“Get out.”
Ignoring me, Beckett makes himself at home in the front seat of my Jeep, a downside to not having doors attached for the summer, but I don’t have the time, or patience, for his antics right now. Today’s the last day to pick up my cap and gown for graduation and I’m already running late from swinging by my apartment after work to grab the rest of the payment.
This week’s gone by agonizingly slow with only school, work, home, repeat. I haven’t seen the neighbors much except for the occasional greeting in passing. It’s been a little awkward but necessary—for everyone—so, I’m surprised to see Beckett now. His blond hair is wet like he just got out of a shower and he’s wearing a dark blue shirt that says You Lost Me At “I Don’t Ride” with long cargo shorts. A tattoo I hadn’t noticed peeks out from under a sleeve. It looks like a line around his bicep but random spacing keeps it from being totally solid.
“Why are you ignoring us, neighbor girl? I thought you liked us.” He actually has the nerve to look put out, too. The couple times I was able to make it down to the pool, he would wave morosely from the balcony but otherwise remain silent. I hated it. And I hated that I hated it. I should welcome his silence, considering who his alliance is with, but Beckett’s like an innocent puppy wagging his tail in excitement over every little thing. You can’t help but get caught up in his good mood. Okay, he’s not that innocent, but still, his enthusiasm is infectious. Mostly. Just not today.
I sigh. “You guys are okay. I mean from what I know about you guys so far you seem nice enough. I had fun on Sunday and dinner was great.” His chest puffs up at the compliment. “But I’m really busy. Like right now, I need to leave, damn it,” I growl.
“Have you talked to Coty?” He continues when I only drop my eyes, saying, “He’s been off all week.”
“Like from work?”
“No, not from work, smartass. Just his attitude. He’s been…moody.” He raises his eyebrows like that surprises even him.
I can’t help but laugh. “Oh, yeah? Are your cycles not synced up anymore?” I can tell the period joke went over his head by the blank look on his face. Pressing my head into the headrest, I peer over at him. “I don’t know what you want from me. I have no idea what his problem is. We haven’t spoken since after the ride and that conversation didn’t end well. So, whatever is going on with your friend, it has nothing to do with me.” And it’s true. Last weekend Coty was accommodating and generous. He knew what I wanted, what I needed, without me even having to say a single word. He was flirtatious and downright sweet. But then he turned, flipped an accusatory switch, and grew outright angry. Around the same time I took that call from Drew. “Now, will you please get out, so I have something to wear to my graduation?”
Instead of listening, he buckles his seat belt, the click emphasizing his intention.
I throw my hands up from the steering wheel. “No.”
“Yes. I’m bored and we haven’t spent any time together. Let’s go.”
Groaning, I start my Jeep and throw it in reverse, knowing I’m already cutting it close.
“Why would we spend any time together? We’re neighbors, Beckett. We’re supposed to pretend we don’t notice when the other one waves and forget to water each other’s plants if one goes out of town. That’s it. Not this friendly crap you’re pushing.”
He pins me with an incredulous look. “The fuck kind of neighbors have you had?”
“The best kind?”
“Not yet, you haven’t.” He laughs. “You’ll see. We’re awesome.”
Beckett keeps the conversation flowing, basically unprovoked, as we make the short drive but quiets once we’re inside the uniform shop. Almost eerily so. Even as I spin slow circles in front of the mirror to admire the unflattering gown and ill-fitting cap, he keeps his opinions to himself, lost in his own head. An unreadable expression crosses his face when the cashier mentions the lack of parent involvement regarding my bill. Assuming his interest is solely about the money, I pay as quickly as possible then feel Beckett’s disconcerting stare bore into the side of my face when I hand over the cash. Some sort of heat rash immediately creeps up my neck and I scratch the skin raw until I feel his hand swat mine away. Still, he says nothing.
Beckett’s gloomy mood doesn’t hinder my elation though. I’m beaming from ear to ear by the time we’re back on the road. I’m actually doing it. I’m graduating. And I was able to pay for all of my graduation outfit myself—thanks for nothing, Mom—even the special medal showing I made honors. It’s cheesy and I looked ridiculous in the ensemble but I love it. Another step in my road to independence, albeit in an ugly gown, but a step nonetheless.
