Double Trouble (Troublemaker Book 2)

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Double Trouble

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Like the book?

  Also by Cassie Mae

  Acknowledgments

  About Cassie Mae

  If you are reading this book and did not purchase it or win it from an author sponsored giveaway, this book has been pirated. Please delete it from your device, and support the author by purchasing a legal copy from one of its many distributors.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the author except where permitted by law.

  DOUBLE TROUBLE

  Published by Cassie Mae

  Cassiemaeauthor.com

  Cover Design: CoverMeDarlings

  Editing: CookieLynn Publishing Services

  Formatting: CookieLynn Publishing Services

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Copyright © 2021 Cassie Mae

  All rights reserved.

  Dedicated to all the girls.

  Be you a tomboy, a princess, a nerd, a cheerleader… you are AMAZING.

  “It’s bigger than I thought it’d be.”

  My little sister, Demi, has always said exactly what’s on her mind, and this time is no different. She plucks the box from our brother’s hand, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes at the sparkly diamond that rests inside.

  Pete chuckles, jamming his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “Gee, thanks, Dem.”

  “It’s not like you make a lot of money,” she argues. Pete rolls his eyes toward me, but I’m still battling the sick taste of shock from the back of my throat.

  Married. He wants to get married.

  My twenty-three-year-old brother, my roommate, wants to marry his girlfriend of a year. I swallow hard, pushing against the acid rising through my chest, and force a smile at him. His brows pull together at whatever the hell expression I’m donning, then he turns his attention back to Demi.

  “Think Candace will like it?”

  “Hmm.” Demi puts a freshly painted nail to her chin and squints at the diamond. It’s not ostentatious from that quick glance I got of it. Pete may have been promoted recently, but he makes thirty grand a year, if that. Candace comes from money. And when I say that, I’m talking Scrooge McDuck and his mounds of gold would be jealous of her family. She’s not a snob or anything. I really like her, and she’s good for my brother, but… well, a Troublemakers’ salary won’t be enough to build a life on, and she could be in for a rude awakening if she says yes.

  Demi slips the ring out of the box and slides it onto her finger. It’s way too big for her, but that doesn’t stop her from putting her hand out and pretending she’s just been proposed to.

  “Well?” Pete prods, an amused grin tilting his lips. My heart thumps hard enough to push against my eardrums.

  Where are they gonna live? Will they have a long engagement? Will I have time to find another roommate? Wait… I can’t just find a roommate. I have Demi here. My eleven-year-old sister can’t just live with some stranger.

  Panic boils in my stomach, and I put my feet up on the edge of the couch, wrapping my arms around my knees to contain it all before I pop like a bottle of champagne. I’m Miss Chill, and if I freak out, it’ll give everyone else permission to do so as well, and I don’t want my opinion to taint Demi’s.

  Demi takes the ring off and sticks her arm straight out, handing it off to Pete. “You’re lucky Candace loves you.”

  Pete’s bark of a laugh escapes him as he sticks the ring in its box. He swings the box in front of my face. “Second opinion, please.”

  I force my eyes to look through the fog of panic and examine the engagement ring. I’m not much for jewelry, but I know a good ring when I see one. My brother did well, picking a sweet princess cut style that’s simple and beautiful. In a way, it’s been like their relationship.

  “It’s nice,” I say, then I make the mistake of meeting his damn hopeful eyes. He’s always been my kid brother, but we’ve been partners for forever, and even though I have half a million questions, I won’t squash his excitement. “She’s going to love it.”

  “See, Dem,” he says, his smile as bright as the sun, and I’m equally happy and frustrated that I play the part of chill sister. “That’s how you give a compliment.”

  “I’d rather be honest.” She takes a bounding leap off the couch, her feet thudding against the floor, and I internally wince. It’s been a while since we’ve lived in a top level apartment, so I forget sometimes that Dem doesn’t have to be as quiet in our two-level ground apartment. “So, when can I talk to Candace?”

  “After I pop the question.” Pete boops her nose. “You’ll blab.”

  “But she’s taking me to the mall this weekend.” Demi crosses her arms and pouts. My focus turns to the couch cushion where a clump of pink frosting sticks to the fabric. I’d like to blame Demi for that, but I know it was me. I spoiled myself last night after a good run on the half-pipe and got a pink frosted sugar cookie from Cookie Moons on my way home. I reach forward and pick it off, my mind swirling around which stress box to open and deal with right now.

  It was something a teacher taught me forever ago, back when I was in high school and juggling schoolwork, extra-curriculars, and working the job to pay the bills for Dad who had horrendous budgeting skills and an addiction to boot. Ms. Miller. She pulled me to the side after I completely shut down during class. I mean, I was a statue of nothingness, my mind too chaotic that I just turned it off. She told me to put all my stresses in separate boxes, then pull them out one at a time to shuffle through them. When I was done, I put that box away and then take another one out the next time.

  That piece of advice is probably the best I’ve gotten. I pick at that frosting and move the box of skateboarding sponsorship out of the way, push the huge box labeled simply “Dad” and then take the box labeled finances and pop the lid.

