Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers

Author:Rachael Sommers [Sommers, Rachael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ylva-Publishing
Published: 2024-04-17T19:46:44+00:00

Chapter 16

Tyler’s gasp when they arrived for Riley’s game, at the soccer field was loud enough that Kim looked around in a panic—then she saw Cari.

She sat near the halfway line, her leash held by Riley’s sister, who stood talking with the woman with the buzz cut Kim had seen the day Riley had moved in.

“Can we go say hi?” Tyler said, like he wasn’t already tugging Kim toward them.

“Okay.”

When she spotted Tyler, Cari leaped to her feet and lurched toward him with enough force to nearly send Bea tumbling to the ground.

“Woah, Cari, what—ah.” Bea noticed Tyler as Cari pounced on him, tail wagging at light speed. “I’m guessing you’re Tyler. Riley said you were coming.” Bea’s blue eyes—the same shade as Riley’s—flickered in Kim’s direction. “It’s nice to properly meet you. I’m Bea, and this is my girlfriend, Ash.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you both. I’m sure Tyler thinks so, too, but something about being around Cari makes him forget his manners.” Kim cast an exasperated glance toward her son. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Ditto,” Bea said. “How’s the bakery? I confess I’ve stolen a few of the brownies you’ve gifted Riley, and they are to die for.”

“Thank you. And it’s good. Crazy, which is great for business, but also tiring.”

“It must be a lot of pressure to run your own business,” Ash said. “I could never do it myself.”

“It’s not so bad. It was my dream, so even though it’s hard sometimes, it’s all worth it. Plus, I’m not on my own—I have a wonderful business partner. What is it you both do?”

“I’m an elementary school teacher,” Ash said.

“And I’m a research scientist in cell biology,” Bea said. “I got all the brains in the family—but don’t tell Riley I said that.”

Tyler giggled, obviously paying more attention to their conversation than Kim had thought.

Bea pointed at him, expression grave. “That includes you, young man,” she said.

“I won’t!” Tyler shifted to sit cross-legged on the ground, laughing when Cari tried to squeeze herself onto his lap.

“Don’t forget why we’re here,” Kim said, ruffling his hair. “What would Riley say if you were too distracted by Cari to watch her play?”

“I can do both.” Tyler shifted to face the field where both teams were finishing their warm-ups.

“Here,” Bea said, holding Cari’s leash toward him. “You may as well take her. Something tells me that’s what she’d prefer anyway.”

“Thank you!” Tyler took the leash, his eyes falling to Bea’s wrist and the splash of bright color against her pale skin. “I like your tattoo! Did Riley do it?”

“She did. It was the first one she ever did at her tattoo studio.”

“That’s so cool! What is it?”

“It’s a transgender pride flag.”

“What does that mean?”

Bea glanced toward Kim.

“Like your friend Remi from school,” Kim told him.

“Oh yeah! He was born in the wrong body—he used to be a girl, but now he’s a boy like me.”

“Yes, exactly like that. Except the opposite—I was born a boy, but I always knew I was a girl.

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