Finally breaking the tense silence, Beckett offers to buy me dinner but I manage to talk him into splitting the bill at a fast food joint on the way home instead.
With a fry that’s more ketchup than potato, Beckett points at the medal currently dangling from my rearview mirror, asking, “Why didn’t your parents help with any of this stuff?”
I take a giant bite of my burger before the question is fully out of his mouth, shrugging noncommittally in answer.
He nods pensively but drops the subject.
We chat easily the rest of our meal then laugh at each other’s horrible singing the whole way home. He’s actually incredibly smart and kind when you get to know him. He just lets his horny side take the lead normally, hiding what’s underneath. It makes me wonder what else is hidden in his secret depths. Someday some brave woman will find out, and I can only hope she’s strong enough to take on whatever Beckett works so hard at burying.
I’m parking just as Coty gets out of his Camaro. Instead of going upstairs, he heads straight for my car though.
Beckett turns to me and says, “uh oh,” before climbing out. “See ya later.”
He goes to fist bump Coty but Coty glares at him, ignoring his extended hand. In the next minute, he’s draping both arms casually on the roll bar of my Jeep while Beckett glances back, remaining shamelessly nosey.
I quirk an eyebrow, fully prepared to wait him out.
He finally breaks with a thick, “Neighbor girl.” It’s the most he’s said since I slammed the door in his face and it’s not enough. Not by a long shot.
“That’s what you lead with?”
“What?” He genuinely looks confused. Men are such idiots.
With an eye roll, I busy myself grabbing my garment bag but stop when he leans in further.
His tone a little too calm, he asks, “What were you two doing?”
“Go ask him.”
“I’m asking you.”
“So it seems.”
“How have you been?”
“Fine.” Not fine.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“You guys are so clueless. First him,” I gesture wildly at the hulking figure posted on the stairs, “and now you. I haven’t been avoiding you, I’ve been busy. But you were an ass and you know it. I don’t have any time for drama especially not at the one place I feel comfortable.” I stop myself when my throat gets thick with emotion I refuse to show.
“You’re right.” Coty drops his head, then lifts it again meeting my eyes. “I was irritated and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.”
I buy some time glancing around at the various windows all draped in different coverings.
“You should be. You were completely out of line.” I pull a long breath. “But, going forward I think we should keep things cordial. We’re neighbors and I don’t want things to get messy.”
He tilts his head slightly, practically whispering, “What if I want messy?”
“Haven’t you ever heard the expression ‘don’t shit where you eat’?”
I expect him to laugh, instead he leans in even closer and says in a husky voice, “Yes, but I’ve got a big appetite.”
My face heats as I run my gaze down his body remembering what it felt like to be wrapped snugly around it. His dark hair is slightly wavy and looks like he just ran his hands through it. He’s wearing a plain white tee giving him a casual look. It’s slightly baggy but still clings to his lean muscles in all the right places. His slim waist tapers down to gray athletic pants with a hint of his boxers peeking out of the top. How he makes a simple outfit look so sexy, I don’t know.
Wetting my top lip, I say, “I bet you do, but some things aren’t on the menu.”
I climb out with my arms full, walking toward the stairs, noticing Beckett’s no longer lingering. Coty matches my every step, not ready to let me off the hook quite so easily.
“Why are you always running, Angela?”
I scoff. “I live next door. I couldn’t run if I wanted to.”
At the first stair Coty grips my elbow, begging me to look at him. His big brown eyes hold mine for a beat. Softer, he asks, “What were you doing with Beckett?”
“The jerk jumped in my car when I was leaving. We grabbed a bite to eat.”
“Like a date?”
The thought of Beckett on a date makes me smile. “If you consider drive-thru a date.” I shrug his hand off.
“Go out with me. Let me apologize for Sunday.”
“You just did. And I…can’t.”
“Why?”
My phone pings with a text just as Drew pulls in, honking. With Beckett’s earlier distraction, I forgot Drew was taking me to the movies tonight. Jamie returned to Portland and he wanted to catch up. He’s even letting me pick the movie.
I toss him a wave, breaking the intense moment with Coty.
“I told you, let’s just keep it cordial, okay? It’s better.”
Walking to greet Drew, I hear Coty murmur something else but ignore it and rush over to the only person I’ve ever truly trusted. He pulls me into a big bear hug, kissing my cheek before setting me down.
