Neighbor Dearest

The door opened. Damien came out holding one of those lighters for the barbecue grill. “I forgot to give you the—”

Damien’s expression darkened as he looked at me suspiciously then over at his brother. He swallowed. “I see you’ve met Chelsea.”

“I have. You’ve been holding out, D. You told me she was pretty. You didn’t say she was a knockout.”

“Pipe down, or I’ll have to knock you out.”

Whoa.

My cheeks burned.

Ty smirked, seeming unaffected by Damien’s threat as he took the lighter from his brother. He looked over at me. “I made you blush.”

Damien was quick to say, “Everything makes her blush.”

I cleared my throat and turned to him. “Are the dogs with Jenna?”

“Yes.”

“I figured. It’s quiet in there.” Damien’s gaze lingered on mine for a bit before Tyler interrupted our tense staring contest.

“We were just about to barbecue steak out back. You should join us for dinner.”

“I’m sure Chelsea has better things to do…with the move and all,” Damien bit out.

Seeming truly confused, his brother looked between us. “What move?”

“She’s moving to another apartment.”

“In this building?”

“No. Across town,” Damien answered.

Ty looked shocked. “Why?”

I finally spoke. “It’s sort of a long story. I needed a change of pace.”

“Damien didn’t mention it.”

Damien was still looking at me when he said, “I didn’t have a chance.”

“Well, then you definitely have to have dinner with us if you’re moving soon.”

I was curious.

I wanted to have dinner with them.

“You know…it’s been a long day of purging and packing. I didn’t have time to think about supper, so maybe I’ll take you up on that.”

Ty playfully flicked the lighter. “Cool. I make a mean barbecued corn on the cob.”

“He likes to eat it the long way,” Damien quipped.

Shaking my head at their comical sparring, I asked, “Can I bring something?”

“Just your pretty little self,” Ty answered before adding, “You’re blushing again.”

“Actually, I think I’ll bring some alcohol.” I was definitely going to need it.

After stopping back at my apartment for the bottle of wine and to change into something other than my housework garb, I met Damien and Ty outside.

I followed the plumes of smoke to the back of the building where they’d set up a chiminea and three plastic Adirondack chairs. It was the perfect night for a fire—cool and dry with the sun setting.

Add chivalry to Tyler’s list of attractive qualities. “Hey, Chelsea. Let me take that bottle and open it for you.” He was super charming. It was no wonder Damien had daggers in his eyes while he looked over at his brother opening my wine and pouring some into the glass I’d brought.

“Why don’t you sit over here so the smoke doesn’t blow in your face.” Ty directed me to the chair he’d been sitting in.

“Thanks.” I smiled then looked over at Damien in an attempt to make conversation. “You missed an opportunity to make a joke about me and smoke, Damien. You’re slacking.”

He still seemed pissed as he looked up from the grill. “What’s that?”

“Never mind.”

Ty took a sip of his beer then gestured with the bottle. “Oh, that’s right. He told me you almost burned the building down.”

I nodded. “Yes. It’s a running joke between us now.”

“You mean when Damien manages to find his sense of humor. Clearly, it’s up his ass this evening.” He lifted his index finger. “Oh. Speaking of smoke, I brought some Cubans tonight.”

“They’re joining us?”

Ty laughed. “God, you’re cute.”

Damien cracked a reluctant smile. “Cigars, Chelsea.”

“Oh.”

Ty took a baggie containing the long cigars out of the inner pocket of his jacket. “They’re for after dinner.” He turned to me. “Want to smoke one with me later?”

“I’ve never smoked a cigar.”

“These are the best—Montecristo. You’ve got to try one.”

“Okay, maybe.”

“By the way, Damien is cooking two different sets of steak tonight. One was marinated and seasoned by me and the other by him. You’ll have to let us know which one you like better. I won’t tell you which is which.”

The dirty thoughts in my head were aplenty. Taste testing their meat. Great.

Get your mind out of the gutter, Chelsea!

“Is this the pizza shop competition all over again or something?” I laughed.

“D told you about that?”

Damien finally came around from the grill to join us. “Yes, I told her how I beat the shit out of you that day, and I’m not above doing it again if I have to.”

“You’re very moody today, Damien,” Tyler said tauntingly before turning to me. “So, when do you move?”

“Two weeks.”

“That’s set in stone?”

“Yes. The other occupant in the new place is supposed to be out by then. I rented a U-Haul, and my parents are coming to help.”

Damien cracked open a beer and said, “Tell them to cancel.”

“Why?”

“I’m moving you.”

“That’s really not necessary.”

Ty interrupted, “We can both help. Your parents shouldn’t have to do it.”

Damien gave him a dirty look that implied he was annoyed at Tyler for offering his services.