15. Reece
15
“Um wow, okay,” Vienna says as she looks at the absolute disaster laid out over the living room of our rental.
Blowing out a breath, I nod. “Yeah, I know.” Poster board, favors, sticky-note reminders for the seating chart, and decorations litter every available surface.
“I saw your brother and Marigold getting cozy at the bar last night,” she says as she drops onto the couch and tucks her feet under her.
“Yeah, they’re both too damn stubborn for their own good.”
“I don’t know anyone like that,” Vienna deadpans, and I glare at her because it’s not the same. Marigold had a lot of baggage from her asshole ex, and my brother continued to just be an asshole.
But he was getting better.
Especially with us finally being able to wrap up the plans for the party, the mess in front of me aside. It feels like I can finally breathe again—maybe enjoy the rest of summer.
And it was obvious last night how much my brother cares about Marigold, but love and lust don’t fix your problems no matter how hard you try. I just hope he figures it out before it’s too late.
“What’s that face for?“
“Just hoping my brother can figure his life out before he loses Marigold. She’s so sweet and fun and everything he needs. We’ve gotten close, and honestly, if they don’t work out I’m keeping her”—I pause—“and Logan, the guy who works with her; he’s a hoot.”
“I met him the last time I stopped into Cakeology.” Vienna laughs and give me some serious side-eye. “But I’m your best friend.”
“I can have more than one best friend.”
“I don’t like it.”
I roll my eyes. “Are you going to see Aspen this weekend?”
“Kind of. I mean I’ll see her but…”
“You’re going to hook up with the guy you won’t tell me any details about?”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“You can ask about me and Isaac and I’ll tell you.”
She snorts and starts assembling a pile of the favors. “Girl, I hear you guys through the walls—there’s nothing I don’t already know.”
My mouth drops open and my face flames. I stare at her for a whole ten seconds before she falls over, laughing hysterically, tears leaking from her eyes.
“I cannot believe you just said that.”
“What? It’s true. And, if I may, that sounds like a forever kind of love.”
“Please stop talking,” I say as I cover my face with my hands and will my cheeks to return to their normal color.
“In other news,” she says, making me peek from between my fingers, “I need to tell you something, and I hope you won’t be mad.”
“Of course I won’t be mad.” My hands drop as I give her my full attention. “Besides, I’m still mortified, so you’ve got that going for you.” She smiles but it doesn’t totally meet her eyes.
“I’m staying in Love Beach.”
“What? Really?” I ask, a surge of surprise and hope flooding through my veins. Because if she can do it…
“I already put in my notice at work.”
“But you love teaching.”
“I do, but I just don’t feel that spark anymore, and I know it doesn’t make sense but ever since we got here I just… I feel like it’s where I’m supposed to be.”
My lips can’t fight the grin stretching over my face. “Tell me.”
Blowing out a breath, Vienna squares her shoulders as she looks at me. “This town has everything but a flower shop…”
“I knew it!” I fist pump in the air, making her lips twitch.
“And I’ve always loved them—even when I was little, I always had a garden. My brother paid off my student loans, and with the money I’ve saved and the tips from this summer, I think I’ll have enough soon to put a down payment on one of the vacant storefronts.”
I can’t help it. I squeal and launch myself at her, wrapping my best friend in an enthusiastic hug. “Oh, I’m so proud of you!” She laughs but hugs me back tight, her eyes glassy when she pulls back to look at me. “And you have a name; I know you do.”
“The Greene House.”
“Oh my gosh, it’s perfect! Vienna Greene, fabulous and brilliant owner of The Greene House!” I deliver the line with a flourish.
“Exactly like that.” She chuckles. “There’s a guy that lives a town over from where I grew up who is friends with my brother and a genius with plants. He made his own self-sustaining greenhouse, and I’m hoping if I can make this happen that he’ll build me one.”
“Of course, you’re going to make it happen, and I’m going to help you—whatever you need.”
“And what about you?” she asks with a slight cock of her head.
Blowing out a breath, I study my hands in my lap before meeting her gaze. “I have a meeting with the principal at the high school here. Our schedules haven’t aligned, and I just…”
“Want to make sure they want you?”
“Yes,” I whisper. Because I can’t stay if my father really did call in a favor.
“They do. And then you and Isaac can finally be together,” she says, squeezing my hand. “Aaaand then you can tell Maddox.”
Blowing out a breath, I stare up at the ceiling. “Can we just take this one major life event at a time? I mean, it’s bad enough Mads showed up unannounced while Isaac and I were naked in bed.”
Vienna doubles over in laughter. “No, he didn’t,” she wheezes even as I nod solemnly.
“He did. And Isaac refused to hide in the closet—just in case—so I had to throw a robe on and convince Mads—after he had a snack—to get the hell out.” Vienna laughs harder, and I can’t help but chuckle at the memory.
“That is priceless.”
“He kept asking why I looked so flushed and told me I should sit down.”
“And you didn’t tell him then?”
“Of course I didn’t tell him then.” I gasp with not so feigned horror. “Hey Mads, know how you told Isaac and me that we could only be together once and when we broke up you reminded us then and every day since that we promised we’d never do this again? Well, we lied and we’re having sex—when you got here, in fact—and we’re still totally in love even if we haven’t said it but you’re cool with that, right?”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
“Are you honestly saying that your brother would be cool about you dating his best friend?”
“Well, Montana’s best friend is a girl he is in love with, so I think there’d be a mess all around.” I open my mouth to speak but close it just as quick. Vienna notices and puts her hand over mine. “Have you ever just talked to Maddox about it? Like as adults? You and Isaac clearly still love each other. Wouldn’t he want you both to be happy?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. I just… I don’t know. I was so angry when I left and…” I take a breath and voice my biggest fear and my biggest reason for staying away. “Can Mads and I both survive here? Can we both live in Love Beach without me losing myself again? I’ve worked too hard over the years to just let all that progress wash away with the tide.”
“That ending was a little dramatic,” she says with a little smirk.
“Yeah? Well, just wait until my twin actually does find out something is going on with his best friend.”
“It will only get worse the longer you wait.”
Blowing out a breath, I nod and concede. “Let’s just get through my meeting with Mr. Gomes and then we can tackle my brother disowning me.”
“Dramatic,” Vienna hisses and I roll my eyes.
“Yeah, well, I can say with certainty I got it from my mother.”