Page 5 of Falling for the Guy Next Door

“All right, Becky. Talk to you later. And think about a trip out here. I’m sure we could swing it.”

“I’ll think about it. Bye.”

I walked to the bathroom, grabbed a towel and headed to the front door. I opened it up. Rocky was sitting, trying to show me that he’d been a very good boy, but the wet, sand-coated fur was telling me a whole different story. I opened the towel, and he hopped to all fours and gave himself a shake that sprayed cold water across my legs. I dropped the towel over his head and rubbed him vigorously. He loved it and wiggled like crazy under the towel.

His big face popped up from under it, and he looked at me.

“So, flirt-master, you sure know how to pick ‘em. Was she as hot up close as she looked from the window?”

He barked once. I had my answer.

ChapterThree

Layla

I’d practiced my break-up speech a dozen times. It was going to be the classic version of “it’s not you, it’s me,” but when I spotted Dustin at the ice cream stand with a big, enthusiastic smile, my resolve to break up with him crumbled. No wonder so many people broke up through texts.

Maybe he wasn’t so bad—that’s what I was telling myself as I walked half-heartedly toward him. He immediately leaned in for a kiss. I quickly turned my head, so the kiss landed on my cheek. Dustin looked disappointed, and I felt that same disappointment. My instinctive move to turn my face was the alarm bell I needed. I had to end things.

“Rocky road?” he asked excitedly.

“Sure.” Rocky road washisfavorite, but I wasn’t in the mood to make ice cream decisions. I felt bad. I should have never let it get this far.

The summer crowds had swept into town weeks ago, and each day they seemed to grow in size and liveliness. Juniper Road, the street that cut through town, was packed with cars and bikes, and the sidewalks were a maze of pedestrians. Isla’s bakery had blown up on social media a few weeks into summer, and I was sure the increase in visitors was directly connected to the bakery. Aria’s café was always a popular hot spot, too. Both of my sisters were doing incredibly well with their businesses, and I couldn’t have been prouder. I was front-of-shop manager for Isla’s bakery. She’d come up with the title, and I couldn’t deny that I liked it.

“Wow, this town sure gets crazy during summer.” Dustin sold tools for a living. He lived in Fairview, which was inland and much more like a city than a small town.

“Our summer tourist season is crucial to our economy,” I said.

Dustin was a few inches taller than me with blue eyes and blond hair. He was nice looking, but he tended to make a lot of faces that made him look almost childish. Like now, as he looked around while we waited in line.

“Not sure what the big draw is.” His face crinkled.

“Really? You don’t see the draw? It’s one of the prettiest beach towns on the coast. But you don’t have to see the draw. Obviously, thousands of other peopledosee it.” Maybe I’d find that courage to break up with him after all.

Dustin was never tuned into my feelings (another check against him) but there was no missing my angry tone. He stupidly decided that turning on some condescending charm would help the situation.

His face drooped slightly as he tilted his head at me. “Aww, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It’s just a town. It’s no big deal.” He pressed a hand against my back and actually thought this was a good time to try again for a kiss. I leaned far away from his puckered lips. He opened his eyes. The girls behind us in line giggled behind their hands, and that made Dustin’s jaw tighten.

“Why are you being so grouchy?” he muttered between clamped teeth.

“I’m not grouchy. I’m angry. There’s a difference, but you wouldn’t know because you never, ever pick up on cues. You know what—I don’t want ice cream. I don’t want this anymore either.” It was definitely not the tactful breakup I’d been envisioning on the way over, but Dustin had suddenly made the whole thing much easier.

I left the line. Dustin followed. “Oh, come on, Layla. You can’t seriously be this mad because I don’t think Whisper Cove is worth all the hype.”

He caught up to me and tried to grab my hand. I snatched it away quickly. I turned to him. He looked genuinely distraught, but I forged ahead. “Look, Dustin, this just isn’t working. It was a nice three months, but it’s time for us to move on.”

This was supposed to be the moment where he said, “If that’s what you want, then fine. Later.” And then he was supposed to turn on his heels and stomp away without another word.

Instead, he reached for my hand again. I moved it behind my back. “You can’t mean that, Layla. This has been great.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s been nice but not great, Dustin. I want great. You want it, too, but the two of us are never going to be great together.”

His expression of sadness morphed quickly into rage. “Fine. What a waste of time you were. You think because you’re some spoiled little brat who grew up in a stupid beach town and because you turn a lot of heads that you can just use people.”

Tears poked my eyes as I spun around and hurried to my car.

“Look, I’m sorry I said that, Layla. I didn’t mean it. Let’s talk this over,” he called to my back.

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