Page 24 of Sugarlips
I blinked in shock, frozen in place until Neil’s voice cut through my haze.
“You’re starting afood truck?”
I tore my eyes away from the piece of shit parked in front of my condo to where Neil, Mom, and Finn were walking up my driveway. “No—”
“No?” Chloe’s hand clamped to her hip and she tapped her toe against my stone entryway.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I mean… yes, but I just didn’t know it was happeningnow. I thought we would talk through some things first. Create a budget. Save up to buy a truck—”
“Well, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass us by!” she cried, gesturing again at the piece of shit truck behind her.
“That’san… opportunity?” I asked, pointing once more to the truck that looked like it belonged in a salvage yard.
“Yes!” she did a funky cheerleader-like hop that did crazy, gravity defying things to her breasts. This time, I groaned aloud.
“I’m sorry…” I said. “This is just a lot to take in right now. I was about to have dinner with my family, so if you want to—”
“Oh, I would love to join you!” She breezed past me into the house, not waiting for any of us to lead the way or even follow her.
I was going to say,If you want to discuss this later, I’ll call you,but Tasmanian Chloe strikes again.
Finn gave me a compassionate glance, and Mom smiled, pushing onto her toes to give me a kiss. “She’s a sweet girl,” Mom said. “And always a joy to spend a dinner with.”
“But… I didn’tinviteher to join us,” I whispered.
Mom patted my cheek. “Well, maybe youshouldhave. Let that be a lesson to you.”
Oh, it was a lesson all right. Never let Addy answer the door.
Speaking of the devil, Addy snickered and I flipped her off.
“I’m sorry,” she said, laughing. “But you have to admit, she’s really entertaining.”
“I’m surprised you would likeanyof the Dyker sisters,” I grumbled.
Addy shrugged and smoothed her fire engine red hair with the palm of her hands. We were twins, but we looked nothing alike. Since middle school, Addy had been dying her hair and partying. I, on the other hand had always been more like Elaina. Well, Elaina now. Back then, she was a smart party girl. Whereas I was studious. Kind of nerdy. I was more concerned with getting good grades than being popular. Which was why that night that Chloe kissed me had been so shocking. I wasn’t her type. I was so far out of the realm of her type, I didn’t even think she knew I existed. If our siblings didn’t date back in high school, maybe she never would have.
“I never had an issue with Chloe,” Addy said. “And, even though it doesn’t matter now, Elaina’s growing on me finally.”
“Addy,” Mom hissed with a click of her tongue.
But it didn’t seem to deter Addy in the least. She just rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry… did I not give it enough time before I saidshe who shall not be named? Her damn sister is sitting at Liam’s dining table as we speak, so maybe we should get used to hearing her name now and then.”
Speaking of, could Chloe hear us? What was she doing in there, alone in my kitchen?
Neil grimaced, his features twisting in a way that I think he meant to look like a smile. “It’s fine. Elaina and I will have to find a way to coexist in Maple Grove.”
“Until you leave,” Finn said. “Which is what? A few weeks?”
Neil darted a glare at our youngest brother. “Yes… but I’ll only be gone a couple of months. Then I’ll be home for good.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Finn said. “We’ve heard that before.”
“This time, it’s true,” I said, stepping in on my brother’s behalf. Hell, I was the first one to give him a guilt trip over leaving us without a goodbye back when he was eighteen. But this time, itwasdifferent. “He’s buying the warehouse behind Beefcakes…” I grinned at my brother and turned to go inside. “Tell them,” I said. “They deserve to know so they can trust you’re coming back.”
I’d already heard Neil’s plans to turn the warehouse into a training facility for film stunt work. He was partnering with Jude and Ash, his best friends who worked in movies out in Los Angeles, to create the business. I was thrilled for him. Except, it meant a shit ton more work for me at the bakery. A bakery that I wasn’t really the face of to begin with. A bakery that wasn’t my dream… but the dream I was carrying on for my sick mom.
I glanced over my shoulder at the broken-down truck in front of my condo. Several cars slowed down as they passed, the people inside staring out their windows at the beater. No doubt wondering what vagabond had come through and broke down in front of Liam Evans’s home.
