Bree #2
“I sold it a few years ago. Decided to come out here.”
“To be closer to family?”
Benny swirls his smoothie glass, waiting a beat before answering. “Yeah.”
That is the most loaded one-syllable word I’ve ever heard. It begs me to pry further, but something tells me that isn’t how I should repay his gift of scones and liquid vegetables.
“Great.” What are the chances that, of all the houses in all the world, I would end up next door to my high school ex-boyfriend?
Not that we went to the same high school.
Our romance was more of the summer fling variety that stretched into fourteen months of blissful monogamy.
It only happened because I was lucky enough to end up at the same Kid’s Choice Awards afterparty as him, and we immediately hit it off.
Chemistry like you wouldn’t believe fueled by fresh, intense teenage hormones.
He was the one.
My family’s reality show took off right away, but my momager—you know, mom-manager—had gotten me on a few shows before that as a kid, and I’d been doing light modeling on and off as a tween. Mom thought I’d make a good actress, but all I’d really wanted to do was sing.
A low, unpleasant feeling settles in my stomach. Singing doesn’t bring me joy anymore, not like it used to. I finally got all the fame and acclaim and records I’d dreamed of, and now…I’ve ruined everything.
Which is why I’m here. In Bodega Bay.
Okay, so the chances of ending up next door to Benny were significantly higher than any other celebrity, since he’s the reason I chose this place. But I never thought in a billion years I would actually see him.
Had I known, I wouldn’t have come here.
I break off a corner of what looks like a lemon poppyseed scone, and it melts on my tongue. “This is amazing.”
“Best bakery in California,” he says with confidence. “The Meyer lemons from that one are locally sourced.”
I peer up at him, noting how comfortable the conversation has been between us despite the years of silence and depth of history. “It’s been really good to see you, Benny.”
“Ben.”
Nope, can’t call him that. It’s too mature…
too not him. It would feel like an admission, though I don’t know why or even why it matters to me.
I push back from the counter, wrapping the rest of my scone in the napkin, then drain my glass and set it down.
I could stay at this counter all day. But he has a life to get back to.
A job. Maybe even a girlfriend, though I’m weirdly relieved that there seems to be no evidence of a wife or kids.
Benny clears his throat. “So, what’s the pantry situation next door?”
“There’s half a box of Cheerios I don’t trust,” I tell him. “Some random condiments.”
He looks at me dubiously, but he doesn’t need to worry.
This house was chosen for three reasons: one, it was one of the few options available in this area for the next month.
The rest were booked. Two, the proximity to the beach, where I plan to spend a good chunk of my time.
Three, it’s walking distance to a grocery store and a fish and chips shop. I won’t starve.
“I’m planning to head over to the shop today,” I say.
His eyebrows shoot up. “You’ll be swarmed.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“Because of your blonde wig?”
“Or my red one. Pink, maybe. Black. My options are endless. You’d be amazed by what I can do with a little eyeliner and some fake hair.”
He chuckles. “I think I got a little taste last night.” I make it to the door when he stops me again. “Want to exchange numbers? In case something comes up, I mean. My windows don’t need more special attention.”
A blush mottles my neck. “Probably a good idea.” I open my phone and hand him an empty contact so he can put his number in, then text him an emoji of a sea lion.
“See you around, Bree.” He stands at the door, watching me cross the lawn to my rental.
The thing is, I want him to be right. I’m supposed to be hunkering down and isolating, but that was before I moved in next door to Benny Rhodes.
Can I stay hidden from the world and still see him?
I don’t have to go anywhere to find reasons to see Benny, right?
I want to know where he’s been the last ten years, what’s going on with his family, why there was such a long pause when he told me he moved here for family.
Energy buzzes in my gut, fresh excitement, something I haven’t felt in a long time.
It only takes a minute to hop into my Do Not Disturb settings and approve Benny’s contact, in case he wants to reach me. This way I can talk to him and keep the rest of the world silent.
I push aside the lacy drapes and peek out the window once I’m safely inside my Airbnb, noting the quiet street.
I haven’t seen anyone drive by yet. Anyone.
This peaceful, empty little part of the world is exactly the bubble I need to hide and figure out what I’m going to do once the diss track drops and I become the most hated celebrity of my time.
Okay, that’s probably a smidge dramatic. Just severely disliked and possibly canceled by the greater population. They sure do love a good bout of self-righteous indignation.
The distraction of my hot ex-boyfriend neighbor is well-timed.
I could certainly use a distraction.
If I’m careful, I can probably manage to see a lot of Benny over the next few weeks, and the idea is exhilarating.