My Almost Ex (The Greene Family #2) - Piper Rayne Page 0,23
to it—these are the roles they’ve perfected. “Well, I have some news for everyone that I need to share.”
“Do tell,” Chip says as if he’s thumbing through a newspaper and barely paying attention to her.
“Lucy Greene, aka Lucy Davis, is back in town. I know. I know. Most of you already saw her a few nights ago. As you all know, I’m Adam’s stepsister, so I was nice enough to let the excitement from her arrival die down so I could figure out what’s really going on before I reported on it. Exactly why did she greet Adam like nothing had happened when in fact she left him, causing him to spiral down into despair?”
“His new girl is a looker,” Chip says.
I chuckle for the first time. Alicia is hot, can’t argue that.
But she’s not Lucy.
I curse my subconscious and go back to listening.
“Alicia is pretty. But rumor has it that Lucy lost her memory after an accident and she’s here in Sunrise Bay to try to recover it. It’s no secret that Lucy’s family and my family don’t see eye to eye.”
“She hates your family’s guts,” Chip chimes in.
“Yes, but the wicked witch has left Oz after a fight outside SunBay Inn.”
“Tell Mandi that the fish fry on Friday was excellent.”
“Chip, let’s stay on task.” Nikki pauses. “But yeah, I agree about the fish fry.”
“Told you so.”
“Anyway, back to Sunrise Bay’s own Cory and Topanga. I love my stepbrother, but he’s been cold to Lucy the last few days.”
“A broken heart is hard to overcome.”
I shake my head at the fact he’s actually contributing to this.
“True. But I heard a juicy piece of information last night.”
“Just spit it out,” Chip says.
“Adam was seen going up to Lucy’s room at the inn after her mom left. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.”
My hands tighten on the steering wheel.
“You’re purposely stirring up gossip.”
“It’s called ‘Scandals of Sunrise,’ Chip. Anyway, listeners out there, if you catch sight of Lucy, maybe tell her a story to help her remember how loved she was in Sunrise Bay. After all, Adam might not realize it now, but he’d love it if she stuck around. That’s it for me. Chip, what’s the fishing weather gonna be like the next few days?”
Annoyed, I park my truck, grab my phone, and walk into the square. Two Brothers and an Egg is packed, but Alicia texted that she already had a table in the back. All eyes follow me as I make my way into the restaurant. Tad, one of the owners, pats me on the back on the way back to the table.
“You had the station on?” I ask.
“Sorry you’re the topic, but we always listen in the morning. Go have a seat next to your looker.” He laughs.
I ignore the stares from a table full of moms who are my parents’ age. Thanks a lot, Nikki.
I sit down across from Alicia, but her head is buried in her phone as though she doesn’t know I’ve arrived.
“Hey,” I say.
“Oh. Hey.” She tucks her phone into her purse.
“You heard?”
She nods, wetness pooling in her eyes. Hell. I came here to end this between us amicably. Or at the very least put us on hold until I get things settled with Lucy.
“How is she?” she asks.
I open my mouth, but thankfully Tad arrives with his pad of paper and pen poised. I’m starving.
I nod for Alicia to go first and she says, “Just a muffin.”
“Brad did something magical in there this morning,” Tad says.
“What exactly are you talking about?” I ask him.
“Get your mind out of the gutter. It’s a streusel, cinnamon concoction you’re going to love.” He winks at Alicia.
“Great.” She smiles.
“I’ll have—”
He jots down an order for me without me saying anything. “I’ve got it.”
“But I want—”
He points at the sign that says no arguing with the manager. I shake my head and he leaves.
“He’s funny,” Alicia says.
I met her in Anchorage at some speed dating thing I did once I finally realized I had to get back out there but didn’t want it up for public consumption in this town. I purposely only dated her in Anchorage and thankfully we never ran into anyone. Once I knew maybe there was something between us, we had some dates here in Sunrise Bay, but it hasn’t been that long. And I’m thinking I should’ve waited longer because she shouldn’t have to endure what she is right now.
“He and his brother are twins. Tad and Brad. They’ve