I’m not surprised when I find the stairwell empty.
* * *
“Is it always like this?” Drew asks as he searches for a parking space.
One look at the boys’ balcony full of people and I grimace.
“They’ve had a couple parties, but this…I’ve never seen it like this.” The parties were getting better, or so I thought.
“Do you want to stay with me tonight?”
I shake my head, keeping an eye on the party-goers spilling out onto the sidewalk. “I’ll be fine.”
Just then someone lets out a high-pitched squeal making Drew whip his head over to me wide-eyed.
“Are you sure?”
“Maybe? Come on, let’s go upstairs so you can see the three decorations I put up since the last time you were here.”
At the top of the stairs, the boys’ door flies open with Beckett all but stumbling out with a girl glued to his front. He’s so tall that it’s all kinds of awkward.
“Hey, neighbor girl. Want to come in for a drink?” He’s late to notice Drew standing close behind me. He must be feeling his poorly mixed drinks.
“Ah, no thanks. I’ve got an early morning tomorrow like every other weekend I’ve lived here,” I say with more snark than necessary but I want to make sure it penetrates his buzz field.
Drew looks between us with confusion. I may have left the knuckleheads next door out of tonight’s conversation, too. I didn’t want him to worry. I have to take care of myself without a backup plan. He’s been mine for too long.
“Indestructible” by Welshly Arms blasts through the open door while the girl hanging on Beckett whines about wanting to dance.
“We’ll leave you to it then.”
I grab Drew’s hand so we can squeeze by the sloppy couple but Beckett steps forward severing our connection. Swinging my head back, I see Coty on the couch with a girl dancing in front of him. It’s not exactly a lap dance but she’s working every angle to get him to notice her. Unfortunately, for her, it’s still not enough. We hold each other’s eyes before his move to Beckett. His entire face hardens until I expect it to crack wide open.
Marc is suddenly there, moving between us as he approaches the door.
As I try to side-step Beckett, Marc grabs my elbow and pulls me backward. It’s gentle but jarring nonetheless. I spin, shoving him in the chest but he doesn’t release me.
“Get the hell off me.”
“Chill the fuck out. He’s out of his fucking mind right now.” He nods his chin at Drew and Beckett still frozen in a wordless stare off. “You don’t need to get caught in the middle of that.”
Beckett glares down, like really far down, at Drew, not letting up for even a second. Drew looks to me, concern lining his amber eyes until he zeros in on Marc still grasping my elbow, the concern quickly replaced by something more sinister.
I rush forward to calm the situation that’s gone off the rails somehow and, luckily, Marc lets me.
“I’m fine. I’m okay,” I say to Drew, then look to Beckett, gripping his taut forearm. “What the hell? We’re just passing through. Go back to your party and we’ll all forget this even happened. Deal?”
He seems to relax slightly, dropping his gaze to mine. It’s cloudy but Beckett’s still in there.
“I wonder if the windows will be open or closed tonight.” Coty muses as he fills their doorway. There isn’t a trace of humor in his words but Beckett barks out a laugh anyway. Idiot. There’s the Beckett I know and love.
No.
Marc guides Beckett away but when his arm brushes my flowy shirt, Drew surges forward, placing himself between me and my neighbors. Marc levels Drew with a glare and I swear a menacing growl rumbles from the guy’s chest. I’m not sure why but my eyes fly to Coty. He takes in the chaotic scene, his eyes tightening on Drew’s protective stance. There’s so much testosterone, I’m nearly choking on it.
“I guess we’ll see soon, huh?” I grab Drew’s shirt, turning to unlock my door at the same time. Hand on the knob, I hear Coty speak again.
“Why don’t you introduce us to your friend?”
Lips pursed, I look over at him. “Guys, this is Drew. Drew, these are my neighbors. They’re like stray cats, always multiplying and sniffing around where they don’t belong.” Someone clears their throat. “It’s better if you just ignore them though, otherwise they’ll never leave you alone. Now if you don’t mind, I have to get to bed.”
“Angela, you can’t be serious,” Drew pipes up. “You’re staying?”
“Angela lives here. Where would you prefer her to go?” Coty grips the doorframe and I’m pretty sure I hear a crack.
