steps forward again, and my head falls down to hide the tears that won’t seem to stop cascading down my cheeks.

  “Come on. Let’s talk.” He reaches to touch me and I smack his hand away.

  “You had your chance to talk to me. It’s too late now.”

  “It’s not. I’m here.”

  “Okay, why did you run out after you made love to me?”

  He opens his mouth and closes it, shaking his head. “I got scared.”

  “Of?” I break the small distance between us. If he’s willing to open up, I’ll go somewhere with him and talk this out. But if he’s not, then there’s no point.

  “Because I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea. I got scared that I hurt you.”