Chapter 1

Lexie’s POV

The taxi pulled up in front of the modern two-story duplex. “We are here, Miss.” The taxi driver tells me as he pops the trunk and gets out to retrieve my luggage from it. Opening the door, I take in the scent of salt water in the air and as I step out of the taxi the sun beams down on me and I feel rejuvenated.

After years of college and living at home with my mother, to save every penny I could. To bust out of the north and head south, where I always dreamed of living. It looks like it has finally paid off. The taxi driver laid my luggage on the sidewalk and got in his taxi and took off to his next fare, leaving me standing alone looking at my new home.

The aqua blue door opens and my best friend Emily runs out screaming, “Lexie you are finally here!” and I run to her as we embrace each other in a hug. It had been a year since I had last seen her and the southern life has treated her well. Her skin was no longer a milky color but now replaced with a bronzed natural glow from the sun. She also must have added some lighter highlights in her hair making herself look more like a natural blonde. As we pulled away from the embrace, I complimented her on how amazing she looks and she began to do a few model poses for me.

Looking back at the duplex I noticed Tyler, Emily’s older brother, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest staring at us. It had been years since I have seen Tyler and adulthood has done him wonders. Even though he was just as good looking when he was in school, this Tyler looked more like a man verses the teenage heart throb.

Emily turned to look at what I was staring at and yelled for Tyler to get my luggage and she grabbed my hand and pulled me past him and into the duplex. The door led to a small hallway that ran the length of the duplex and a door was open to the right and to the left and Emily pointed to the left and told me that was Tyler’s side and then pulled me to the right through the door and into a living room that was open to the kitchen and dining room area. Emily had already had the space completely furnished and I was thankful that I didn’t have to spend any money to help furnish it.

She had decorated it in blues and yellows which gave it the feeling of a beach house. She began to give me a tour of the house and I was in love with every room she showed me. Finally, she took me upstairs and showed me her bedroom first which was the master, and it had a full bathroom and a walk-in closet. Last she took into my bedroom where Tyler was laying my luggage by the dresser on the floor. “Thank you.” I said to Tyler as Emily continued the tour around my room into the smaller bathroom that was connected to it. I was excited to have my own bath whatever size it was.

Emily then asked Tyler to start the steaks on the grill that she had gotten especially for today since I was coming. She also was excited to introduce me tonight to her boyfriend that she has been dating for the past four months and I was excited to meet the individual that stole my best friend’s heart. Emily left me to unpack as she went to prep the meal for this evening and I quickly opened my suitcases and began to unpack the only belongings that I own. It didn’t take me long to put all my clothes away and I decided since I had time, I would grab a quick shower.

Thankfully Emily had stocked my bathroom with all my favorites before I arrived. I assumed she did this to help me get on my feet since I still didn’t have a job. I had several interviews lined up for next week and since it was Saturday the interviews would start in two days. I had high hopes for a few of the companies since the pay had a great starting out salary along with a signing bonus which will help me give Tyler my share of the rent.

Tyler was doing very well for himself and he had bought this duplex a few years ago in hopes of making money off the other side. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would be renting to his sister and her best friend. Tyler had a soft spot for Emily and he would do anything for his baby sister. I always envied their relationship since I was an only child. Plus, we were also from opposite sides of the tracks.

My mother did her best raising me, giving me all the necessities to survive but we never had the extra money to do much of anything. Thankfully our poverty helped getting me grants to attend school and make something of myself, which I fully plan on doing. There was no way I was going back home after making the journey here. I would work two jobs to pay my share of the rent if I had to.

After my shower I threw on a sundress that I had gotten at the local thrift store back home that still had the tags on it and a pair of sandals and walked downstairs to join Emily in the kitchen preparing dinner. I asked her if she needed any help but she told me no and to go outside on the deck and enjoy my first day here.

Looking out the sliding glass doors I could see Tyler on the back deck at the grill and he had an apron wrapped around him and when he turned to look at me, I read what was written on it and began to giggle. There was no way Tyler had bought an apron that said, “Once you put my meat in your mouth, you’re gonna want to swallow.” Yeah, that would definitely have been an Emily purchase there.

After composing myself I opened the door to join him on the back deck and to my surprise you were able to see the ocean from here. Standing at the end of the deck against the railing I leaned my head up at the sun and took in the amazing scent that the ocean breeze brought in. The air was fresh and crisp and I felt like I was being refreshed just by taking the air into my lungs.

Turning I looked at Tyler who was watching me as he stood in front of the grill. Tyler had always been the quiet type when it came to me. I could probably count on my fingers how many times he had actually said more than one word to me. He put the spatula down and walked over to a cooler opening it and then held a beer up towards me. I walked over and grabbed the beer and said, “Thanks Tyler.” As I took it and took a seat at one of the chairs that sat around a rectangle glass table.

Tyler went back to the grill and started to move the steaks to the upper rack and then shut the lid and turned off the grill and joined me at the table sitting at the head of it and to my right. He took a drink of his beer and then sat it down on the table.

“Your interview at my company is on Monday?” Tyler asks me and I was shocked he was actual talking and in full sentences to me.

“Yes, first thing in the morning.” I respond to him.

“You can ride with me if you want to.” He now says and that is now two complete sentences and I am wondering if moving here has done something to him.

“That would be great. Thank you, Tyler.” I tell him and add, “I also appreciate you renting to me.”

Tyler then nods like the Tyler I use to know and takes a drink of his beer and then the back door opens and Emily is carrying food out along with who I presume is her boyfriend. Emily formally introduces me to her boyfriend, Eric, as Tyler moves to the grill to retrieve the steaks.

Dinner tonight was amazing as we ate, drank and reminisced about the past. Emily’s boyfriend seemed really nice, and she looked very happy with him. I just hope he gives me a year to get established here before he puts a ring on it and I have to pay rent on my own.

Tyler on the other hand remained quiet throughout the night and I caught him multiple time staring at me and I hoped that he wasn’t upset that I had moved in with his sister. It didn’t dawn on me till now that he may see me as another burden but then why would he have told Emily about the job at his company if he wasn’t okay with me moving in.

Emily and Eric decided to go for a dip in the hot tub that was on the lower deck, and she asked me to join but I felt like I would be a third wheel until Tyler got up and said he would join them too. Running up the stairs to my room, I pulled out the new two-piece swimsuit that I had gotten especially for the move. I pulled my hair up in a high ponytail and looked at myself in the mirror to make sure I looked alright before I headed down to join them.

Everyone had already made it in the hot tub, and I was the last one to join them. Tyler’s eyes were glued on me as I unwrapped the towel from around my body. It was only a four-seater hot tub so that left me seated beside Tyler and as I got into the water my leg brushed against Tyler’s and goosebumps appeared on my skin from his touch. Emily handed me another beer and I relaxed back into the jet and closed my eyes as Tyler moved his leg against mine and I wondered if he was doing this on purpose of if the jets had just carried it there.

Thirty minutes later the two love birds were making out and Emily excused herself and Eric and went to go in the house and I am sure to her bedroom. The other side of the hot tub was now available to move to but neither Tyler nor I moved to it as we sat alone in the hot tub together staring at the night stars in silence.