Enough already.
I shove Drew through my door before throwing an exasperated look over my shoulder to the terrible trio. Coty steps aside to let the others by. Beckett is full out leaning on Marc at this point. His female companion ditched him as soon as he turned into the Inaudible Hulk. Cheers ring out from their apartment, the party still going strong even with the hosts preoccupied.
Coty yells out, “I’m hungry,” while meeting my eyes. Laced with more heat than I thought possible in that ice-cold apartment, his declaration reminds me of our earlier discussion. The door slamming shut tells me I won’t be the one to extinguish it though.
“Don’t even start. It’s late and I’m tired,” I tell Drew, walking to the bathroom with a change of clothes.
“Fine. But I’m staying the night.”
Too many things are running through my mind to argue. Like what the hell that crap with Beckett was. His behavior was nothing like our time together earlier. His size alone is intimidating without throwing a silent death stare in the mix. And Coty, well, Coty was just an ass. Again. His problem with Drew was entertaining at first, now it’s just irritating.
Ready for bed, I crawl under the covers, watching as Drew pulls his shirt off. He’s beyond handsome—there’s no denying it. He has short auburn hair that he styles slightly to the side. His eyes are like the brightest part of a sunset. He almost always has a five o’clock shadow that I’ve been teasing him about since he first shaved. He wears polos, khakis, and loafers. Always. It’s not my style at all but I’d be stupid not to appreciate how attractive the man is. I’ve just never seen him as anything other than a brother though. Even sleeping next to him shirtless, the thought has never crossed my mind to blur those lines. I know the feeling is mutual so we’ve never had to worry about it. He’s had girlfriends over the years and I’ve had the occasional friend with benefits, neither of us once showing a single sign of jealousy.
Sometimes I wonder if him putting me first has made his relationships end quicker than they should’ve though. He’s never said anything to that effect, but I don’t know if Drew has a limit when it comes to me either. Would he ever find a girl worth walking away from me for?
That thought would’ve sent me into a panic a few weeks ago but now that my independence is strengthening, the idea makes me more hopeful than anything. I don’t want to hold him back. We’re not kids anymore. We both have bigger and better lives to go after. I can’t be selfish by constantly keeping him tangled in my troubles. It’s not fair to either of us.
“Thank you for being you, Drew. I love you,” I whisper, facing him as he climbs in next to me.
He flops onto his stomach—his signature sleeping position. Teasing with my own words, he cracks one eye and whispers, “Don’t get soft on me now.” Then, softer, “I love you, too.”
I leave him sleeping the next morning with a note on the counter about locking up when he leaves. The apartment across the hall is quiet as I make my way downstairs. Pulling my long ponytail through my hat halfway down, the voices on the boys’ balcony have me pausing my steps.
“Last night was…”
“You fucking puked in the tub, dude. Coty had to clean that shit up.”
“I almost puked just looking at it. What the fuck did you eat anyway?”
“Ugh, it must’ve been from yesterday with neighbor girl. Double cheeseburger.”
Three groans erupt.
“Dude’s car is still here. And she kept her windows shut for once. Think she got some?”
I stomp on the last two stairs announcing my presence.
“Oh, shit. I love a good walk of shame.”
“Morning, boys,” I greet, using a chipper voice I don’t feel in the slightest.
“Morning.”
“Good morning.”
I think Marc grunts out some form of greeting but I can’t be sure.
“Ready to apologize yet?”
All three are looking a little rough and it makes me feel slightly better that they’re paying for last night.
“For what?” someone asks.
“Being assholes,” I deadpan. Isn’t it obvious? “You treated my guest like shit. I live here, too, you know? If you guys can’t be civil, then you’re going to have to stay the hell away from me.”
“Oooh, neighbor girl’s still feisty. What’s wrong? Your guest didn’t wear you out enough last night?”
Shaking my head at Beckett’s stupidity, I climb in the driver’s seat, calling up, “He’s the one still sleeping. What do you think?”
He throws his head back in a hearty laugh while Marc whistles. Coty refuses to meet my eyes.
Yeah, I’m continuing this nonsense about Drew being my boyfriend, or whatever, but they make it too easy.
With a wave goodbye, I leave them to their commiserating, hoping they’ll take me serious about leaving me out of their drama from now on.
