But He's My Grumpy Neighbor (But He's a Carter Brother #1)

by Annah Conwell

“Sorry about him!” Smiley twin yells across the yard. “He gets nervous around beautiful women.”

😭😭🤗🤗

I gape at him behind his back. Why does he have to like tea? He’s gorgeous, dresses like the men on my fantasy life Pinterest boards, has antique furniture, and likes tea. If he wasn’t so ornery, I’d think he was my future husband.

“Running is like dying but without the relief of death.” Her words come out stilted in between short, panting breaths. “That’s a disturbing analogy.”

“Wow, you must really care about her.” I do, too much. “She’s my friend.” “I hear friendship makes a great foundation for marriage.”

“If you weren’t my brother’s girl, I’d tease you a lot more, but I’ll have mercy on you for his sake.”

“I care about what you think, Juliette. The list of people who get to have opinions on my life is admittedly short, but you’re on it.”

“Only Juliette gets to call me Sunshine.”

I’ve never been one for music, but her giggle might just be my new favorite song.

🥹🥹🥹

Because living without Juliette just isn’t an option, it’s no more possible than surviving without the sun or oxygen. As terrifying as it is to admit, I need her. I just have to hope she needs–or at least wants–me too.

“Please don’t ever hold back or change yourself around me. You’re incredible, Jules. You’re like a sunflower, always growing toward the light. You make everyone around you want to be better, including me–especially me. I’m sorry your parents didn’t love you the way they should have. You deserve better. If someone isn’t giving you what you deserve–even me–you don’t have to settle for less, okay?”

“I don’t have anyone.” I feel like someone else is speaking. I’ve never admitted my loneliness out loud, even to Caroline. My tendency is to make everyone think I’m doing great even when I’m not. “You have me.”

You’re hard to forget.

“You’re cute when you’re nervous,”

But I’ve come to accept the fact that while I can’t be who you deserve, neither can any other man. So, I’m asking for permission to fail you.

“Sunshine?” she murmurs into my chest. “Yeah, Jules?” “Thank you.” “Anything for you, Jules.”

“Don’t hide from me, Jules,” he murmurs, leaning down to brush his lips against mine. “You’re much too pretty when you blush.”

“I love seeing you happy.”

“Jules, you said you’d stay here all night for me, well I’m telling you I’d leave for you. Because I love you.”