Chapter 6 Annika #2
“Exactly,” Cass agrees, earning a nod from Maggie before she walks back to the front. “Now, someone is going to the west side, collecting gnomes and putting them in compromising positions right there on the front lawns. One girl. Multiple dudes. The West Enders are simply aghast.”
Laughter explodes out of me. When I can finally get myself under control, I ask, “Let me get this straight. Someone is placing the gnomes in sexually explicit positions on people’s front lawns?”
“Yup. Some creative ones too, honestly. Not that I’m taking notes or anything.”
“Okay, now I need to go check this out.”
“But wait, there’s more!”
“More than a bunch of sexually charged gnomes?”
She nods her head. “After about two weeks of this, people on the east side of town started noticing their cute little flags had been edited.”
“Edited?”
“Someone is printing stuff out and placing them over the flag designs with those adhesive glue dots.”
My mind is whirling with all of this knowledge, but I guess the girl doesn’t fall far from the quirky Cedar Vale tree cuz I’m fully invested.
“Stuff like what?”
“Things like 1+1=2 and Monogamy For the Win. Basically anything to strike right at the East Enders’ happy little poly hearts.”
I take my first bite of waffle and groan because damn, it’s good. Picking up a slice of bacon, I wave it at Cass. “And Maggie said things were getting boring around here.”
“She lied to make you feel good.”
This time, I do choke, but on my bacon. I don’t argue, though, because she’s probably not wrong. Maggie is known for both skirting the truth and exaggerating it.
“But I’ve let you distract me enough. Now, let’s get back to that whole dating my brother thing…”
I smirk. “Hate to burst your bubble, but I’m not dating your brother so you won’t be getting any nieces or nephews.”
She pats my hand on the tabletop. “I know, I know. It’s not real, but like… What if it was?”
I blink, forcing my face to remain blank because Cass misses nothing. “But it’s not.”
Brows furrowing, she straightens in the seat with a forkful of omelet held mid-air. “But it could be.”
“Girl, you know as well as I do that there is no love lost between me and those boys. You were forced to endure it all throughout high school, after all.”
Her exaggerated sigh almost makes me giggle. “I’m still pissed at Dre for fucking that up.”
My head tilts. “Dre? Owen is the one that started it. Not to mention he broke my brother’s arm, Cass. All over girls and their stupid tally marks.”
“Girls? They didn’t argue over girls. Owen—” Whatever she was going to say is cut off when the front door opens. Based solely on the smug look crossing her face, I know I’m not going to like whoever just entered. “Speak of the devil. Morning, Owen! Where’s my dickhead brother?”
I remain facing forward, fighting the urge to sink a little lower in my seat. I’ve mostly managed to avoid him since the first fake dating episode, but life is cruel. Apparently, my time is up.
Heavy footsteps tread toward our table, so I take a deep breath to calm my nerves.
“Yeah, just a breakfast burrito to go this morning, Maggie. I’m running late for practice,” his deep voice drawls, sounding much too close. “Well, good morning, Cass. Love bug.”
Cass’s eyes dart between us.
Owen smirks. “We’re kinda, sorta dating.”
“We are not dating, you giant ass clown.”
He tsks. “Not what you told good ol’ Frederick a few nights ago, sweet cheeks.”
Cass holds up her hand, eyes wide with amusement. “Wait a damn minute. You’re fake dating both of them?”
Owen glances down at me, confusion written all over his handsome face. “Both of us?”
“Um…”
Before I can reply, Cass cackles. “Get in line, Ox, cuz she’s dating Cars too.”
I slump down into the booth, wondering if I should just call in sick to life, leave the bookstore closed, and bury myself in my bed for the day. I haven’t even had a sip of my coffee yet, dammit.
“Is she now?” Owen murmurs, and when I risk a look at his face, he’s staring back at me with an unreadable expression. “What an interesting turn of events, I must say.”
“Interesting indeed,” Cass cheerfully quips.
“What a busy morning.” Maggie steps up next to Owen, her brows raised and a smile on her face. “Owen, your burrito is in a bag on the counter.”
My groan isn’t exactly quiet. “I should’ve stayed in Italy.”
“Nah, sweetheart. We’re glad you’re back. The scandals have been getting a little stale around here. Doesn’t seem to be the case anymore though.” She winks and heads back to the counter.
“I’ve gotta run, but…” Owen shocks the shit out of me when he leans in, grips my chin, and tilts my face up. “We’ll talk about this more later, love bug.”
He presses a soft kiss to my lips, straightens, and walks away. As my stunned eyes follow him, I notice Frederick standing just inside the doorway, his face pinched and hands clenched. I hadn’t even realized he was there.
So it was all for show.
Part of me is relieved. The other part? Well, she’s a dumbass.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the cock nozzle,” Owen says, grabbing his bag off the counter. “Not sure why you’re sticking around, bro. She’s moved on. Maybe you should too.”
He stalks past the way-too-put-together man who sticks out like a sore thumb in a small-town diner, nudging him with his shoulder as he passes by. Frederick stumbles a bit before righting himself, straightens the cardigan he has draped over the shoulders of his polo shirt, and shoots me a glare.
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
He storms out as Cass bursts into a fit of laughter. “Oh. My. God. I’m not sure what’s more entertaining. The look on your face when Owen grabbed your chin or the look on ex-hole’s face when he saw Owen kiss you.”
“He’s just a good actor. Maybe he should join your troupe,” I mutter.
“Girl, if you think that was acting, you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”
The little voice in my head, the one that usually steers me away from trouble, is unusually silent.
In her place is the one that I know better than to listen to—the one that thinks with her heart.
She remembers all the good times we once had with the boys who’ve barreled back into my life, and without the other to remind her of the hurt they caused, she’s getting all of these crazy notions about the future.
Notions better left in the never again category.