Page 263 of Well Played

Then the air mattress had probably been the least comfortable thing he’d ever slept on. He tossed and turned and the sound of the plastic each time he moved was like nails on a chalkboard.

He had no groceries in the place, not even a piece of fruit, which meant that now he needed to get up and go to the store so he could eat. If he ran into other people like the man from last night, he wasn’t sure he’d handle it well without coffee.

The woman, though. She was nice and clearly didn’t want to bother him. He got from their conversation that she was the one that lived here and her brother was here to help with something. And he had to have heard wrong, but he thought she said she had five brothers. That couldn’t be right.

It took him less than five minutes to get clean clothes on and brush his teeth and be ready to go to the store. As he stepped into the hall, he found his neighbor in the hallway again.

“Good morning,” he greeted, despite the way he felt.

She jumped and turned to face him. “You scared me. No one has lived there for so long I kind of forgot what it was like to have someone else out here.” Cassie was in workout clothes and sweating, he guessed, on her way back home from a run.

“I was just heading out,” he said, feeling awkward and trying not to stare at her green leggings and sports bra.

“Same. I’m out of coffee and I need that above all else.”

Grant grinned. “I got in later than expected so I didn’t get groceries. Heading to get coffee myself. Recommend anywhere?”

Cassie started moving first, and he walked with her down the concrete stairs. “There’s a small coffee shop on Main Street. They aren’t mainstream, but I really like them.”

“Mind giving me directions?”

“Oh, shoot. I forgot you’re new. It’s called Greene’s. You can follow me there if you want. Or ride with me if you want to save on gas.” She stopped and shook her head as they walked out onto the sidewalk. “I’m sorry. I probably sound like Jack.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “If it were him, I’d be scared. He’d hogtie me and throw me in his car.”

Cassie snorted. “Probably. I should warn you, he told my family last night, and you will probably see a revolving door of the Greer family over the next few days.”

“How many is that?” Convinced he’d heard her wrong, he wanted to double-check.

“I have five brothers. Plus my dad and then whoever they bring with him. I’m so sorry about them already.”

Grant stopped at her car and looked over at the box truck he’d driven down. While he wasn’t normally one to get in cars with strange women, he didn’t feel like driving that thing around town.

“Tell you what, how about a ride to get coffee, and then I’ll get a rideshare to the grocery store and back?” He just wanted some coffee, and she seemed nice enough.

Cassie nodded. “No problem. I don’t mind taking you by the grocery store if you want either. I don’t have any plans for the day today, but don’t feel obligated to let me take you.”

She unlocked her car using the key fob and got in. Grant wondered at this woman as he got in next to her. Part of him wanted to let her take him around and the other assumed he was imposing if he did that. It was a weird spot to be in.

The ride to Greene’s was quiet with just a low pop music in the background. When they parked, Cassie turned the car off and faced him.

“I should warn you that this is a soccer town and they probably all already know you’re here.”

He didn’t hide his groan.

“I can get your coffee if you want.”

“It’s fine. Hopefully, I can get some coffee in me soon and I’ll be in a better mood at least.”

“This is you in a bad mood?”

“This is me trying not to be in a bad mood.” He grinned at her. “You’re nice and I’m trying not to be an ass while depending on you for coffee.”

Cassie laughed. “Fair enough. Let’s go.”

They walked into the packed coffee shop and all heads turned their way. He was lucky it was Sunday and not Saturday because while it was packed, it was hardly as busy as it would be if people were getting ready for church.

She took one step forward, hoping he’d follow along before he got swallowed by the crowd, but didn’t have any luck. Before she made it to the counter to order, Grant was barely visible between the people surrounding him.

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