Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Roxy
“Wow. Uh, nice shirt,” Carly says as she walks into my store. I’m wearing a shirt that says “Men suck. Except Book Boyfriends.” It was a silly gift from Isla when Richard and I broke up, but it seems appropriate today.
“Thanks,” I say dryly as I reach for my cup of coffee.
“So…” Carly begins as she leans against the desk. “Did you see Hutch is putting up a new motion camera? He somehow talked Bray into helping him. I sort of wish they’d just let it stay a mystery, you know?”
Shrugging, I set my mug down. “Why do they care so much, anyhow?”
“Hutch is just…well, frankly he’s obsessed with it. I think he’s using it as an escape from his reality. Poor guy has been through a lot these past few years with his injury, some girl troubles, and his mom was sick.”
I frown. Now I feel like a jerk. I had no idea Hutch had gone through so much.
“That’s too bad,” I state. “Hey, speaking of mysteries, has anyone talked to Kasen yet?”
She shakes her head. “No, but Al assured me again the other day that Kasen is fine. I still don’t get why he just doesn’t tell us what is going on, but he’s all quiet about it.” She rolls her eyes. “I sort of want to kick Kasen’s ass when he does come home. I worry about him. I know he’s this big old badass and all, but you can’t run from life forever.”
“I suppose,” I agree as I look past Carly and see Jocelyn talking to Hutch.
Carly follows my gaze. “What do you make of that?” she asks.
“Jocelyn’s a flirt. She flirts with, like, every guy that comes in here. I can’t get a read on whether she’s actually interested in any of them, or if that is just innately who she is,” I admit.
“I think they have a crush on each other,” Carly declares as she crosses her arms and continues to watch them. “I mean, look at that body language. He’s leaning down to talk to her. She’s leaning in toward him. It’s a total unequivocal sign of desire.”
I giggle. “I never say this to customers, but I think you might be reading too many romance novels.”
“Hell no! Drew just finished that one you recommended and I’m starting it tonight. I’m not swearing off them. Shit, it’s the only stress reliever I have right now.”
I smile at her. “Well then, let me introduce you to your next billionaire book boyfriend,” I offer as I point her in the direction of one of my favorite books in her favorite romance genre.
“Well, thanks for the book rec. I gotta go run an errand before I pick up Ava. I swear, I wish I had a billionaire for real so that I could send a driver to get her some days. I love my daughter, but doing this alone is…a lot sometimes,” she says with a sigh.
“I’m sure it is, but you do a great job,” I encourage as I walk her to the door.
“I don’t know. I hope I’m doing a good enough job. She’s a good kiddo, you know?”
I grin because I’m remembering Ava schooling Al on maraschino cherries the other night. Like what kid knows about that? “She’s the best. If I ever have a kid, I hope she’s half as cool as Ava.”
Carly laughs as she opens the door. “If your future kid is anything like you, she’ll be awesome. I mean, look around, how could she not be?”
I’m not sure why her words hit me hard, but damn, I can’t help but believe them as I look around at my store. She might be right.
“See ya,” she calls out as she leaves me looking at everything I created.
A moment later, the door opens and my head swivels to find Jocelyn standing there, staring at me.
“What?” I ask, looking down to see if I dribbled coffee on my new blue top.
“You look…happy? Proud? Don’t know, but I like it on you,” Jocelyn says with a wink as she walks over to the desk and sits down in front of a computer where she’s been ordering some books.
“Joc?” I start as I sit down next to her.
“Yep,” she replies without looking up at me.
“Did you, uh, tell Haven that Gray and I were fake dating?” I ask.
Jocelyn freezes. “Oh, fuck. I’m so sorry. I thought…since you all were, like, real dating…oh no, how bad is it?” she stammers as her head whips toward me.
“It’s alright. Gray was upset. I guess someone said something about it,” I explain.
She smacks her forehead. “I’m such an idiot. I assumed Gray told them when you all decided to real date. I mean, it’s a pretty good story.”
“I guess it is…or was, whatever,” I mutter.
She frowns and pushes her chair back so she’s facing me. “What do you mean, was?”
I look around us, noting the last browsing customer who waves and heads out of the store. When we are alone, I turn back to her and tell her all about the crazy dinner at Gray’s parents’ home and our little fight about Pierce finding out we weren’t actually dating.
“Whoa! I mean, I’m sorry about the Pierce thing, totally my idiotic fault, but he kissed his ex in front of you!” she yells.
“Chill. And he didn’t exactly know I was there behind him. But yes, he did,” I say. I feel my eyes burning and I blink back the tears.
"Damn. I really thought he was one of the good ones," Jocelyn says with a sigh.
