Naughty or Nice - Alexis Winter Page 0,59

minute I’m pining for my best friend,

The next I’m falling for his brother,

And to make matters worse...now my best friend thinks he might be in love with me?

I didn’t know it was even possible to screw up this bad.

* * *

Am I destined to make one giant laughable mistake out of my life,

Or did I miss what’s been right in front of me this entire time?

Chapter 1

Piper

The text from Preston, my best friend and secret crush, reads: What time will you be home tonight?

I roll my eyes as I quickly respond should be there by 8 p.m. I’ve told him this time and time again since mentioning it last week.

Eight? Why so late?

I shake my head and I can’t help but laugh to myself, wondering if he’s been drunk every time we’ve talked but knowing…that’s just Preston. “Does he ever actually listen when I talk?” I say to myself as I type out my response. I don’t get off work until 5 p.m., then I have to make the drive.

Late dinner and drinks?

You know it. I drop the phone onto the bed by my side and look at the clock on the bedside table. It’s going on 7 a.m. My alarm will be going off in the next two minutes. I push the blankets back and turn off the alarm since I’m already up. There’s nothing worse than hearing that loud blaring sound first thing in the morning. I stand from bed and push my oversized T-shirt back down my thighs before stretching and starting for the kitchen.

I start a pot of coffee and stand by the counter impatiently as it brews. As I wait, I look over the white subway tile backsplash, the gray granite countertops, and the crisp white cabinets with shiny silver knobs. I’ve only recently renovated my kitchen and I’m absolutely in love with it.

I bought this old rundown townhouse with the intention of bringing it back to life. At the low price point, I couldn’t turn it down. Plus, it’s the perfect size for the family I plan to have one day. There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen, a living room, plus a laundry room. Most of the rooms aren’t being used right now, but that just gives me more time to get everything exactly how I want it. Now that the kitchen is finished, the bedrooms will be my main focus.

I saved a ton by buying this house in the condition it was in, and I’m saving even more doing most of the work myself. The work I can’t do, my dad can help me with, only hiring out if the job is too big for them both. So far, the only thing I’ve hired out has been the new brick and vinyl siding on the house, and the landscaping. This house may have been trashed when I bought it, but the homeowners’ association is expecting it to look just like the rest of the homes in our gated community. I can take as long as I want to do the inside, but the outside had to be the first priority.

The coffee finally finishes brewing and I waste no time pouring a cup to take to the bathroom with me. I take a sip before washing my face and lathering on my $80 moisturizer. I put on my usual makeup and get busy curling my honey-blonde hair. I finish my cup of coffee and brush my teeth before going to get dressed. I pull on a pair of gray dress pants and a ruffly white top. I gather everything I’ll need for the day and pour more coffee into a to-go cup before walking out to the garage.

I toss my purse and computer bag into the passenger-side seat and start up my silver Honda Civic. I click the button and the garage door rolls upward. I back out and hit the button again to close it as I drive off. I’m stuck on the freeway in morning traffic when my stereo tells me I have another text from Preston.

Danny is going to join us for dinner. Anything specific you want? I’ll make reservations.

I snort. Preston make reservations? In Middleton? I didn’t even know there were any restaurants that took reservations.

Let’s go for pizza and beer at Tino’s. Keep it casual.

As I wait for traffic to move again, I imagine telling Preston my deepest, darkest secret. I can see the stunned expression on his face: dark brows drawing together, icy eyes glazing