2. Beau

Chapter 2

Beau

Looking up at my new house is bittersweet. I am officially a homeowner, but only because my grampa left it to me in his will.

"Are you sure about this, Beau?" my uncle Lou says, coming up next to me. I hope he is better at having a neutral face with the criminals he arrests than he does looking at my house, because I can read the trepidation from a mile away.

Okay, maybe the house hasn't been lived in for forty years and maybe it could use a lick of paint. Maybe I had to re-home a family of raccoons that had moved into the ensuite and maybe I had to hire cleaners and buy a new backdoor before I could move in.

But I am sure about this.

My dad grew up in this house. He passed away before I was born, so this is definitely just me wanting to feel connected to him in some small way. It's probably stupid. It's not like the house bears any signs of him living here.

There is a connection, though.

Plus, I'm twenty-five. If you can't move states and start your own business while you live off your inheritance in your twenties, when can you do it?

"I'm sorry, kid," Lou says, patting me on the arm when I don't say anything. "I'm not trying to shit on you living here or anything. I just want to make sure you know what you're getting into. This house reno is going to put a dent in your inheritance and the whole street is full of college housing."

Living on jock row is definitely going to be an experience, but this is Flora Vista University. They are well known for being LGBTQ+ friendly, especially the sports teams. At least if they have ragers I know the music is going to be fire.

"The money my grandpa gave me could pay for several renovations. Especially as you and mom won't let me give you any."

Lou rolls his eyes. He looks so much like my mom, his little sister. It makes me feel homesick for her for a moment. Portland isn't that far away, though. I can always visit for a long weekend.

"We don't need it. That money is for you and your future."

My mom and Lou talk about my future a lot, like it's some big thing that will happen to me when I'm least expecting it. Having a dad that didn't get to live his future makes me want to live in the now.

The now is make this house liveable, buy a car, make some new buddies, maybe date, and set up my hives.

Bee hives.

I hope they are all okay. Having six hives travelling nearly a thousand miles is fucking scary. Mom would have made sure they were all loaded properly, but anything could happen. People are shitty drivers. Maybe I should have flown them here?

"You're worrying about something," Lou interrupts my inner spiraling. "Is it the money thing? Because we really are all set."

I run a hand through my messy hair. "My bees should arrive soon."

"Your girl group?" Lou's lips twitch, trying to not laugh.

Who owns bee hives and doesn't name the queens? Probably most beekeepers. They have a life span of roughly three years. Losing my first queen was rough, so now the name is more for the hive than the actual queen bee.

"Yes, my girl group. They are going to be so happy here. I know we're at the end of a street, but all the woodland and meadows at the back of the property are perfect for them."

It's another reason I knew this house was for me. My bees are going to love the shit out of our new home.

"Do you think your neighbors will be okay with the hives?"

I shrug. "Hopefully, but I have no clue. They're college students, so I doubt they are that bothered."

"Hopefully, they'll be swimmers or track athletes. They are the quieter sports." Lou nods his head sagely.

"Now you've said that they'll probably be football or hockey." I snort.

"I still can't believe you didn't look up who your neighbors would be. That would be the first thing I did."

I'm a little surprised he didn't look them up on my behalf.

"It's be a fun little surprise. It's a really queer school, so it's going to be fine."

Lou scowls at me, the disbelief clear for all to see. I really need him to trust me. The last thing I need is him talking to my mom about his fears and worrying her. "Hey, I have a new lead on a car. There's a garage nearby that has a few second-hand cars for sale."

Lou nods sagely. "Anything is better than that Craig's List car from a few months ago."

That was an experience. I keep thinking of that guy having his family treat him like that. I hope he stayed away from those assholes. Who the fuck tries to sell their kid's stuff from under them? Who talks like that to someone they are meant to love? Especially to someone who looks so sweet and kind. The mom and sister deserve all the paper-cuts.

"Yeah, well, this place looks legit. It's got great reviews online."

"What's it called? I'll check it out?"

"Are you allowed to use police resources for that?"

He waves his hand. "Yeah, it's fine."

That's believable.

"It's called Jackson's Garage."

Lou's face immediately relaxes. "I know Garrett. Good guy, he won't screw you over."

I don't have the chance to ask him any more questions because at that moment I see the moving van and the truck delivering the hives arrive.

I grab my favorite purple baseball cap from my back pocket and put it on. Time to get into it, I guess.

Literally, I am never moving again. Thank fuck for uncle Lou organizing the movers and delivery guys. That shit was stressful. I am pretty positive they all thought I was his slacker kid who didn't want to help out.

Once the hives are settled and everyone has gone home, I notice sounds of life coming from next door. I guess now is as good a time as any to introduce myself to my neighbors.

I let myself out of the garden through the side gate and walk up to their porch. Their house looks identical to mine from the outside. Not every house on this street does, though, which I like. It's got personality.

The sounds coming from the house are too tame to be hockey, but too loud to be swimmers.

Does Flora Vista have a volleyball team?

I knock on the door and I've barely pulled my hand back when it opens and I'm faced with five guys looking at me with a mixture of wariness and confusion.

And a sixth guy who just looks horny.

"Hi, my name is Beau, and I just moved in next door. I thought I should introduce myself." I say with my most winning smile. The confusion at least clears from their faces, except the horny dude, but the wariness is still there.

"Hi, I'm Luke," a cute red head says holding out his hand to me. "We very rarely have parties, sir, so don't worry about that."

Sir?

Fucking hell. Has moving taken such a toll on me I now look like I should be addressed as a sir?

"Dude, how old do you think I look?"

"You look twenty-four, twenty-five. Ish." A different guy says. "I'm Gio."

"But you have to be older if you just bought the house next door," Horny guy says. "That's Hudson, Wyatt, and Nate. Are you into guys?"

Before I can answer him, there is a shout from upstairs. "Does anyone know where my banana scented lube is? I thought I left it in the bathroom."

I watch as the prettiest guy I have ever seen comes crashing down the stairs.

The guy with the cool car and shitty family.

Perriwinkle.

Nate…I think, snorts. "Welcome to the chaos, neighbor."

Perriwinkle's eyes flash with fear, and something else I don't quite catch.

I think I'm going to enjoy his particular brand of chaos.