My Beautiful Neighbor (The Greene Family Book 1) by Piper Rayne (phonics reading books TXT) 📕

falter a little, but she’s quick to recover. Something I’m thinking she’s done her entire life.

“We should get going. Thanks, Theo.” I gesture with my hand for Presley to go in front of me and follow her out the door. “Come on, let’s go this way.”

I lead her away from the town and the people, wanting to have her alone. With it already dark outside, I guess that might look a little sleazy.

I want her to feel safe around me, so I ask, “Want to walk toward the bay?”

“Sure.” She tucks her hands into her pockets.

I step off the curb to cross the street toward the bay area. “Is that hard? Being here and having everyone know your story?”

“You warned me already. What are you trying to get at now?”

“Nothing, just… I’ve been there. I understand.” I could act like I don’t know what it’s like to have an entire town watching you, but it’s happened twice in my lifetime. The difference was, people already knew me. They don’t know Presley.

“Your mom?”

I shouldn’t be surprised. Of course someone in this town told her about my mom. “When she died, I couldn’t go anywhere without feeling like everyone was studying me, you know? Like they were watching and waiting and wondering when we’d grow used to living without her. They’d tell me what a great big brother I was being to Chevelle. And when Marla returned to town and got together with my dad, they were watching us again. But deep down, I always knew the town was just concerned for us because we were one of them. But you’re an outsider and them not knowing you personally yet still knowing everything about your situation must make it harder.”

She shrugs and stops to look at the dark bay. A few fishing boats are returning to port, and we can’t see the mountain range in the distance in the darkness. “It’s not so bad. Back home, people are watching you because they’re waiting for you to screw up. They want to make sure to keep you down because they think that brings them up. It’s not just gossip. They lie. You should’ve seen when people found out I was adopted. The claws came out about how I wasn’t a real Knight.”

“Seriously?”

She nods. If it affected her then, she’s over it now based on the way she’s talking about it.

“Rich people can be ruthless. The girls are just…” Her gaze remains steady on the bay. “That’s why I wanted to stay here.” She glances at me. “It’s nice here. Something I’ve never experienced. So they gossip about me?” She shrugs. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. Maybe with time, they won’t see me as Denise Harrison’s unwanted child, but just see me as Presley.”

“That’s the good thing about Sunrise Bay. They’re always willing to give someone a fresh start.”

“I hope so.” She sighs. “Should we head back?”

I could stay here all night and listen to her life story, but she’s right. If we don’t get back up toward the square area, people will talk.

The town is winding down for the night, but we find Clara and Xavier walking down the street with a bouquet of flowers. Ever since Jed brought up Clara liking Xavier, I’m starting to see things between them differently. But they’ve been so close for so long… maybe when you have a best friend who’s the opposite sex, it’s a different kind of friendship.

“Where’s Adam?” I ask.

“I think the better question is where did you two disappear to?” Clara asks.

“I just needed some fresh air. It was getting hot with all those people in there.” Presley’s blushing. Jesus, she’s going to have to do a better job than that if she wants people to believe there’s nothing going on between us.

Clara nods and Xavier rolls his eyes.

“So where is Adam?” Presley asks.

“He went home. Said thank you for dragging him out,” Xavier says.

Clara and Presley walk together, and Xavier and I pick up behind them. We shake hands with and wave to people we’ve known our entire lives as the four of us head back toward the brewery. Most of the people who stop us tell Xavier what a great season he had. He’s only twenty-six and I know he hasn’t even had his best year yet. He just got off being second string mid-season last year.

Xavier elbows me and nods at Presley. I shake my head and give him a “shut the fuck up” look. I have to tread carefully here. My family knows me, they know my facial expressions, my usual responses, and I’m sure to tip them off if I try to act as though I don’t care at all about her. They’ll see right through that.

We end up walking into Truth or Dare, Clara and Presley finding a seat at a table. I head behind the bar and grab a pitcher and four glasses, and that’s when I find Molly and Jed looking way too friendly on the other side of one of the keg lines.

I clear my throat and Jed stands up straighter. Molly’s been a flirt since forever, especially with Jed. I think she might have a crush on him, or maybe that’s just her way. Regardless, it made me hesitate to hire her when she came looking for a job.

“What’s up?” Jed steps away as Molly pretends she has to go to the back room for something.

“Nothing. You?” I raise an eyebrow.

He chuckles and slaps me on the back. “You worry too much.”

“And you don’t worry enough.”

The amusement on his face falls when he looks at the seating area. “What’s she doing here?” His eyes are narrowed and blazing toward Presley.

Again, I remind myself to watch what I say. “She’s here with Clara and Xavier. I just met up with them at Fired Up. You know, you should make an appearance at the duo nights so when it’s our turn, people reciprocate.”

“That’s why our partnership works so well. You go so I don’t have