“Honestly? I just need to vent,” I said. “I got a fifty dollar fine today from the HOA for putting my trash out too early.” I lifted the letter and read the section out loud. “Per our rules, trash receptacles must not be placed at the curb before dark, however yours were witnessed this past Sunday at the end of your drive at 8:03 p.m. Twilight does not conclude until after 8:20.” I gave him a pointed look. “Are you freaking kidding me?”
He shook his head and looked pissed on my behalf. “She’s out of control.”
“Who are we talking about?” Greg’s girlfriend asked, padding over to the grill. Troy had said her name was Cassidy.
She was young and beautiful, looking effortless in her black string bikini. She stood close to Greg and, as if their bodies were attuned to each other, he leaned back toward her. He was in his forties and she in her twenties, but they made a handsome couple despite the age difference. Maybe it was because they looked very much in love.
“Judy Maligner,” Greg said. “Erika got fined for putting out her garbage too early.”
Cassidy’s smile died and she shot a glare over her shoulder toward Judy’s house. “I kind of hate her.”
As he focused on me, his expression was filled with regret. “So, I kind of think this is my fault.”
I tilted my head. “What?”
He let out a tight breath. “Judy thinks my relationship with Cassidy is . . . inappropriate.”
His girlfriend snorted. “Yeah, because she’s a sore loser and doesn’t know how to mind her business.”
Sore loser? Had Judy wanted to date Greg?
That made sense. He was attractive, young, and a doctor.
Whatever face I was making must have asked for an explanation, because he set down his spatula and turned serious.
“Last year, Judy and I exchanged words, and not too many of them were nice. Things escalated, and since then, she looks for every opportunity to make our lives difficult. All these bullshit rules the HOA is implementing? They’re hers, designed to get at us.”
“She’s got the whole board wrapped around her finger,” Cassidy added. “They do whatever she says.” Her expression shifted and she looked smug. “I’m the devil girl who seduced Greg to the dark side. What they don’t know is I draw my power from their dirty looks.”
All my anger about the stupid fine Judy had slapped on me channeled toward this new information. Who the hell did this judgmental woman think she was? Cassidy was right. Who Greg dated was none of Judy Maligner’s business.
“Judy has always had a giant stick up her ass,” I said, “and a holier-than-thou attitude. I thought that was why she was doing this. I didn’t realize she was targeting y’all.”
He either took it in stride or put on a brave face for his girlfriend’s benefit. “It’s all right. Nothing we can’t handle.” He nodded toward the people in the pool. “What’s the verdict?”
Cassidy brightened. “Everyone wants a burger except Lilith.”
He nodded and began counting the patties on the grill but paused as he thought about something. “You want one, Erika?”
“Oh, that’s nice and it smells great, but no. Thank you.”
“You sure? We’ve got plenty of food.”
I smiled. “I’m sure. Are you celebrating something?”
His tone was warm as he exchanged a look with his girlfriend. “It’s Cassidy’s birthday.”
“Oh. Happy birthday,” I told her.
She grinned. “Thanks.” And then she leaned in, setting a hand on Greg’s shoulder. “You need anything? Another beer?”
He picked up his can to evaluate how much he had left. “That’d be great.”
As Cassidy left us, it was good timing for me to make my exit. I was out of place in slacks and a blouse, while everyone else at the party was in swimsuits. Plus, Greg and I were the only ones who didn’t appear to be in their twenties. But I didn’t move. I was rooted to the ground beside the grill, partially obscured from the partygoers’ view by a crepe myrtle bush.
My voice was low, but loud enough for Greg to hear over the music and sizzling grill. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
If that made him nervous, he didn’t show it. “Sure.”
“Dating someone a lot younger than you are. Is it hard?” I frowned. “I mean, do you worry about what other people think, or—”
“No,” he answered quickly. “In the beginning, yeah, it was tough. Especially for her because people assumed the worst. I was just the guy with the trophy girlfriend. And Judy’s been a real piece of work.” His gaze drifted toward the pool and all the people there, oblivious to our conversation. “The hardest part for us was our situation with Preston. Once we got a handle on that, we didn’t really care what other people thought.”
I nodded, not sure what to say. His priorities were absolutely in the right place.