My Beautiful Neighbor (The Greene Family #1) - Piper Rayne Page 0,11
the other’s.
“I’ll text you as soon as I know what time.” He walks backward toward the brewery.
“Sounds good. Look forward to hearing from you.”
“I can’t wait.” He smiles one more time and dips back into the brewery.
A loud “woohoo” echoes into the street from the brewery, and I feel a blush rush up to my cheeks. Is it really this easy to get a date here? Maybe what they say about Alaska having all the men is true.
“Way to go, man.” Jed slaps me on the back and lets out a howl so loud I’m sure Presley heard him outside.
I can’t stop smiling because she was so quick to accept my offer for dinner. “I gotta call Terra and Mare.”
“Oh, you’re not skimping, huh?” Jed says as I head over to the other side of the bar.
“Not everyone takes their dates to a food truck,” Molly jokes.
I laugh while I listen to the phone ring. Someone answers, then puts me on hold.
“I’ve never gotten any complaints,” Jed says, drawing a sketch of what he wants to do with the space next door. Looks like it’s to scale this time. He’s truly talented, and I always wonder why he came back here after college and isn’t designing high-rises somewhere.
“Who said anything about complaints? I mean, a meal takes up a lot of time when you could be doing other things.” She winks.
Jed laughs and glances my way. I slide my finger over my throat. Molly is way too flirtatious, and I already told Jed when she was hired on part-time that he couldn’t egg on her antics like he has all the years she’s been Nikki’s best friend. He clears his throat and concentrates back on the drawing.
The doors open and Xavier walks in with Clara. Gone is the heartbroken girl I last saw. Now she looks pissed as she stalks up to the bar. Xavier looks at Jed and me with a cringe. I know she was talking to the lawyer today.
“Give me the hardest stuff you have.” Clara slams her purse on the bar.
Molly’s gaze shoots up, but she grabs a bottle of whiskey and pours her a shot glass. Clara downs it, her brown hair thrown up in a ponytail, and slams the glass down.
“Do not tell Nikki anything about this,” Xavier whispers.
Like I would. I don’t agree with her morning radio show shit.
Since we just opened, they’re the only ones in here, so whatever is going on will only be between us.
“Don’t tell her that the town librarian is getting plastered this early in the day?” Jed asks.
“Turns out Clara isn’t the only Harrison left,” Xavier says in a quiet voice.
My eyebrows come together. “What?”
Xavier nods and his eyes widen in an “I’m just as shocked as you but trying to be a good friend and not tell her how fucked-up this is” look. “The blonde. She’s her sister.”
My phone slips from my hand, dropping on the bar then down to the floor, cracking my screen. “Fuck!”
“That’s why she looked familiar. I wondered if I’d banged her,” Jed says.
We both shake our heads at him.
“Good for you that’s not true.” Jed smacks me on the back with a grin.
“Why’s that good for Cade?” Xavier asks.
“He has a date with her tonight.” Jed sounds like a proud father and I want to punch him for it.
“With who?” Xavier asks, not getting it.
“Presley,” I say.
“The blonde,” Jed chimes in.
“Oh, and Cade…” Clara raises her hand. “I’m going to need that key back.” She pushes the empty shot glass toward Molly, who refills it.
“What’s she talking about?” I ask Xavier.
Jed’s mood deflates faster than a carnival blow-up toy when you get it home. “The space next door?”
“Mrs. Harrison willed it to Clara and her sister,” Xavier says.
My head falls back and Jed’s fist slams on the bar top.
“What kind of mother does this?” Clara asks.
Xavier holds up his finger to us, whispering in her ear.
She shoves him. “I don’t care. Isn’t there bartender-client confidentiality?” she asks Molly. “You can’t tell Nikki.”
Molly shrugs and nods. Clara doesn’t hold back, clearly the two shots already in her bloodstream.
“The mystery blonde? My sister. Half-sister, you think?” Clara shakes her head. “Did my mom get pregnant by some guy when she was a teenager?” Clara shakes her head again. “Did my dad have an affair?” Clara shakes her head. “She’s my full sister. Half my mom. Half my dad. My full outright sister.” She pushes her glass to Molly.