Page 58 of Falling for the Guy Next Door

I smoothed my hair back. “I sleep in one morning, and the whole world unravels. So typical.”

Ella turned her head. “Who’s that? Someone just pulled into the driveway.”

“Probably Ava,” I said as we headed to the door.

Ella pulled it open. “It’s Owen.” The police car had pulled into Audrey’s driveway. “I wonder what he’s doing.”

Emily gasped. “Do you think Nash is the culprit?”

I shook my head. “Boy, you sure are ready to throw your true love under the bus fast. I’m sure it’s a mistake. Nash didn’t do this.”

“How can you be so sure?” Emily asked.

And there it was—my giant blob of a lie back to remind me it was still lurking around. “I just am,” I said dismissively.

Officer Tuttle hadn’t seen us come up behind the squad car. He straightened his belt, walked up to the door and knocked. Nash didn’t answer right away, and I knew why. He’d only just gotten to bed a few hours earlier.

“There sure are lots of people sleeping late today,” Emily said with a sideways glance.

“Nash Ledger, this is the police,” Owen said sternly through the door.

“Maybe Emily’s right,” Ella said. “It sure doesn’t seem like a cordial visit.

Rocky started barking wildly, and Tuttle backed up a step. The door opened a few seconds later.

“Oh, he looks so sleepy,” Emily whispered. “But still incredibly handsome.”

Nash stepped out on the stoop, and his puzzled gaze instantly found me. I shrugged to let him know I had no idea what was going on. Ella moved closer to the scene, so Emily and I followed.

“Nash Ledger?” Tuttle asked.

“That’s right. What’s going on?” Nash’s face smoothed, and he looked worried. “Did someone get hurt?”

“No, but there was some significant damage in town to the shops, and we had an anonymous tip that someone saw you smashing windows with a bat.” Tuttle pulled out his notepad and opened it. “They said it was the singer with the viral song. They recognized you from the video, apparently.”

“Oh wow, hediddo it,” Emily whispered. “So disappointing.”

“I’ve been here all night, so the tip was wrong,” Nash said.

“Then you won’t mind if I have a look around,” Officer Tuttle asked.

“Go ahead.”

Tuttle turned around and realized we were close by. “Excuse me, ladies, I’ll need you to step over to your property. This is official police business.” He gave Ella an apologetic smile, and at the same time, I got the sense that he was enjoying getting to play the important officer with dangerous business.

Nash looked at me.

“You’re wrong about this, Owen. I mean Officer Tuttle.” Owen kept up his search of the landscaping around the cottage. For a second, he paused with a serious look. He pulled on a latex glove, pushed his arm into a shrub and pulled a baseball bat free.

Nash’s chin dropped. “That’s not mine. I’ve never played baseball. I didn’t do this.”

Officer Tuttle placed the bat in his car. “Nash Ledger, I’m going to take you in for questioning.”

I raced forward. “No, he didn’t do it. He has an alibi. I was with Nash until early this morning.”

Behind me I heard Emily suck in a gasp-y breath. Officer Tuttle turned around and looked at me. “Are you telling the truth?”

Ella stepped forward now with her arms crossed. “Did you just ask my baby sister if she’s a liar?”

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