by Rayne, Piper
I sigh and pace Juno’s apartment. She’s in the kitchen, pouring the Pringles container upside down to get out the last of the chips.
“Stay safe, Kingston. That’s what’s most important.”
“Hey, it’s me. I always do.” He laughs and says hello to some guy in the background. “Try not to sleep with the music producer.”
“How did you hear about that?”
“You know there are eyes everywhere in that town.”
Kingston speaks the truth, and he’s learned from personal experience. This town torments him as much as me, but for different reasons. I’m surprised he hasn’t moved away. If the reason he hasn’t is what I think it is, it’s romantic as hell and so very non-Kingston. Which means I’m probably completely wrong.
“You know that Griffin hasn’t made it into Buzz Wheel once since he got to town?” I say. “Isn’t that odd?”
“Not odd.” Juno joins me on the couch. “If someone reports him here and news gets out, it could bring people into the town and who wants that?”
“Yeah, but he was in it before. Like, a long time ago,” I say.
“Yeah, but now he lives here. It’s different,” she says.
I study Juno for a second. “Are you the Buzz Wheel author?”
“Yeah, between trying to fix people up, I spread our family gossip.”
“She sounds guilty. Go give her the third degree. I gotta go,” Kingston says with a chuckle. “Love you, sis. Sorry about the singing thing.”
“Love you. Don’t worry about it, just be safe.”
We hang up, and Juno stretches her legs out onto the table. “Let’s go eat.”
“You just ate Pringles.”
“Crumbs. There were crumbs. Come on, let’s go binge-eat to overshadow our heartbreak.” She stands and puts her purse crosswise over her body.
“What do you mean our? Do you have heartbreak?”
She guffaws. “I mean your.”
“Oh that’s right, Colton was going on a date last we spoke.” I get up from the couch and grab my purse.
“It’s not me. It’s you. I don’t care if Colton is going on a date. It’s about time. He fills all my nights on the weekends.”
I roll my eyes, but I could definitely use some junk food to get me through this. I wonder how Maverick took the news when Griffin picked him up? I promised him we’d go to the park today after school. There was one part of today when I thought Griffin and I could take him together. I had visions of the two of us sitting on the park bench, his fingers secretly brushing up against mine.
“I’m stupid, right?” I ask, meeting her at the door.
“You’re a woman. We all need a little wooing even if it’s not serious and woo isn’t asking if you’re on the pill.”
“I never pegged him like that, you know?” I stand at the top of the stairs of her apartment.
Juno and Kingston’s apartment is in the heart of Lake Starlight’s small downtown and over Juno’s matchmaking office.
“Men are just wolves in sheep’s clothing.” She leads us out the door and onto Main Street. Two minutes later, we walk into Lard Have Mercy. Juno slides into the far booth. “Hey, Karen.”
I slide in on the other side.
Karen, our sister-in-law Holly’s mom, comes over and holds up two menus. “Do you girls need ‘em?”
Juno looks at me, and I answer for us both. “Nope. Fries, cheeseburgers, and shakes.”
Juno raises her hand. “Strawberry.”
“Chocolate.” I raise my hand.
Karen laughs and tucks the menus under her arm. “What sorrows are we drowning today?”
“How do you know we’re drowning our sorrows?” I ask.
“A mother’s hunch.” She shrugs.
Juno’s smile falls and she leans over the table, lowering her voice. “How are things going?”
Karen’s smile dims and I wonder what I’m missing. Is something wrong with Karen? Or my uncle Brian? Did they break up? Have I really been stuck in a Griffin Thorne bubble that long?
Karen puts her hand on Juno’s and squeezes. “I pray every night. But she was in here earlier, drowning her sorrows with turtle pie.”
Juno leans back and shakes her head. “I’ll stop by this week and try to cheer her up.”
“She’d love that. Let me get your orders going.”
Karen leaves and I say through clenched teeth, “What’s going on? Who’s drowning in turtle pie?”
