Small-Town Sweetheart (The Spring Grove Series Book 2) Read online

  As she walks toward the bar, I see, again, that things haven’t changed. Everyone greets her, hollering her name and kissing her cheek when she flashes a bright smile. There was always something about that girl’s smile that confused me. Made me feel things. Stupid things, but things nonetheless. Like it did when we were younger, her grin takes up her whole face. Her eyes light up, her lips curve, and her bright-white teeth sparkle like a creek in the summer. She was always so happy, so good, and fun to be around. Everyone worshiped her, loved her, which only made me hate her more.

  Or, I tried to hate her.

  I don’t know, it was weird, confusing back then. I wanted to despise her, but like everyone else, I enjoyed being around her. I always thought she was beautiful. Even when she was way bigger, she had a face that took my breath away. I drink in those long, strong legs, her shorts hardly covering that sweet ass of hers. Now, she not only takes my breath away, but she makes me hard as a rock. One thing is for sure, I would really like to be on the other side of her as that whiskey makes her frisky.

  Not that it would ever happen, though. Pretty sure she still hates me. Not that I can blame her, but man, how much fun is it to get under her skin? Her eyes always get so dark, a little wrinkle appears between her brows, and her lips press together defiantly. I have been thinking about her since I left the funeral. It’s a welcome distraction. After this shit day, I need something to make me smile, and Delaney does just that.

  I run my fingers through my hair, laughing to myself. Thinning hair? Please. I have a full head of unruly hair that is in no way thinning. She was trying to get back at me, but all she did was make me wonder if she really did think of me as she touched herself. What’s even more curious is what it would have been like to touch her then. Or to touch her now.

  I roll my eyes. I’ve been here a total of twenty-four hours, and this town is already getting to me. There is a whole world out there—gorgeous girls who, if I wanted, I could get. Yet, it’s Delaney Abbot who has me intrigued as hell. A girl I’ve known my whole life and who has known me. Well, minus the last fourteen years.

  A bright grin covers her dark-red lips as she waves to the boys at the bar before going behind it. She hugs the guy who brought our beers earlier and throws her large bag on the back bar.

  I raise my brows as I place my beer down. “Del works here?”

  Holden, who was speaking, pauses before his lips curve up. “Yeah, three nights a week.”

  Theo grins. “Why ya ask?”

  I point to her. “She’s here.”

  All of us look across the bar, and when she looks up, she grins as she waves wildly at us. “Hey, guys!”

  “Hey, Del,” they all call back, but I watch her as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear that has escaped her ponytail. Her gaze falls on me, and that little dip shows between her eyes as she looks away, shaking her head.

  I lick my lips as I bring my beer to my lips. “I don’t think she likes me.”

  Theo laughs. “You called her Chubs all of middle school.”

  I grimace. Man, I was a dick. “I stopped when she got to high school.”

  “’Cause she sat on you and tried to choke you,” Holden says matter-of-factly as Devin and Theo chuckle loudly. “Pretty sure she scared the shit out of all of us.”

  I chuckle at the memory. I was a horny teen, and this girl I thought was beautiful was sitting on my chest. Fear was the last thing on my mind. “Maybe, but I was a dick back then—”

  “And angry,” Theo adds, and I nod.

  “That I was.” I lean back in my chair, putting it up on its back two legs. I may hate this town, but I’m not the kid she knew, and I’m sure she isn’t that kid either. What the hell am I thinking? I’m leaving Tuesday, maybe even Monday. Though I can’t help but wonder if maybe a nice roll in the sheets with her will heal my broken heart.

  “Is she dating anyone?” When everyone starts laughing, I make a face. “What?”

  “Delaney and dating is the hot topic around town,” Holden says, sputtering with laughter. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard.”

  I give him a dry look. “’Cause I’d ask?”

  “Touché,” he laughs, shaking his head.

  “Del has the worst luck,” Devin says. “I think almost every guy she’s been with lately has cheated on her.”

  My face twists with disgust as anger rattles inside me. “What the hell? Why would they cheat on her?”

  “’Cause they’re dicks,” Devin says, his eyes on Del. “She’s a damn good girl.”

  “Well, John Aaron didn’t,” Theo volunteers, bringing our attention to him. “From what I’m told, she smeared a shirt full of come in his face ’cause he said he wished she looked like the girl in the porn they were watching.”

  I widen my eyes. “What an asshole.”

  “Exactly,” Holden says, looking to his cousin. “She is plagued by nothing but assholes.”

  “For such a damn sweetheart, it sucks it keeps happening. She should be married now with a few kids. But then, none of the Abbot kids are,” Devin says, and Holden holds his hand up.

  “Don’t rush me.”

  We all laugh at that just as the door opens and Bryce comes in. I want to ask more, but everyone is greeting my brother. He’s out of his uniform, wearing worn jeans and a thin tee, looking younger than he usually does. Instead of coming to our table, though, he goes to the bar. Delaney leans over it with her carefree grin, meeting him before kissing him on the lips. My brows pull together as she hands him a beer. She taps his chest in a very intimate way that has me even more curious and sort of pissed. Why the hell do I care? This town will be in my rearview in a matter of days.

  Bryce says hi to a few people on his way to our table. “Hey there, fuckers.”

  He drops down into the chair beside me, and I hook my thumb to him. “I thought you guys said she wasn’t dating anyone.”

  Bryce tilts his head in question. “Who?”

  “Delaney.”

  He points to himself, his brows pulling in. “I’m not dating Delaney.”

  “You just kissed her.”

  He rolls his eyes. “That’s how we say hi. Believe me, I tried about six years ago, and she turned me down quick.”

  Oh.

  “Me too,” Devin says then. “But that might have something to do with the fact that I’ve loved Cataway since I was ten.”

  “Maybe,” Holden says with a quirk of his lips. “But then, who’s keeping up with that?”

  Devin nods. “Exactly.”

  I roll my eyes. “Still? I thought she broke your heart.”

  “She did, but I still love her.”

  My brother and Cataway Abbot are one of those tragic stories. Girl falls for star football player who is fine staying in the town he grew up in. She thought she could stay too, but she had big dreams. She left him the day of their wedding for New York, shattering my brother’s heart. And from what my mom says, she’s on some reality show or something. I didn’t realize he was still in love with her. It’s sort of sad, but then again, they were really in love.

  “That’s pathetic.”

  “Fuck you,” Devin says simply, and laughter fills the table.

  As my laughter dies off, I look to Theo. “You date her?”

  “Who?”

  “Del.”

  Theo shakes his head. “I’ve been in love with Gen my whole life. Del knows that. And even so, I don’t think she’d go for me.”

  “No need to ask me. I’m her cousin,” Holden says, sending the table into fits. “But the real question is, why do you care?”

  “I don’t,” I say, clearing my throat. “Just asking, making conversation.”

  Bryce rolls his eyes. “Delaney is the topic all over town. Especially after she took a bat to Larry Yarbrough’s Mustang.”

  I laugh. “She took a bat to a Mustang?”

  “Oh yeah,” Holden laughs, pulling out his phone. “I think the video is still in the Facebook group.”