Page 152 of The Man Next Door
“Not Martin,” pointed out Bree.
“Yeah, Louise got lucky,” Gilda said with a smile. “He’s okay. Every once in a while, you stumble on one who is. They’re rare though, about as easy to find as a diamond on the beach. Still, there’s a few out there, I suspect. I haven’t seen one in years.”
Bree had. Fen was a good guy. School had started for him again. Was he home for the weekend? His birthday was the next day.
She looked to where a few cupcakes remained, chewed on her lip, considering.
“Go ahead, take another cupcake before they’re gone,” said Gilda. “Cupcakes are like those rare men. You have to get one while you can ’cause they go fast. In fact, I think I’ll get another right now. Cupcake, that is.”
Bree followed her to the cupcake table and grabbed one. Then she went to where her Gram stood, holding hands withMartin, and visiting with his daughter. “I’m going to take off, Gram,” she said.
“Oh, but you have to stay and catch the bouquet,” Gram protested.
“Don’t worry. I don’t need it,” Bree said. She hugged her grandmother and her new grandfather, said goodbye to her new cousins, then went to say goodbye to her mom.
“You’re leaving already?”
“I need to go see someone.”
Mom looked at the cupcake in her hand and raised an eyebrow.
“See you later,” Bree said, and kissed her.
Fifteen minutes later she was standing in front of Fen’s house. It was already decorated for Halloween, with a collection of Pinterest-worthy carved pumpkins on both sides of the front porch. A fall wreath hung on the front door.
Several cars were parked out front, including his Jeep. Probably an early birthday party was in progress. His whole family would be there. The family who knew her and knew she’d broken up with him twice. This had been a stupid idea.
She sat in her car, staring first at the house, then the cupcake.They go fast.
Maybe Fen was gone now, already hooked up with another woman. There was only one way to find out. She took a deep breath, got out of her car and walked up to the front door. By the time she rang the doorbell, her heart had almost banged its way out of her chest.
His mother opened the door and blinked in surprise at the sight of her. She smiled. It looked forced. “Hello, Bree.”
“Hi, Mrs. Clarke. I was wondering if Fen’s home.” She held up the cupcake. A lone stupid cupcake. She was an idiot. “I know it’s his birthday tomorrow.”
“Yes, it is. We’re just having a little family gathering while his brother’s in town.”
And here was Bree, dressed for prom in her stupid bridesmaid dress. What drug was she on that she hadn’t thought to change?
“Come in,” said Mrs. Clarke, and stepped aside so Bree could enter. She didn’t sound all that welcoming, but at least she hadn’t shut the door in Bree’s face.
Bree followed her down the hall and into the Clarkes’ supersized great room. Leather furniture, stone fireplace, which was more for decoration than use. Balloons dancing over a chair in the corner and a pile of opened presents lying beside it. The small remains of a birthday cake sat on a long table, along with an array of mostly empty appetizers plates. Some paper plates and napkins lay along the granite kitchen counter. People were seated, talking and laughing, and kids ran in and out of the sliding glass door. Salsa music was blasting. It all reminded Bree of the many times she’d been at this house for parties as a teenager.
And there, coming in from the back patio, was Fen, wearing jeans and a shirt, backlit by evening sun, looking like a Greek god. He stopped at the sight of her and stood there, forever, just looking at her, and she squeezed the cupcake so hard its frosted top blew off and fell to the floor.Shit!
“Sorry,” she said to his mom, and bent to pick it up.
But then he was right there with her, kneeling on the floor.
She scooped up the top and put it back on. “I brought you a cupcake for your birthday,” she said. “Three-second rule?”
He half smiled. “Since when do you bake?”
“I’m learning. It’s from my Gram’s wedding. She got married today.”
“Yeah? I guess that explains the dress.” He took the mangled cupcake from her. “Thanks. I’m surprised you remembered my birthday. Figured you’d forgotten all about me.”
“Had you forgotten all about me?” she asked.