“Holly.” Juno looks around, and since we’re in the back, there’s no one in the booth behind me. “She and Austin have upped their efforts at trying to get pregnant.”
“Like fertility treatments?” I whisper.
She nods. “Austin is giving her shots now. They’re pretty private about the whole thing.”
“How come no one told me?”
“You haven’t come to the girl whine and dine nights in a while.”
She’s right. All they talk about is marriage and my brothers and sex. And who wants to imagine their siblings having sex? I had to stop going when Cleo explained how Denver’s appetite was never quenched. I heard enough living with them. I didn’t need explicit details so I could envision what was going on behind the bedroom door.
“I’ve been busy,” I say in my defense.
I feel shitty for not knowing about Austin and Holly. I gave her so much shit when I was seventeen and they were getting together. She’s always been nothing but great to me. No one ever said so, but I’m sure she had something to do with Austin letting me go to California after high school. And how do I thank her? By having no idea what she’s going through.
“And Harley still feels guilty because Rome blinks at her and she’s popping out another Bailey.”
“She’s pregnant again?”
Juno laughs and shakes her head. “No, but you figure Phoebe is what, seven months now? It could be any time.” She sobers. “Not that I’m making light of the situation. I feel horrible, and there’s no explanation for the infertility. The doctor told them to go on vacation and see if the relaxation helps. Rekindle their love.”
“They’re not having problems, are they?”
“You really need to get to the whine and dine nights.”
“I’ll be at the next one, promise.”
She nods with her lips pressed together, clearly not believing me. I wouldn’t either. “Let’s talk about you.”
“There’s nothing much to say. I told him the truth.”
“And he kicked you out.” Her gaze focuses on the window behind me for a moment then lands back on me.
“Yep. End of story. But it’s fine. I’m going to sing at the Founder’s Day Parade, then I’ll come up with Plan B. He’s not going to stop me.”
“I’m not worried about you becoming a singer. I’m worried about how you fell for your boss.” She glances behind me again.
“That’s being a tad dramatic.”
“Come on, Phoenix. You have so many people fooled in this town, but I’m your sister. You don’t sleep with men just to sleep with them. That’s not you.”
“What? You have no idea what you’re talking about.” I glance over at Karen, who’s helping a customer at the counter. We need our food stat so Juno will shut her mouth and curb her line of thinking.
“I do know what I’m talking about, and that’s why you’re looking for the food.”
“I’m starving.” She kicks me under the table. “Ouch.”
“It’s me. Juno. You can trust me. Come on.”
I stare across the booth. I’m not up for reliving the past right now. As sad as it is, Juno is partially correct. I lost my virginity in LA to a douche who was a struggling artist like me.
“You like Griffin?” she asks when I don’t say anything.
I’m quiet for a minute before I answer. “I did.”
“For what he could do for you?”
“No. At first that’s what it was about, but I knew before I took the job that he’d quit the music busine
ss. Then after I started working for him, I figured out how sweet he is.” Finally the truth slides out. I need someone to confide in, and Sedona isn’t back until late tonight when her flight comes in. “He’s almost unsure of himself, and I wanted to know why. Like, why is a man with so much success hell-bent on installing a sink himself?”
She shrugs. “You mentioned that article. Sometimes other people’s opinions change someone. I know they never change you, but for others, it’s important they’re liked.”
She’s got that part of me all wrong. Ever since I returned from LA, I’ve doubted myself more than I ever have. In high school, I thought I would be Lake Starlight’s star. The one who came back to town and they had a parade for. Oh, how naive I was. Instead, I sneaked into town in an Uber and hid out at my childhood home, imposing on my brother and his soon-to-be wife.
“I think you should talk to him,” Juno says.
I think back to the texts Griffin has sent me. “No. It would do no good. He had a chance to hear me out, but he wouldn’t. Moved from wanting in my pants to kicking me out the door in sixty seconds flat.”
