Page 52 of The Dixon Rule

“Why are there so many people here?” he whispers. “Aren’t these things supposed to be boring?”

“Give it ten minutes and you’ll understand why the word boring has no place in this room,” I whisper back, before realizing what I’m doing.

No. Absolutely not. I can’t be whispering with him like coconspirators. We are enemies.

Brenda stands to address the room. “Hello, everyone. Let’s get started. First and foremost, I see a new face among us.” She gives Shane a pointed look.

In response, he flashes his usual cocky grin. “Busted. I’m Shane Lindley. I live in—”

“We know who you are,” she says coldly.

Shane’s mouth slams shut in surprise.

“We prefer that newcomers watch and listen for their first meeting.” Her expression suggests his mere existence is an insult to her. “Participation is not encouraged.”

Priya is on my right, biting her lip to keep from laughing. This is not an actual HOA rule, so obviously the shunning now extends to the leader of our board. Last I heard, the Meadow Hill rumor mill had spun some pretty ludicrous stories about our newest resident. Marnie and Dave from Weeping Willow told me they heard Shane was escorted off an airplane last year for bullying the flight staff. I legit have no clue how that rumor even got started.

“Moving on,” Brenda says. “Are there any concerns that need to be brought up?”

Niall’s hand shoots up, as it does every meeting. “Yes. I have seen no change in the noise level since last month. I think it’s necessary to institute an eight p.m. noise ordinance.”

Ray, a stout man who always attends the meetings with his quiet wife, speaks up.

“That is absolutely ridiculous. Some of us have lives, we have kids. How am I going to get my kids to stay silent after eight p.m.?”

“I don’t know, maybe put your kids to sleep at seven. Isn’t that a usual bedtime for children?” Niall asks.

“Are you trying to tell me how to parent?” Ray’s voice grows louder.

“I am trying to tell you how to be a considerate neighbor.”

Ray is standing now, and Niall’s crossed his arms, barely making eye contact behind his thick black glasses. Ray’s meek wife, Lisa, is tugging on his shirt to get him to settle down.

“Damn,” Shane murmurs to me, “is it always this dramatic?”

“Just wait,” I murmur back, “the main item on the agenda is hiring a new pool boy because Veronika got caught fucking the last one in the bathroom by the barbecues.”

He chuckles at that, and I can’t help but smile myself. Despite all my resistance, there is an innate ease when I talk to Shane. Even when we’re fighting or snapping at each other, there’s just this…flow.

And now that I’ve acknowledged it, I find the realization incredibly disconcerting.

“That’s enough!” Brenda nearly shouts. “Both of you, stop this. The board has heard Niall’s suggestion and will take it under consideration.” She takes a calming breath. “Next on the agenda—Carla’s motion to deny Liam and Celeste Garrison’s request to list their condo online as a short-term vacation rental. Jackson?” she says, glancing at the bushy-bearded man next to her.

Jackson half rises from his chair, frowns at the bossy, uptight woman we all try to avoid, and mutters, “Motion denied.”

Carla shoots to her feet. “You have no right to do that!”

“Actually, we do,” Brenda replies. “We voted last meeting about it. The majority agreed that the Garrisons could list the unit for the six weeks they’ll be in Atlanta.”

“I voted against it!” Carla huffs. “Why doesn’t the minority have a say?”

“Because that’s not how majority-and-minority votes work,” Brenda says coldly.

“Sit down, Carla,” Jackson rumbles from the head table. “Or I’ll make you.”

“I’d like to see you try!”

From the corner of my eye, I see Shane shaking with laughter. Damn it. He’s enjoying this far too much. What if he regularly starts attending? I can’t allow that to happen. These meetings are literally all I live for.

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