Our Star-Crossed Kiss (The Rooftop Crew #4) - Piper Rayne Page 0,3
anyone in Cliffton Heights who didn’t see that downward spiral.”
I nod. Elsie’s younger than me by enough that the family feud happened right before she was born. “Well, Seth says Brock was… er… is Trevor’s dealer?”
“I thought Trevor was in rehab? Is he back and using again?” The judgment in her tone is clear.
My dad is aware of Trevor Andrews’ drug problem and has judged how Seth’s dad could ever allow Trevor to become a junkie, saying he’d never let his children get that lost. I don’t think it’s quite that simple though.
“I have no idea about Trevor. I think Seth was warning me or something.”
“Warning?” She rolls her eyes. “That Brock might decorate you in diamonds?”
Oh, my poor sister. Once she graduates high school and finds out what the real world is like, she’s going to be devastated that her new reality doesn’t come with glitter bombs and streamers.
“I’m serious.”
“I thought they were friends? Didn’t they play football together? There’s a picture of the two of them in the glass case with that trophy when we won state all those years ago.”
I was a sophomore when Trevor was a senior. I kind of remember Brock and Trevor hanging around one another, but only because Trevor was actually nice to me. He’d smile and say hi in the hallway while Seth scowled as if I was the reason for our parents’ fallout.
“They were, from what I remember. But there’s no denying that Trevor lost his battle with addiction.” I go to the sink and wash my hands. “Anyway, I have to go if I’m gonna be on time.”
“Okay, but tell me… are you showing up naked with only a rain jacket on?”
I shake my head at my little sister. “Stop watching all those romance movies and meet the rest of us down here on Earth.”
“I bet Brock would love it if you did,” she singsongs, heading toward the front of the store. “I hope you waxed. No one likes a hairy pussy anymore, FYI.”
“Elsie!” I scold as though she’s my child.
I walk out the back door, double-check that it’s locked behind me, and head toward the mercantile mart, crossing my fingers I’ll be the first one in line.
Sadly, I have to be satisfied being the fourth in line. Cliffton Heights isn’t a small town, but it’s not a big city either. So I recognize Luiz from Los Tacos, Audrey from Scumptuals, Tony from Pizza Pies, and Meg from Spoon and Fork, which is a soup and salad place. They all tentatively smile and wave as I pass them to walk to the end of the line.
At least I’m first for the breakfast crowd. None of them are competition for me, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
I glance at my watch. It’s only six o’clock, which means we have three hours before the doors open. Since I didn’t bring a chair like my other Cliffton Heights hopefuls, I sit on the concrete and pull out my phone.
“How’s your dad, sweetie?” Audrey peers over the edge of the romance novel she’s reading. I glance at the name—Lessons from a One-Night Stand. Sounds interesting.
I smile. “He’s good.”
“And your mom? She came in the other day with Eli and she looked tired.”
I want to ask Audrey how I look. Does she notice the bags under my eyes? I never planned on running the day-to-day operations of The Bagel Place. But my mom has to be hands-on with Eli to assist with his special needs due to his Down Syndrome. Elsie isn’t much help and I want her to finish college. “She’s good. We’re all good.”
She nods, but her eyes are soft and kind. “It’s hard running a business.”
Her gaze bores into my soul as if she sees every piece of the resentment I’ve buried deep inside.
“Yeah, but rewarding too.”
She nods. “Sometimes. Scrumptuals was my dream.”
Is Audrey trying to use telepathy to tell me she knows I feel stuck in a life I didn’t choose? My dad’s health isn’t what it once was, and my mom runs ragged after my brother. I’m a good daughter to them for running the store, but stuck in a destiny I never wanted.
“Let’s hope this will help increase the tourist population in Cliffton Heights.” I change the subject more to strip that pitying look from her face than anything.
“Oh!” She puts her unicorn bookmark between the pages and shuts the book. “It’s going to do great things for us. That’s why it’s pivotal for all of us to