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

neighbors, even if you don’t live here.” She looks around. It’s clear from her cringe she doesn’t think much of the apartment. But like all the Greene children, I’ll always hold memories of this place near to my heart.

Cade might not be ready to admit what he felt for me. I have no control over that. Maybe I should have pressed more. Maybe I shouldn’t have pressed at all, I don’t know. Another woman might have gotten him to open up. But I thought with time… I shake my head to stop myself from overthinking. It’s over and all I can do is deal with it and try to move on.

“I came to this town for Clara too.”

“So you’re never coming home?” There’s a hitch in my mom’s voice.

I close the fridge, sit on the bed, and take her hands. “Mom, I love you. Thank you for always being my biggest cheerleader. I don’t want you to think me coming here is to get away from you. I’d love if you and Dad would relocate here. But this is the first place I feel like myself. I feel like I really fit, despite the recent drama.”

“Did I make a mistake raising you in Connecticut?”

I lean my head on her shoulder. “You and Dad gave me a great life. And maybe it’s my genes, why I love it here so much. Maybe it has nothing to do with biology. But I’m happy here in a way I wasn’t in Connecticut.”

“Even though that boy broke your heart?”

“That’s the good thing with broken hearts—they heal.” Eventually.

She kisses my forehead. “I’m not sure when you became the wise one.”

“As soon as you held me in your arms.”

She pushes me away with her shoulder and laughs. “I’m going to come visit a lot. You’ll need a spare room. And even though that Cade fella missed his chance, the next guy from this town who’s worthy of winning your heart, he’s gonna have to get used to me.”

I put my arm around her. “I’d have it no other way.”

“I might talk your dad into getting a place here for when we visit. We could rent it out when we’re not in town. It’d be a good investment.” She winks.

I chuckle, knowing that will be a selling point to him. “I’d love that.”

She pats her hand on my shoulder. “I’m only a flight away.”

“I know.”

She sighs and our heads touch, the two of us deep in thought. This might be the hardest thing my mom has ever had to do, and I’m proud of her for taking it so well. She wouldn’t always have been so graceful about accepting my decision.

The sound of tires on gravel interrupts our moment.

“Clara told me they have a big family dinner, that no one would be around.” I stand and look out the curtain. A boulder sinks into my stomach when I see Cade’s truck park and him getting out of it. “It’s Cade.”

Then we hear his footsteps on the wooden stairs outside the apartment and a loud knock sounds on the door.

My mom pats my knee. “I’ll handle this.”

She walks over to the door while I shut myself in the bathroom. Sooner or later, I’ll have to face him, but not right now.

“Hello, Cade,” she says.

“Hello, Mrs. Knight. I don’t think we officially met the other night. I’m Cade Greene.”

“Oh, I know who you are.”

“I suppose you do. Is Presley here?”

There’s a pause. “She is, but she’s not here for you. You’ve done enough.”

I hear a hand land on the door. “Please. I just need a few minutes. That’s all. I’m an idiot.”

“You are,” Mom says, and I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

“I love your daughter. Please let me tell her.”

I suck in a sharp breath.

“Cade—” she says.

“Presley!” he yells into the apartment. “Please talk to me. I love you. I know I’ve been so stupid, but if you give me ten minutes, I’ll explain it all. And if you still hate me and want nothing to do with me, then I’ll drive to the airport.”

What is he talking about? Why would he drive to the airport?

My hand wraps around the doorknob.

“I’m sure you’re a good man, but sometimes things can’t be mended. And in truth, if you didn’t realize you loved my daughter until you lost her, I’m not sure I’m on board with you talking to her now.”

“I’ll gladly explain myself to you too. My mom died when I was twelve and—”

I turn the knob and step out. His shoulders deflate when he sees me. He tries to get around my mom, but she steps in front of him, her hand on his chest.

I want to laugh. “It’s okay, Mom.”

She turns around and steps aside. “Presley.”

There’s a warning in her tone, but I want to at least hear him out.

“Will you go on a walk with me?” He holds out his hand. “You’re welcome to come, Mrs. Knight.”

“No.” She steps back farther. “You two go.”

She puts her hand on my shoulder and kisses my cheek as though she wants to give me the strength she thinks I need. And she’d be right.

I step out of the apartment.

“We won’t be gone long,” he says to my mom and shuts the door.

I walk down the stairs and his hand slides around mine, but I slide mine back out. I’m not ready for that.

“The day you found me out by the lake, I was remembering my mom.” He leads us down the path through the woods. “I already knew you weren’t just a friend with benefits by then. It wasn’t like I was hit over the head with it and opened my eyes one day and realized I wanted to be more than just friends with you. It was gradual. That day, I was scared to have sex with you because I didn’t know what would happen. And then I ended up making love to you. Maybe part of me wanted to know how that would feel because I