4

The next morning, I went to town to get groceries early in the morning, Joe waking me with the sun with his chirping and running around in the attic. Joe needs to go, or I’m taking my chances in the trailer’s bed tonight after thoroughly washing all the sheets. 

I stopped at the only coffee shop in town, planning on picking up a latte and blueberry muffin for breakfast. I recognized the girl behind the counter instantly from the pictures of her in the trailer. 

She is older than in the pictures, of course, but has the same ash blonde hair and blue eyes with adorable freckles underneath. Her easy smile looks a lot like Adrian’s. 

“Hi. What can I getcha?”

I smiled at her bored tone. She is definitely related to my handyman. 

“Hi. Can I get a medium vanilla latte and a blueberry muffin?”

“Out of blueberry. We got cranberry and banana left,” she mutters, tapping on her register screen.

“Banana then,” I raised my eyebrows at her, expecting her to argue or roll her eyes. 

Instead, she offers me a small smile, “$8.76.”

I hand her my debit card, waiting patiently as she sends it through the card reader. 

“You’re new here,” the girl stated. I nod, since she’s not really asking me anything. 

“Where are you from?”

I smile politely, sliding my card back into its slot in my wallet, “The Bay area.” 

“Oof,” she winces, and I almost laugh at the little saying. She is definitely Adrian's little sister or something. He kept making the same sound yesterday. “Come here to get away from the high cost of livin’? I hear the break-ins and thefts are getting out of hand there.”

“I needed a change,” I told her, not offering more. 

“This is a change, alright. My brother couldn’t handle all that crazy in the city. He said it was very lonely. He moved back here a few years ago to help dad with the business.”

“The contracting business?” I asked her, making her brows furrow. 

“Yeah, how’d ya know?”

“Adrian your brother?” I asked with a laugh, “He’s fixing my house for me.”

“You’re the chick!” Her blue eyes light up, “Missy the midget, right?”

“Midget?” I’m average. I’m the same freaking height as this girl.

“Yeah. He’s letting you borrow the trailer, right? Said you kept coming onto him, you were so grateful. Said he had to fight you off him with a stick.”

“He said what?” I asked, infuriated, “I did no such thing. Your nasty brother, who needs a shower and better soap, by the way, wouldn’t stop saying crap to me. I wouldn’t touch him with a stick.”

“Said you eagerly jumped in his trailer the second he backed it in,” she tells me with a smirk.

“I had to pee!” I nearly screamed. “My plumbing didn’t work.”

“Said you asked him to work on your plumbing….”

“My Lord!” I huff, “If I hadn’t already pay that idiot, I’d fired his arrogant, lying a-”

“I know my brother,” the girl chuckles, “I figured he was full of crap. He talks big, but he’s harmless. Don’t pay him much mind. He’s hecka harmless.”

“Harmless but a liar,” I seeth.

“Agreed,” she giggles, “I’m Brittany. His sister. Nice to meet you Missy the midget.”

I reluctantly shook her hand, “Same,” I muttered.

“You have too much trouble with him, let me know. I’m 4 years younger than him, but I can still kick his ass.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I smiled tightly at her, making her laugh some more. 

After leaving with my latte and muffin, I’m tempted to call the jerk and ask for a refund, but then I have to find someone else, going through that mess all over again. I need to talk to him and set up some boundaries, like not spreading lies about me to his family. 

I pick up the groceries I need; mostly nonperishables like soups and crackers, peanut butter, and bread. When Adrian, the jerk, starts rewiring the electricity, I may be without a fridge for a few days, and I want to spend as little time as possible in the trailer now. 

Adrian is already there working when I get back. He’s up on the roof, putting temporary patches over the holes so no more animals get in. 

“Good morning!” He called down to me. 

“Hi,” I answered curtly, not wanting to give him the impression I was flirting with him like he told his sister.

“Heard you met Brit.” He’s looking down on me with a hammer in his hand and a mischievous smile on his lips. 

“Oh yes. We met,” I glared at him. 

“So I’m a lying idiot?”

“I’m glad you know,” I turned my nose up, unlocking the garage door and walking into the house with my bag of groceries. 

As I finish putting them away, he comes sauntering into the kitchen.