  Pete and I have lived together since I was eighteen, and we’ve shared in the financial responsibilities. Dad hasn’t asked for money once since Pete gave him the third degree and took Demi off his hands, but now I have a baby sister to provide for and one less income to rely on.

  I could go back to my job at the theater. My days are filled with my job on Candace’s farm, and I’m lucky enough that I have benefits and it pays well, but when we moved to a three-bedroom apartment, our rent went up, and with Demi growing, clothing, food, and school activities… all of that costs money, and Pete and I shared what we had.

  There go my nights at the skate park, and I need that. I came so close to a sponsorship last year, and this year I think I have it in the bag, but if I don’t get in practice time, I can kiss th
at chance goodbye.

  The image of a life without boarding cracks my heart in two.

  The pressure to do it all by myself collapses on me, and I slam the lid down on the box and jump to my feet. “I’m headed to Troublemakers.”

  Pete jerks from my sudden outburst. “Uh… you okay?”

  “Yep.” Fake smile. “Just wanna get some practice time in before bed. Congrats on this, Pete. Seriously, she will love it.”

  That part is honest, and I’m sure there’s some sincerity behind my hidden panic that’s coming up. Candace is awesome, and I already think of her as a sister. I just didn’t expect her to become official family this quickly.

  “Bring me a cookie this time!” Demi calls at my back. Guess I wasn’t great at hiding my treat. I throw a thumbs up over my shoulder, grab my board, and head out. It’s time for some cathartic boarding, so when next time Pete talks about his engagement, I won’t have to force so many grins.

  Today is the day.

  I’m gonna tell Brink I’m totally into her, and we should be a thing, but I’m gonna say it way better than that.

  I’ll tell her I’m one hundred percent in love.

  About fifty times a day, I talk myself in and out of asking her out. She’ll do a sick trick, and I’ll convince myself that I got this, then she stops in for a slug of water, does this thing with her eyebrow that shuts my voice down, and before I know it, she’s back out on the floor and I didn’t say a damn word.

  But not today. I came prepared.

  Troublemakers indoor amusement park is the place to be during the winter, but not so much at summertime. So with the place practically empty, there’s little to distract me from my goal. I’ve got a heart full of love and a stuffed Yoda to declare it for me. The little recording inside it even does the asking out for me. Just give that guy’s ear a squeeze, and my voice—in a spot-on impression of Yoda, if I do say so myself—says, “Go out with me, you will?”

  Damn, she’s gonna love it.

  I push up onto the Wheel Zone’s counter, twisting my torso enough to grab the mic to make the half-hour to closing announcement. Brink’s usually here by now, but I’m not sweating it. She never misses the opportunity to board, even if it’s only for a half hour.

  “Attention skaters and boarders. Troublemakers will be closing in thirty minutes. So get your last tricks in before we shut down.”

  The two people on the rink give each other a look before deciding to do one more lap, then check out of here. The sun is still out, casting sunset rays through the windows and creating gigantic shadows as the skaters take their last lap around. My knee bounces as I cut my gaze to the Wheel Zone entrance. Brink’s usually in here by now, bursting through the doors with her scratched up board, long dark hair waving around near her hips, an old, dented helmet tucked under her arm.

  Gah, I remember it like yesterday—the moment I realized I was completely hooked. She busted through those doors in the exact same way she always did. There was nothing new… other than how my stomach suddenly knotted, my heart did an irregular beat, and sweat broke out along my hairline.

  Brink was… gorgeous. Her smile, her attitude, her skills as a boarder, her dedication to her family… all of that. Gorgeous. My dumbass took three years to see it.

  Course, I have a habit of falling hard and fast for people. It’s bitten me in the butt on more than one occasion. Most recently, my attention was directed toward my now-boss Candace, who showed little interest in reciprocating those feelings. Not that she had a chance. I fall fast, but I also keep it to myself… another cause-and-effect situation I’d rather not think about.

  I glance toward the doors again that stay annoyingly closed. The clock ticks down to twenty till close, and my knee starts bouncing overtime.

  “Uh… Tanner?”

  I blink and focus in on my trainees, Kinsley and Kolton. They’re on their first week, so they’ve been in the other zones, shadowing the more seasoned employees. Honestly, I’ve been so focused on my plan to ask Brink out I completely forgot they were here.

  “What’s up?” I ask, hopping off the counter.

  “Are we good to go?” Kinsley asks. “We wiped down the rink and sanitized the rentals.”

  “Yup. I’ll clean the half-pipe arena.”

  “Sweet. We can hit Josh’s party.” Kolton pumps his fist, and Kinsley rolls her eyes at him. She grabs the sleeve of his white Troublemakers tee—the color we give all our trainees—and tugs him to the breakroom to punch out.

  I keep my eyes on them only because they’re going through the same door Brink would walk in… if she’s ever gonna get here.

  The double doors swing slowly shut, the click echoing around the now-empty Wheel Zone. A frown presses on the corners of my mouth, and I check the time again.