Karen comes over and slides the milkshakes in front of us. Neither of us wait before sucking the thick, cold deliciousness through the straw.
“So good,” we say in unison and smile over our straws.
Juno’s gaze detours to the window once more, and I turn to see what has her so distracted.
Colton is there, talking to a woman. They’re close enough that it looks like they might kiss.
“Um… Juno?”
She tears her gaze away. “Did I tell you that Owen came to me to fix him up?”
I let go of the fact that she’s jealous and maybe nursing heartache. “No, you didn’t.”
Her fake bravado shines through as she dramatically tells me about how Kingston’s frenemy came in and said he had to date someone to get Stella off his mind. I let her forget her problems because she’s letting me forget mine for now.
Twenty
Griffin
The morning of the Founder’s Day Parade, I park the truck on a side street downtown, and we all file out. Van teases Maverick about whether or not he has a girlfriend while Trey tries to get Van to lay off. Both guys arrived last night, and Van, having a huge-ass mouth, told Trey about Phoenix. So after Maverick went to bed, a whole pile of questions landed in my lap, most of which I didn’t have any good answers for.
Maverick is still giving me the silent treatment and giving it well. He gets that from my ex-wife. My texts to Phoenix are still unanswered. Apparently, she does the silent treatment well too.
“This place is crazy,” Trey says when we round the corner of Main Street to find wall-to-wall people standing on each side of the road.
There are kids on parents’ shoulders, others sitting eagerly on the curb while the parents talk to one another. We end up finding a place closer to the beginning of the parade route since it seems like most people prefer the end.
Van looks around. “This is quaint. Not.”
“Founder’s Day tends to bring out everyone in Lake Starlight and a few surrounding towns. Plus, it’s finally spring and everyone has to get outside before they murder their loved ones,” the woman with the dark bob next to us says with a smile. “I’m Francie, and this is my husband, Jack. He owns Hammer Time Hardware.” She points at where it’s located behind us.
“She likes to pimp me out,” the man by her side, who I assume must be Jack, says.
“Be careful where you say that. Where we come from, that has a very different meaning.” Trey sticks out his hand. “Trey, good to meet you.”
“You’re Maverick, right?” the little girl at Francie’s side asks.
“Yeah. You’re Kayla, right?”
She nods.
“Oh, this is my niece. You’re in the third grade too?” Francie asks Maverick.
“Yeah.”
Jack pushes back and forth a double stroller with what I think are two toddlers inside. Francie keeps Kayla and Maverick occupied with questions about teachers and favorite classes and Principal Nutters.
“Nutters?” Van asks.
“No way,” Trey chimes in.
“Yep.” I’m still bummed Phoenix and I never got to joke about that.
“You’re in for a special treat. I heard that the Bailey float is passing out candy this year,” Francie says with enthusiasm to the kids.
“I heard that too.” Maverick points at himself.
“I have the intel because this guy is Austin Bailey’s best friend. How did you find out?” Francie asks in a joking manner that has Kayla laughing and Maverick eager to tell her how he’s in the know.
“Phoenix is my nanny.” I can’t help but notice how he puffs out his chest when he says it.
Francie’s eyes shoot up to me. She’s definitely got the intel because she casts her gaze over me. Not in a ‘I want to strip you down’ way, more in a ‘oh, so you’re the one’ way. Great.
She recovers quickly. “Phoenix? Why didn’t you say so? I’ve known her since she was younger than you. I love her.”
“We are talking about Phoenix Bailey, right?” Jack pipes in, but his smile says he’s joking. “I’m kidding.” His eyes lock with mine. “She’s like my little sister.”
I nod. God, could I feel any more awkward right now? How much do they know?
Van and Trey crack up next to me.
“You’re not making a very good reputation in this town,” Van says so just I can hear him.
“Her brother Kingston was supposed to sing with her today, but he fights fires in the bush and got called away. She has to sing all by herself up there on the float.” Francie’s speaking to the kids, but all us adults know she’s really speaking to me. “That’s scary, huh?”
