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CHAPTER ONE
Austin
“So long, Chicago.”Austin dumped the last box in the moving truck. The kitchen glassware inside rattled, clanking together with the force of a tiny earthquake.Who the hell packed this?He scrunched his nose as his feet hammered down the ramp and returned to the city sidewalk.
Well, I guess that’s it, Mavs...
His gaze lifted to the brick building beside him, searching for the third-story window. Mavis—the girl who stole his heart, and princess at the top of the tallest tower—was now the soon-to-be bride of his twin brother, Josh. From the day her feet fled Rosewood over ten years ago, she’d been his brother’s missing puzzle piece. And for a decade, Austin had held her close and kept her safe in his heart for protection. But now, her edges snuggly fit beside Josh’s with the ease of love, two halves meeting to form one whole. And Austin? The piece that got lumped into the wrong box and cast aside.
His stomach plummeted, the sinking feeling of defeat and heartache gripping his soul.How the hell am I supposed to just let you go, Princess?He slammed the back of the moving truck closed and maneuvered the lever to lock it in place.And worse, watch you move on with my brother?He grumbled, the soft whine escaping his lips into the damp air.
“She’s really leaving, isn’t she?”
Austin turned, seeking the voice interrupting his pity party.
Casey’s bouncy blonde curls hung in her face as her pink lips smashed together in a thin line. Her arms, laden with a giant pizza box, two plastic grocery bags, and a purse, lowered with a shrug.
A tingle along his spine shivered to his fingertips, complementing the gust of spring air chilling his skin.Cinderella returned from the ball... er, pizza place.“Umm yeah, back to California.” He gestured to her full hands. “Can I help you with that?”
“Oh, yeah, thanks.” She stepped forward and handed over the two grocery bags, the glass bottles inside clanking against each other.
Austin peeked inside and cracked a grin at the bottles of gin.
“Are you really out here moving her crap by yourself?”
He rolled his eyes as she started toward the building. “Yeah, umm, Josh said something about dropping off the last rent check to the landlord. They took off about half an hour ago. I figured I’d just finish the boxes for her.”
Casey nodded as they approached the entrance. “Awfully nice of you, considering...” She set the pizza on the concrete stoop and sank to her knees to rummage in her bag.
“Considering?” He scrunched his nose.
“I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.” She shook her head as a blue lighter tumbled from her purse and onto the concrete near his toes.
“You’re fine. You can say it.” Austin bent down and retrieved it, resting it in Casey’s outstretched palm. “Considering she picked Josh over me.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, ah... well...”
Austin sighed, swallowing hard. The pit in his stomach deepened, the black hole in his heart filling with despair. The truth lived inside him, but speaking the words sliced new holes in his broken soul.
The glass bottles in the bags clinked together as he held a hand out to her. Squeezing his palm, Casey stood, her cheeks flushing pink. “Leave it to me to make things awkward.” The right side of her mouth tugged upward in a smile as the sun poked out from behind a cloud. The light danced across her face as her gaze found his.
Warmth flooded his body as he adjusted the ball cap on his head, tugging it down to shadow his face.What the hell is wrong with me?“No, I think that one’s on me, Casey.” He grinned. “Oh, but hey... glad you turned up when you did.” He pointed to the brick he’d used to keep the door ajar, cast off in a bed of weeds. “I couldn’t get back in.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “The people in this building are super weird.” Ramming the key in the lock, she tugged on the door. “Like our new neighbor. He moved in about two weeks ago. Reeks like pot, and he’s super loud and kinda creepy.”
“Are you gonna stay living here?” Austin shuffled the grocery bags to free his right hand. He held the door open as she picked up the pizza and stepped inside.
Catching her foot on the lowermost step, she staggered.
Oh!
“You okay?” he asked.
She giggled but started the climb to the third floor. “Oh, yeah. My dad always used to call me Klutzy Casey.”
Grinning, Austin followed, his line of sight catching the wiggle of her butt as she moved upward.
“Are you staying for dinner?” she asked over her shoulder.
