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

Her shoulders sag. “It’s been how many years? How are you not over it?” Her raised voice makes me think she still believes she did nothing wrong.

“I am over it, but that doesn’t change the trust issue.”

She throws her hands in the air. “Trust? I’ve always been your confidante. Remember I’m the one—”

“Enough with the ‘remember when’ shit. It’s been twelve years since senior year and the only reason you want me now is because your boyfriend cheated on you.”

She balks. “What? Who told you that?”

I say nothing because she’s a Sunrise Bay lifer. She knows how the gossip spreads.

“It might be the reason I’m back, but it’s not the reason I’m here with you now. It’s always been us, Cade. Our story—”

“Our story died when you threw yourself at Jed.”

“He’s a liar.”

During senior year, I broke up with Reese because she was just as intrigued as our classmates about Jed when he arrived in town. After he stole my quarterback position, she cozied up to him. Everyone thought I was being rash in my decision to break up with her. Months later, I thought maybe I had too, but after I got the quarterback position again, she was back at my side. Months later, after Jed and I had become friends and football season was over, he came to me one night and confessed that Reese had approached him earlier in the season. He’d turned her down because she was my girlfriend, but she didn’t let it go until coincidentally, I became the first-string quarterback again.

“He’s my brother.”

“Step.”

I shake my head. “He’s my brother.”

“Just like you said, that was ages ago. We can start over. Whatever you have with her—”

“Presley,” I say.

“It’s temporary. She’s not from around here. She doesn’t know how things work and I doubt she’s sticking around. It’s easy with me. I know your past already, you don’t have to open yourself up to someone new.” She steps forward. “You can just be you and not trudge through all those feelings about your mom. I understand the hurt you went through, because I was here.”

I take her hands before they touch me and lower them. “No, Reese. Whether or not I’m with Presley in the months ahead doesn’t factor in on the fact that there will never be an us again.”

She huffs and drops her arms to her sides. “You have no idea what you’re missing out on. There was a reason we were happy. You’re forgetting all of that because of one stupid thing.”

Convenient how she admits it now, even though I knew all along that Jed was telling the truth.

The back door opens, and Presley slides out. “Hey, I’m going to get to the meeting now. I’ll meet you over there.” She’s got her coat and purse on.

“No.” I step toward her. “I’m coming with you.”

I grab her hand, leading her into the house, and hear Reese’s sigh behind us.

We say our goodbyes as my dad puts on his coat. “You sure you don’t want a ride? Rylan’s coming and he’s not that good on his crutches yet.”

I look at Presley. “I’m good.”

Reese comes in the back door and helps Marla clear the table.

“I’ve got it, Reese, but thank you.” Marla waves to us. “I’ll see you all over there.”

We walk out before Reese leaves, and as soon as we’re outside, Presley whips her hand out of mine.

“What’s that for?” I ask.

“Don’t use me as some sort of toy,” she says.

“What are you talking about?”

“If you want her, have her. If you don’t, then fine. But holding my hand in front of her, when you made it pretty clear before we got here that was a hard pass?”

Maybe that wasn’t my brightest moment.

She walks down the driveway toward downtown. When she reaches the area where we had the conversation on the way to dinner, she circles to face me. “Listen, I’m in this whole friends with benefits situation, but you will not embarrass me publicly.” She pokes me in the chest. “I’m not some plaything. You want this kept a secret? Fine. Then no hand-holding, even when you want to make an ex-girlfriend jealous.”

She’s right. I’m an idiot. Although I was just trying to get Reese to back off, rather than make her jealous. But Presley’s right, I can’t use her as a pawn.

I cage her to the brick wall, move one hand to her hip, and my other cradles her face as my lips land on hers with a kiss I hope conveys how sorry I am. Like every time we touch, her body melts into mine and a slow moan leaks from deep in her throat. I’ve slowly become addicted, and part of me is scared for the first time we have sex. What if, for some reason, it’s not as great as everything we’ve experienced up until now?

A group walks by and I step back, although they can’t possibly see us in the dark of the alley.

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” I say. “But I will say, I wasn’t trying to make her jealous, just see that the two of us wouldn’t ever be together again.”

She nods. “Thank you for apologizing. Now let’s go.” She walks out of the alley.

“That’s it?”

She looks over her shoulder. “Well, yeah.”

Damn, that was easier than I figured it’d be.

My dad, Rylan, and Marla are all here before we arrive. Since Jed is in town, I opt to sit in the audience with Presley while he takes our seat on the panel. According to the flyer, we’re discussing the next duo night, Presley’s grand opening, and the beginning of tourist season.

George bangs the gavel. Clara runs up the aisle and sits next to Presley, Xavier right behind her. It’s nice having him home during the off-season.

“The committee has met privately to discuss the issues and we’ve decided to try something new,” George says.

Presley looks at me and my forehead crinkles. Jed dodges eye contact with