Maverick looks at Kayla. “Yeah.”
Van and Trey look at me. “Yeah,” they say in unison.
Then Trey adds, “Someone should really help her out.”
My head falls back. “What can I do?”
“She won’t answer your calls, right?” Van asks.
“No.”
“You’ve got a voice, don’t pretend you don’t,” Trey says.
“I can’t sing sing.”
“You can do backup, don’t give us that excuse.” Van pats me on the back. “We’ve got Maverick.” He winks.
I shake my head, and my gaze lands on Francie, who’s taking in our conversation. She raises her eyebrows. Damn, why did I move to a small town?
“Maverick, you stay with Uncle Van and Uncle Trey, okay?” I look around the crowd.
“They set up on Acorn,” Francie says, pointing down the road.
“Corner of Acorn and Maple,” Jack adds.
“Thanks.”
“You’ll have to hurry though.”
I wave to Francie. She can stop pushing now. Message received loud and clear. I’ve been an ass and I’m going to have to pay for my sins with public embarrassment.
I jog past the mass of people to side streets littered with floats. Weaving through a group of six drummers and dodging five color guard flags, I finally catch a glimpse of Phoenix with her back to me, talking to some guy. Since I’m able to keep an eye on her, I slow down to a walk to get some much-needed oxygen.
“Hi, Griffin,” Ethel, I believe, says and waves from the float beside me. She’s dressed as a witch, and I read the sign on the float for the library—Professor Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter. She tips her huge black, wide-brimmed hat.
“Perfect fit.” I wink, and she smiles, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. Looking at the float, I see a little Harry Potter and Hermione eating the candy from a bowl.
Turning my vision back down the street to Phoenix, my stomach drops when the spot she was in is vacant. I scour the area, but what I find only makes my stomach drop farther. She’s pressed to a brick wall with some guy caging her in. They’re in a heated conversation and his lips are only millimeters from hers.
My jaw hangs open as I t
ry to wrap my thoughts around the visual. I mean, we weren’t a couple, so I can’t be upset that she’s with another guy, can I? She was insulted by my approach to a casual fling. And now she’s with some other guy? I think I have reason enough to storm over there and yank him away from my girl.
Shit. I run a hand through my long hair. She’s not my girl. Hot energy zaps through my body while my hands twitch with the urge to beat the shit out of the guy who’s now kissing her neck. She giggles and—yeah, this is not a normal reaction if you don’t care about the person. Is this jealousy?
Two large hands clasp my shoulders and swivel me around in the other direction.
“That’s Sedona and her boyfriend, Jamison,” Denver says. He moves me to the side. “This is the girl you’re looking for.”
As if she knows, Phoenix looks up from the papers in her hand to find me staring at her. She quickly diverts her attention back to the papers.
“Just so you know, you would have a better chance if it was Sedona you wanted forgiveness from.” Denver laughs.
Cleo comes over to him, sliding her hands around his waist. “Hey Griffin.”
“Cleo.” I nod hello.
“I’m going to head to the street to watch.”
He gives her a chaste kiss on the lips. “Soon you’ll be on that float with us.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t go marrying me just to secure my spot on the float.”
“That wouldn’t be why, and you know it,” he says.
She looks at him adoringly. “Throw me a Tootsie Roll?”
“You can have my Tootsie Roll when we get home tonight,” he says with a grin.
She giggles and rolls her eyes. “You’re so cheesy.”
“You love it.” Denver kisses her again—with tongue this time, so I make my exit.
I walk toward the girl I’m going to apologize to for being a sleaze bag. She turns around as I approach, and I can see she’s not going to make this easy for me.
“Phoenix, we need to talk.”
She circles around and splashes on a fake smile. One I’m not sure I’ve ever been on the receiving end of. “Can’t. I have to practice this song. Kingston got called away, so I’m on my own.”
“I heard.” I move one step closer, but she takes a step back. “Listen, I don’t trust people easily.”