  Five minutes till close. Where the hell…? And I was so ready to ask her out, too.

  I take the Yoda that’s been sitting on the counter all night and put him in the cupboard next to my jacket and wallet and lock it up. Guess I’ll have to do it another day.

  I grab the push broom with a huff and set my board down. It clatters against the floor, then the wheels roll smoothly as I jump on, taking it for a spin while I sweep.

  The sound of Hewy Lewis and the News plays in the background, and I jam out to The Power of Love and kick dirt and dust up with the push broom. Disappointment settles in my gut as the minutes tick toward nine-thirty. I hope she’s all right; she has been working long hours at that farm she manages during the day. Or maybe she’s hanging with Demi tonight, or even Pete. Candace is working tonight, so it makes sense that Pete wouldn’t be on a date and spending time with his sisters instead.

  Yeah, there’s gotta be a simple explanation for her not showing tonight.

  After sweeping and polishing and shutting off lights, the clock officially states 9:47, and I’m outta here, I guess. I grab my wallet and jacket, leaving Yoda in there for when Brink decides to come in for a boarding session.

  The Wheel Zone is an easy shut down, so when I leave, the Zombie theater, the arcade, and bowling are all still closing. I nod toward Candace as a goodbye, and she smiles and calls out, “See you tomorrow, Tanner!”

  Management suits her. Her red-brown hair is in a high, no-nonsense ponytail. She doesn’t wear an official Troublemakers shirt with khakis anymore, but a pair of black slacks and a blouse, a gold nametag pinned into the fabric. She’s doing the rounds, checking off each zone as they close up. With my exit, she makes her way to the Wheel Zone, her thoroughness making me shake my head and crack a grin. She’s the only manager who double checks my closing work. The others figure I’ve been here so long I know what I’m doing.

  I push open the main doors to the parking lot with my butt, then pull the neck of my black Troublemakers shirt until the thing comes clean off. The fresh summer air blows across my sweaty white tank.

  “Shoot.”

  Just when I didn’t think I’d hear that voice tonight, there it is, lighting up my entire freaking universe.

  An auto-smile creeps onto my lips, and I crank my neck over my shoulder to see Maddie, leaning up against the brick building, her board resting against her leg, her signature Star Wars shirt hanging loose on her toned upper body.

  “Wondered when I’d see your face.” There’s a tease in my voice, but I’m pretty genuine about it. She’s here. Maybe I can run back in for Yoda real quick. Ask her out. Go out right now, even. Hold her hand during a movie or board around the park until it closes. Kiss her goodnight…

  She lets out a hefty sigh and pushes off the building. She drops the board to the ground and glides around me like a vulture circling its prey.

  “Pete had a ‘family meeting’ and now I’ve lost my boarding time.”

  I raise a brow, my high spirits teetering back down as I catch the redness of her eyes, the streaks of mascara across her temples like she’s been wiping tears away for the last few minutes.

  I swallow hard. Yeah… I don’t have the guts t
o ask what sort of family meeting topic has her in tears. So, I go with a sarcasm instead.

  “I could sneak you in back. Candace will never know.”

  That gets a laugh out of her, and I feel like a freaking superhero. She puts her foot down, kicking the board into her hand flawlessly. She was born on a board.

  “As appealing as that sounds, not sure we could get away with it.”

  A half smile tilts my lips, and my fingers tighten on my black tee I’ve got bundled in my fist. She may think that, but we could completely get away with it. Everyone leaves by ten-thirty at the latest, including Candace. They lock it all up, leave the lot, and it’s a ghost zone until we open at ten the next morning.

  But there’s the garbage door out back that me and one other person have the key to. There’s no camera, and it leads right up to the half-pipes and boarding park. Brink could practice for an hour easily, and I’ll sneak her out the way we came in and then lock up. Cake.

  Hmm… maybe I could convince her to do it. I could get her Yoda. Ask her out. Hold her hand. Board with her. Kiss her goodnight.

  “Oh… I could get away with it,” I blurt. But she laughs like I’m joking and shakes her head.

  “I’ll just come in during normal hours tomorrow.” She puts her board up on her shoulder. “See you later, Tanner.”

  “Yeah,” I mumble. She probably doesn’t even hear me. I watch her head to her car, her shoulders slumped, her gait slower. It’s not the best night for romantic gestures, I take it.

  But next time, for sure. Next time, when she’s in a better mood, I’m gonna do it.

  One of the best days of my life was the day Candace offered me a job at her parents’ ranch. I love all animals, but horses are up there at the top, and at the top of my horse list, Mona Lisa is number one.

  I watch the chestnut mare trot around the round pen with Luke, letting the late afternoon air wash over my face. If I need some cheering up, boarding is my go-to, but watching this sweet horse is a close second.

  Luke, the head ranch hand, nudges me in the arm resting on the wooden fence, and I glance in his direction. He makes sure I’ve given my full attention to his hands as he signs slowly, You seem sad today.