Pushing back on me slightly she scans where we are. Her eyes widen in surprise. “How did we get here so fast?”
I shrug. “You were so busy checking out my abs you weren’t paying attention to your surroundings. Lucky for you, I knew where I was going.”
Glaring at me, her arms across her chest, I can’t help but watch the way her breasts are pushed up higher by her arm placement. “I was not checking out your abs, boob boy.”
“What the hell is that name for?” I can’t hide the amusement in my voice.
“It means that my face is up here, not on my chest where your eyes keep wandering.” Her hand is moving around her breasts and for the moment, she’s right, I am staring at her chest because she has really nice breasts. But, that’s not what I’ve been staring at this entire walk home.
Stepping into her personal space, I stop her flailing arms and immediately grab her attention. “While your tits are definitely worthy of a little gawking, it’s your mouth I’ve been infatuated with since the moment you wrapped it around that Corona bottle last night.”
She visibly swallows, and I take another step closer, her face tilting up to look into my eyes. “And you were checking out my abs.” Watching her eyes fill with panic, I step back, and her shoulders relax at the distance I’ve placed between us. Interesting, I make her uncomfortable. Maybe it has to do with that douche she was with last night.
Looking down the street, I’m wondering which building she could possibly live in, and hoping it’s at least across the street from mine. “Show me where you live so I know where to stalk you.”
She continues to stand on the sidewalk and stare at me.
“It was a joke. I’m not going to stalk you.” Well, maybe a little, I think.
A sad look fills her eyes as a weak smile crosses her lips. Either this girl has a mood disorder or she hit her head harder than I thought. I’m about to ask if she’s okay, when she shakes off whatever demon she’d been thinking about and crosses the street.
Stopping right in front of my new building, she turns and places her hands on her hips. I think I’m about to get a lecture when instead she shocks me with her next statement. “This is my stop.”
Well fuck. This scenario can play out just one of two ways, and I’m not sure I like either one of them.
I smile and look up at the place that is now my home. “We’re neighbors.”
She nods and I get the feeling this is something she already knew. “Yep. Right. Next. Door.” She flashes a brilliant smile that settles somewhere deep in my chest. “I’ve lived here five years, and I kind of figured you must be the new guy in apartment 2B.”
Apartment 2B. I find it odd that our apartments have a number and a letter to mark them. I’m tempted to ask, but she keeps talking, and I’m really into watching her lips move.
“If you don’t have plans later today, I’m cooking dinner for a few friends. You’re welcome to join us.”
Perfect. “What ti—”
“Damian!” Reed is standing on the landing outside my front door. “Dude we’re late, and we need to get your car.”
Fucking Reed. His red hair is a wild mess and his blue eyes are clearly laughing at me, with the knowledge he just ruined my game.
If I wanted Reed to die, the look I shot him would have done the trick. His lips turn up in a mocking smile, his eyes land on Addison, and that smile turns into mischief.
“Reed, this is my neighbor, Addison Peacock. Addison, this is my idiot friend, Harry Reed.”
“Hey, sorry dude. Don’t mean to piss on your rainbow, but we’ve gotta go. If you want to be at Emily’s before lunch, you best put a fire under your ass.” He turns his attention on Addison and starts to walk down the stairs. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I don’t live here, but I’ll be crashing on the couch a lot. So if you need anything, new neighbor, don’t be afraid to ask.”
Addison can’t hold in her laugh as I smack the asshole in the head. “Give me five and we can go.” I turn my attention back to her. “I’ll have to take a rain check on that dinner and don’t worry, I won’t invite the redhead.”
“Who’s Emily?” It’s an innocent enough question, and I can sense her disappointment that I’m not staying.
“She’s a friend.”
She doesn’t push for more, despite the curious look in her eye.
We walk up the stairs together and part ways at the top. I’m walking into my apartment when she stops me.
“Hey Damian.” I turn, drawn to the sound of her soft voice. “Welcome to the building.” A smile crosses my face as she disappears behind her front door.
“Let’s hear about the chick.” Reed is driving his beat up monster truck to College Hospital where I left my 4Runner.
“She’s my neighbor.” The gas stations and diners on the side of the road blur by as we make our way north.
“That’s all you’re giving me?” Reed looks at me incredulously.
”Not much to say. I barely know her.”
Shifting my focus on Reed, he’s working his mouth back and forth contemplating something.
“Spit it out.”
He shrugs.
“Don’t shrug. What’s on your mind?” I ask.
“She’s hot.”
I belt out a laugh. “Why are you pointing out the obvious?”
“Because you seem interested, and it’s been a long time since a woman’s caught your attention.”
I look out the window. “Like you said, she’s hot. It’s impossible not to notice. But she’s not really my type.”
He taps the steering wheel with his thumb. “Right, like I believe that one. Just watch yourself; you tend to get caught up in the moment when your dick is doing the thinking for you.”
I flip my head in his direction. “Shit, Reed. I’m not some hopeless romantic.”
“No, you’re not. But you’re also blind when it comes to a nice piece of ass. Samantha Martin? Ashley Woodsmoke? Carrie Sanders? Robi—”
“Stop, I get it. We’re neighbors, that’s all.”
We drive into the parking lot, and I pull my beanie over my head. I hadn’t planned on getting involved with anyone right now, but recent events have made me take a hard look at the life I’ve lived. I almost died six years ago in an accident that could have been prevented. And while the accident stole my soccer career, my heart, and almost everything else important to me, I still haven’t lived a life I can be proud of. Addison is no doubt a beautiful woman, and she has definitely caught my attention. But if going home with men who look like they stepped off the pages of a designer magazine is her idea of a good time, neighbors is all we’ll ever be. My life is complicated, I don’t do casual, and I don’t play games. I won’t be giving myself away piece by piece. When I find the right woman, it’s going to be all or nothing.
“You’d do him?” Paige is staring across my balcony to Damian’s, taking in the items that litter the small space. A few T-shirts are hanging out to dry, there is a soccer ball and a pair of cleats, and an unused surfboard lies in the corner. An abandoned coffee cup with a half-naked girl dancing on a pole decorating the white ceramic sits on the outside table. Typical male.
“Paige, is sex the only thing you think about?” Mia asks.
I’m on my balcony with my two best friends as I re-hash my Matt fiasco and hopefully get a glimpse of my sexy new neighbor. So far, he hasn’t made an appearance since he dropped me at my door last night.
“Mia, get with the program. Addy needs to rid her memory of all things Matt, banish him permanently. A sexy new neighbor may be the perfect answer.”
Mia pushes her glasses further up on her nose and scowls.
I’m enjoying this. Sitting back and watching my friends duke it out over what’s best for me. I love that they care so much, but really, I’m not a charity case.