"Me too,” I reply sadly as I play with a loose thread on the hem of my top. Was I really that wrong about Gray? He seemed so…right. He wasn’t anything like Richard. Or, at least I didn’t think he was. Ugh! I hate this. Why can’t I have a romance like in a novel? Hell, I’d take one half as good as in a novel. No, fuck it, I deserve the novel. I deserve the grand gesture. I deserve more than a man who doesn’t trust me and kisses his ex.
I’m about to say this when the door chime goes off. I look over to see Margie and Cornelia.
“Hello, ladies,” I say, hoping I sound cheerful and not like the angry woman I am.
Margie pokes Cornelia in the ribs and they walk over to us. “What’s wrong?” Margie asks.
Well, shit, guess I’m easier to see through than I thought.
“Oh nothing, just a little fight with Gray,” I brush off my true feelings with the little white lie.
Jocelyn rolls her eyes. “He was kissing his ex.”
Margie’s eyes widen and Cornelia’s narrow. “That little fucker,” Cornelia hisses. “Was it Lydia?”
Too shocked to answer, I simply nod.
“She’s a money-hungry, little hussy. Are you sure he wanted to kiss her? Because last I checked that woman nearly gutted Gray,” Cornelia states.
“I mean, I saw them kissing. Gray took me to his parents’ home for dinner and she was there. They went to the garden and I saw them kissing out there,” I explain.
“Well, it’d be just like her to try to sink her nails into him now that he’s going to make some real money. She was always so concerned about appearances. Hated that he was here and not some big, fancy apartment downtown,” Cornelia goes on.
“He told me about that,” I say as I remember Gray sharing a bit about his past with me.
“Sorry, Roxy. I hope you two kids work it out. We really thought you were a good pair,” Margie adds.
“Thanks, Margie.” I clear my throat because I don’t want to cry in front of these women. “So, what can we help you with?”
They look at each other and Margie elbows Cornelia again.
“What’s this ‘why choose’ thing we keep hearing about from Cam?” Cornelia asks.
Jocelyn snorts out a laugh. “This way, ladies. I know just the book for you,” she says with a wink.
I press my lips together to keep from laughing.
“I mean, seriously, how many dicks can you actually fit in there?” I hear Margie’s voice from behind a shelf. My body shakes with much-needed laughter.
“Well, according to this one…three,” Cornelia answers.
“Oh, wait, here’s an alien one,” Jocelyn adds and Cornelia starts laughing.
“Holy shit! This poor woman is going to need a cigarette, a drink, and some painkillers,” she says.
As much as I want to kick Gray’s ass right now, I do have to admit that I love my apartment building and its residents. Tay would be glad that I’m making more friends. She’s always telling me I need to put myself out there more often. I make a mental note to text her later.
“Can we make one of these the book for next month’s book club?” Margie asks me as she approaches with her selection.
“I don’t see why not,” I say.
“You know, I have this nephew…I mean, if you want to dip your foot back into the dating pool,” she offers.
I shake my head. “You know, I think I might pull myself off the market for a while. I’m sort of over men at the moment.”
“Fair enough. The two of us swore off men a long time ago. I mean, other than that nice man we hired a few times, but I don’t think that counts, does it? Oh and our dates from the app the other night,” she says.
“Hired?” I ask, frowning in confusion.
Cornelia swats Margie’s arm as she walks over to us with Jocelyn in tow. “Margie!”
“What? The girls can keep a secret,” Margie says. “We found this escort right after our husbands died. I mean, ladies have needs. He offered us a two-for-one, but Cornelia said no way, so we both had a go with him. Cost a pretty penny.”
Jocelyn bends over in a fit of laughter. “You…hired…a…sex worker…for both…of you,” she manages in between laughing.
“Yep. And I don’t regret it one bit. Best damn sex of my life.” Margie leans forward. “Maybe you should too. I can give you his number. He’s very professional.”
“I’m sure he is,” I say, my face flushing with heat.
“You two have a nice day,” Margie adds as she takes her book.
“You think Heath is still working?” Cornelia asks as they leave.
I look over at Jocelyn who has now fallen to the floor in laughter. “I’m sorry…I just…oh God, that is some good stuff,” she stammers around her laughter.
I roll my eyes. “I’m going to get a coffee. Can you pull yourself together long enough to man the desk?”
“Only if you get me this Heath’s number,” she teases.
I groan. “Thank you,” I say as I glare at her but then our eyes meet and we both laugh. “I’m never going to look at them the same way, ever again.”
“That makes two of us,” Jocelyn agrees.
And with that, I head over to get coffee. I try not to glance up at Gray’s apartment, but I do and I find him staring down at me. I turn away, pretending I didn’t see him, but I feel his eyes boring into me the entire way across the street. Deep regret washes over me. Why did I have to fall for my neighbor? And when will I stop wanting him?