Page 92 of Secret Shifters Next Door

He glanced up from where he was sweeping the floor. “Huh?”

I took a steadying breath and tried to seem as casual as I could. “Have you guys ever heard anything from Steff?”

Kris frowned almost immediately. His knuckles went white around the broom handle, and I realized even old wounds could still seem fresh.

“Yeah. He’s around.”

His tone held nothing but disgust. Things between Steff and my brothers had ended poorly when he broke things off with me. We’d been theitcouple in high school. I’d truly believed that we’d end up married. When Steff broke up with me and moved across the country on a baseball scholarship, I’d been beyond heartbroken. My brothers loved me, and even though they’d been best friends with Steff, they’d basically sworn a blood feud with him. It was almost like something from the Middle Ages.

Through the grapevine, I’d heard that he’d gotten hurt and his career had been cut short before it really ever began. Thoughts of him had popped into my mind multiple times over the years, usually when I was at my loneliest and most depressed. My mind would do the thing where it would play out how my life might have been had we stayed together. That usually sent me deeper into my depression. Then I’d drown those feelings out with a glass of wine or some sort of pill.

“He came back a few years ago with some buddies he’d picked up. They started some security agency or some shit likethat. Kellan and I avoid him as best we can,” Kris said, going back to sweeping.

He was pissed off even talking about Steff. Deciding to leave it alone, I went back to polishing the glasses. After a while, I glanced at my watch and realized I needed to go meet the realtor. As much as I loved catching up with my brother and getting to know Aiden, I really needed my own place. Larry had contacted the realtor and set up a meeting so I could see a few places.

“I’ve got to meet the realtor. I’ll see you tonight, okay?” I said.

Kris nodded. “Sounds good. See you later.”

Larry called me on a video call about the time I pulled up to the real estate office. “April? How are you doing?”

“Good, Larry. How are you?” Had I not been on a video call, I’d have rolled my eyes.

“Fine, fine. Is the realtor there?”

“Jesus, Larry, I just got here. Yes, I’m walking up to her right now.”

A middle-aged woman dressed in a sharp-looking business suit greeted me. “Hello, Miss Knight?”

“Yes.”

“Deborah Whitmire. Great to meet you,” she said, shaking my hand.

“Hey, Debbie, Larry here,” the tinny voice from my phone called out.

From the look on her face, Deborah didnotlike being called Debbie. Instead of dwelling on how uncomfortable Larry had made everything, she and I made the silent decision to get started without much preamble. We got into her car and went to see three different properties that might work for me.

The first was a tiny studio apartment above a vacant office. It was way too small, and Larry was irritated that it was even a suggestion. It was almost to the point that I wanted to shut offthe call. I looked like an idiot, walking around holding my phone out so he could see everything.

The second place was better, however, it was way out on the edge of town. It would have worked, but I didn’t want to have to drive twenty minutes to see my family after coming halfway across the country to reconnect with them. Of course, Larry liked it because it was secluded and tucked into the woods. But by that point, Deborah and I had officially begun to ignore him.

The minute I saw the last place, Iknew.It was love at first sight. The small, cottage-style house had two bedrooms and one bathroom that held a surprisingly large claw-foot tub that looked heavenly. The best part was that it was only a couple blocks away from the bar and about a five-minute drive to Kellan’s house. By the time we’d walked it, I was grinning from ear to ear.

As soon as we stepped out onto the driveway, I turned to Deborah. “I’ll take it.”

“Whoa, hold on,” Larry said. “Are you sure? I think she has a couple more you can look at. These were the small places. I wanted her to show you a few bigger houses.”

“Oh, Larry, please shut up for once,” I snarled. “This is the one.”

“Okay, calm down, I got it. I’ll schedule a company to install the security system. And I’ll fly down for a day to help the movers get everything set up. You can head on back to your brother’s place, and I’ll take care of everything. Debbie, can you get the lease sent?—”

I ended the call and smiled at Deborah. “Sorry about him. He really means well.”

Deborah lifted an eyebrow. “I swear, if he’d called me Debbie one more time… ugh.” She smiled at me. “I’ll start the paperwork. I think you’ll be able to move in fairly soon.”

I glanced down the street. There were a few houses nearby, but I didn’t notice anyone out and about. “Do you know anything about the neighbors?”

“Sorry, I’m pretty new in town. I don’t know much about the owners on this street.”

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