AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My smoothie finished blending, and I poured it in a to-go cup. “It’s not like that. Her furniture won’t be here until today, so I let her use my bed.” I was strangely reluctant to share the details with my brother.
He eyed my phone as I pulled it out to send him the money. “You got dibs?”
“I have no interest in Eva. If you like having your balls handed to you, feel free to try.” The words tasted sour in my mouth, but I refused to let him think she meant anything to me.
She didn’t.
After the transfer went through, I shoved my phone into my pocket and jerked my head at the door. “I have to get to practice.”
“I’m happy to stay and make sure your new roomie feels welcome.”
I scowled at him. “Out.”
Danny raised his hands in surrender and stood. “Fine. I have a shift anyway. About that econ test…”
“Text me the details. If it doesn’t get in the way of practice, I’ll do it.”
I’d learned to pick my battles years ago, and showing up for a test I could probably pass in my sleep wasn’t worth a fight. Danny glanced at the stairs one last time as I ushered him out the front door.
He didn’t say goodbye—or thanks—as he cut through the grass to his motorcycle parked by the road. I didn’t mind helping him out with money, but it grated on my nerves that he refused to take responsibility for his own life. Mom and Dad left us each a pretty hefty inheritance when they died, but Danny blew through his in the first year.
He revved the motorcycle, then took off down the street with a loud, high-pitched whine. Luckily, most of my neighbors should already be at work, but it was yet another example of Danny making himself as obnoxious as possible. At least he wore a helmet.
I locked the door and almost made it into my car before I remembered I’d left my gear on the back porch last night. With a groan, I circled the house through the gate instead of going back inside. On the off-chance Danny had woken up Eva, I didn’t want another visual of her long, toned legs.
A prickle of unease skated down my back when I remembered Danny’s last lingering look, but even he had to be smart enough not to get involved with Eva. She was infamous for knowingeverything, and no matter how reckless he’d become, he knew our secrets would hurt him as much as they’d hurt me.
6
Ineeded coffee. Thanks to Gavin and his stupid ultimatum, I’d slept better than I had in months, but I didn’t have time to wake up slowly. Stephen Delucca waited for no man—or woman—and I desperately needed to FaceTime with my bestie before showing up for cheer practice with Juliet.
Coach Kat—Ekaterina Tucker, but she insisted we call her Kat—was well aware of my extra training over the summer. It hadn’t stopped her from appointing a new squad leader in my absence though. I didn’t regret the choice to leave. I regretted it wasJulietwho’d temporarily taken over my role.
She saw our cheer team as her ticket to a future with a professional athlete. An attitude I heartily disapproved of since I knew how hard the rest of my squad worked to be the best. I frowned as I brushed my teeth with my finger and Gavin’s toothpaste.
Juliet wouldn’t melt back into obscurity without a little help. Today’s practice, the first since I returned to Addison, would give me a better idea of how much trouble I could expect from her.
After checking on Henry, who was living her best life sleeping on Cole’s bed, I changed into my one set of clean workout clothes and hightailed it to Wildcat Coffee. Gavin had said something about being at practice this morning, so I didn’t have to avoid my fav coffee shop.
I parked in front like I usually did and calculated my chances of making it through the line before Stephen called. Not good. People were backed up two deep at the counter, and a quick scan told me all the tables were taken. Didn’t they have anywhere else to get coffee?
With a last longing look at the door, I skirted the building. Despite Gavin’s intrusion into my personal breakdown—and the subsequent ill-advised kiss—I still loved the little courtyard with the broken fountain. I was just more careful now to be sure I was alone.
My regular Tuesday morning gabfest with Stephen usually took place while cuddled up in bed, but today wasn’t a PJs and gossip day. Today was a boss bitch day.
I settled into my spot on the side of the fountain, tilting my face up to the sun. Warmth soaked into my cheeks, and my stiff shoulders relaxed. Gavin. Juliet. Mac. My parents. I could deal with all of them if given enough time and caffeine. All I needed was a chance to get my thoughts in order when I wasn’t surrounded by Gavin’s scent.
A light breeze blew my ponytail into my face, and I caught a whiff of it again. My eyes popped open as my brain finally picked out why he smelled so familiar. Rain. He smelled like rain and trees. When I was a teenager, my parents had carted us out to a posh little cabin in Oregon, one of the few times they’d tried to do something as a family.
We weren’t roughing it by any means—the place had concierge services—but Mom had complained the whole time about the rainy weather and Dad had ignored us both in favorof his phone. I’d loved it. Water dripped from the trees right outside our porch, and no one followed me into the woods to demand I live up to their idea of the perfect daughter.
That feeling—the peace and serenity—that’s what had crept into my chest last night and wouldn’t let go. I really needed Gavin to not be the one causing it. He couldn’t be trusted.
The blaring ringtone of my phone interrupted my brooding. Stephen had impeccable timing. He didn’t know how out of sync my life had veered since our last talk, and I had no intention of informing him.
This time of year was always hard enough, and I didn’t need him trying to take care of me. Even if I could probably use the help.
I took a deep breath and centered myself before answering the video call. “You’re two minutes late.”
