Neighbor Dearest

“If I don’t see you again, be careful tomorrow night.”

“What do you mean?”

“On your date.”

I’d almost forgotten my coffee date with a guy named Brian.

“Oh. Right. Well, I still owe you dinner.”

“Okay.”

“Have a good night, Damien.”

“You, too.”

As I watched him open the door to his apartment, I felt flush. I was developing a massive crush on this man. It felt like there should have been a warning alarm going off at the same time, though. He’d told me he had no interest in a future with anyone who wanted to get married or have kids. His last relationship ended because of that issue. I still couldn’t figure out the root of why he felt that way. He was so good with the kids at the center today and had such a naturally protective nature about him.

Inside, I walked over to the wall and replaced my artwork with the canvas that Damien had painted of me and the dogs. With a massive smile on my face, I stood there staring at it for a while.

Change the story.

I hadn’t thought of Elec once tonight. And that felt damn good.

Restless for the remainder of that evening, I wanted to do something I’d been planning to for a while. Taking a box of baking mix out of the cupboard, I decided to make those blueberry muffins we’d once joked about. It seemed like the perfect gesture to offer my thanks for his help.

My apartment smelled so good when I took the hot muffins out of the oven. After they cooled, I dug up a basket from my room that had been used to hold magazines. I placed a cloth down in the middle and arranged the muffins before covering them.

Originally planning to bring them by in the morning, when I heard what I assumed was his front door close shortly before midnight, I decided to just walk the basket over while the muffins were still fresh.

I took a deep breath and knocked three times. When he opened the door, I noticed his hair was rumpled.

Damien certainly didn’t look happy to see me, and his expression was awkward. “What’s going on?”

My heart fell when I looked beyond his shoulders to find a woman with long auburn hair sitting on the couch and straightening her shirt.

The words wouldn’t come to me. Still holding onto the muffin basket, I just stood there, feeling like my eardrums were beating. I had no right to be insanely jealous, but God, I was.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to give you these,” I said, practically shoving the basket at him. “Enjoy them.”

Before he could even respond, I rushed back to my apartment and slammed the door.CHAPTER EIGHTFRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTSThe next morning, the sound of the dogs barking was oddly comforting. It meant they were disrupting whatever was going on between Damien and his little fling. I wondered if she’d had one of my muffins.

Bitch.

I hadn’t even thought to take one for myself before I dumped the basket in his hands.

Was I being ridiculous? After all, I had a date tonight myself! The reality was, I was forcing myself to go on that date.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Not expecting anyone this early, I wasn’t even dressed. My hair was knotted, and I was sure there were bags under my eyes.

Damien didn’t look much better when I opened the door.

Still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, he lifted his hand. “Hi.”

“Hey.”

“Can I come in?”

“Sure.”

Looking tense, he placed his hands slowly into his pockets as he looked at me. “What exactly happened last night?”

“What are you talking about?”

Nice try dodging the question.

He moved in closer to me. “What am I talking about? You leaving me with a giant fucking basket of muffins and running off before I could even say anything? Ring a bell?”

“I thought you’d be alone. It caught me off guard.”

His eyes softened. “You were upset…”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“You’re a terrible liar, Chelsea. Fucking horrible at it. You don’t hide your feelings very well.”

“You think you know just about everything there is to know about me, don’t you?”

“Not everything. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to read you. It’s one of the things I like about you, though. You’re one of the least fake people I’ve ever met.”

“Then, tell me. Why do you think I was upset?”

“Honestly? I think you’re confused about me.”

“Confused…”

“Yes. I think you’re wondering why I opted not to have dinner with you and instead ended up with a woman I’d literally just met, someone who isn’t as sweet as you and sure as fuck isn’t as pretty as you. So, you’re wondering what the hell I was thinking. Am I right?”

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

He continued, “I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but I do feel a connection with you, okay? If you’ve sensed something, you’re not imagining it.”