Page 13 of Hate It with You

Sienna raises an eyebrow at us. “You two are obviously up to something, but I’m not even going to ask. Neither of you better ruin this day for Beth.” She wags a finger at us, and a glance at Theo tells me she’s not messing around.

When the man I saw from outside approaches Beth again, I can’t help myself when I ask, “Who is that guy?” My tone takes on a darker edge.

“Why, jealous?” Theo says with snark.

“No,” I scoff, not believing my own lie.

“Relax, Alex, that’s her brother.” My shoulders ease when Sienna answers my question. Theo and Sienna suppress a chuckle at my expense when I look toward Beth again.

“Oh fuck off, you two,” I say lovingly, brushing them off as I make my way to browse the bookshelves behind them, flowers still in hand.

From what I can tell, this is a romance bookstore. Seems fitting enough for Beth, considering every book she read while we were at the lake house was a romance of some kind. Her organization of the books is enlightening.

For instance, one table showcases dark romance books. Something I noticed she read a lot of during our lake house visit. Running my tattooed hand along the black covers of the books on the table, I steal a glance in Beth’s direction only to catch her already looking at me.

When our eyes meet, hers dart away only to find their way back to mine seconds later. When she looks away for a second time, I look back down at the books in front of me. Anger overtakes her expression again, and I have to suppress the smile that teases my lips at the sight.

She’s always so pretty when she’s pissed at me.

As the sun continues to set, so does the traffic in the bookstore. Patrons begin to leave, as I busy myself by reading the backs of books I haven’t already read, trying to find my next read. After all, Beth isn’t the only one interested in reading. Hell, I’ve read three-quarters of the books she has stacked on the dark romance table alone.

When the last customer leaves the bookstore, Beth waves goodbye as she follows them out. She wears a big smile on her face as she flips her Open sign to Closed, leaving only Beth, her brother, Theo, Sienna, and me in the store.

Her brother starts toward her at the same time Sienna does. I watch them from a corner at the far end of the bookstore.

“I’m so hap—” Her brother starts, but doesn’t have a chance to hug her before Beth turns toward my direction.

“What are you doing here? I don’t exactly remember sending you an invite.” Beth places her hands on her lusciously full hips, drawing my attention to her waist. Her book-themed T-shirt turns out to be a crop top, and the slip of exposed skin on her abdomen threatens to be the death of me.

I catch sight of her brother glaring at me from the corner of my eye where he stands beside her, and Theo winces on my behalf. Setting down the book I had in my hands, I’m careful not to bend any corners of the cover and saunter over toward Beth.

Her confident stance doesn’t waver even as I get closer, towering over her, given our full foot height difference.

“I got a call. I guess a few things around here need fixing.” I shrug, slipping my free hand in my front jeans pocket. Her gaze follows, and I smirk when her cheeks redden further.

“Here, these are for you.” I hand her the bouquet I’ve been holding on to for the last hour.

She grabs the flowers from me and all but throws them at her brother in her rage. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, so you’re the asshole I spoke to over the phone,” her brother exclaims, but my eyes don’t leave Beth when her blue eyes widen as she pieces it together.

“No…” She breathes. “No, no, no, no, no.” She repeats the word as she rushes over to the front desk, frantically looking for something.

“What’s going on?” Sienna asks from my right, looking between Theo and me.

Beth finally finds what she’s looking for, her phone, and with a few presses on the screen, a buzzing sounds in my pocket.

Taking my phone out of my jeans pocket, I answer it. “Alex, your landlord speaking.” I try to hide my smile at the sheer rage that spreads across Beth’s face. I don’t particularly like fucking with people this much, but she’s too damn cute when she’s upset not to.

“Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Beth shouts, hanging up the phone and waving her arms dramatically.

“Did you know about this?” The question comes from Sienna, who is looking toward Theo.

Theo rubs the back of his neck bashfully when he says, “Well…” But that’s all he can get out before looking at me as though I’m going to save him.

Beth joins us again, standing as far away from me as possible.

“Hey, Theo tried to tell you, but by his recollection, you refused to know who the landlord was,” I say, hoping to at least save Theo’s ass. He’s been through enough.