I Love You, My Neighbour: Chapter 18
Moving day
Logan
"Finally," I declare as I pull up outside my house in the moving truck that holds nearly all of my earthly possessions.
"Chill out, would you," Adam says, shaking his head. "We're here. You can relax."
I turn off the truck and open the door. "There was way too much traffic for a Saturday morning."
"That's always the way, though, isn't it? When you want to get somewhere – be anywhere in a hurry – nothing goes your way."
I grunt in frustration.
Red traffic lights, slow drivers, and roadworks turned a trip that should have been around twenty minutes into a trip that took forty-five minutes. I hated being stuck in traffic.
I also hated feeling as though I was keeping someone waiting. I told Kristy I'd be at the new house by nine-thirty in the morning. The time is now ten-forty. I messaged Kristy earlier to let her know I was running late, and I knew the guys would let her into the house so she could start helping everyone unpack, but I still feel like I've kept her waiting.
"Come on," Adam says. "Since we took so long, everyone else has probably already unloaded their cars, and now they can give us a lift with our load. Once that's done, you're finished moving."
I managed to fit everything I own into the back of the truck I rented and the boots of my friends' cars. Everyone is here to help me this morning. Even Jamie's girlfriend, Gemma, arrived at eight o'clock to fill her car with my things.
I step out of the truck and slam the door behind me, kicking a pebble off the driveway.
"Finally," Kyle says, walking up to me. "What took you so long?"
"Everything," I snap.
Kyle raises his eyebrows and looks at Adam. "What's his problem?"
"We had a bad run." Adam shuts the truck door behind him. "He's been a whiny bitch the whole time."
"Is Kristy here?" I ask.
Kyle motions towards the house. "She's made coffee and cake."
My spirits rise slightly at the prospect of Kristy's coffee and cake.
I don't bother opening the back of the truck or unloading anything. I just stride straight into the house.
Kristy is in the kitchen, chatting with Gemma as if they've been friends for years. I know for a fact they've only been introduced today, but they're clearly hitting it off. From what I can tell, they are discussing Gemma's weekend gigs for a wedding catering company - the main reason why Jamie's girlfriend is never at my place on the weekends.
With Kristy's back facing me, it is Gemma who notices my presence before Kristy does. I have no clue what she perceives in my expression, but she quickly places her hand on Kristy's shoulder, halting my neighbour mid-sentence. "I'd better go help the guys. I'll come back with a business card later."
It isn't until Gemma walks out of the kitchen that Kristy finally spins around to look at me.
A quick smile lights up her face. "Hey, you're here. Do you want some coffee?"
Her happiness goes some way towards easing the irritation I felt minutes ago. The tension in my shoulders, neck, and head dissipates as I feel the full weight of her smile shining up at me. Her face is devoid of makeup, and her hair is in a loose ponytail, with some strands hanging loosely around her face. She looks fresh and utterly beautiful.
"Please," I say.
I feel okay until she turns around and I realize how tight her jeans and t-shirt are.
Every curve is accentuated – especially her boobs and her arse. I nearly groan out loud as she bends over to retrieve a mug from a cupboard below the counter. She has a world-class arse.
Forcing my gaze away from her, I search the kitchen for something – anything – to take my mind off my neighbour. If I don’t take a mental cold shower, I’ll be pushing her to the floor, peeling those jeans off her and sliding between her legs. Already, my blood is starting to heat and rush south.
She's tidied up the bench space, but there are a couple of small boxes on the bench. And behind them is the picture of Izzy.
I focus on the picture of the woman I loved and lost as Kristy makes me coffee and chats to me about her day so far.
It should have been Izzy here; I tell myself, not Kristy. It should have been Izzy's smile making me feel better, Izzy telling me about her day, and Izzy who has my heart racing uncontrollably.
It should have been Izzy I walked straight in here to see, and Izzy helping me unpack my kitchen and making coffee.
Not Kristy.
But life fucked that up for me royally.
"Why is this picture of Izzy pushed all the way behind these boxes?" I demand, walking over to the picture and picking it up.
"I'm sorry." Her mouth turns down as her eyes cloud over. "I didn't mean to do that at all-"
"Forget it." I already hate myself for snapping at her and making her feel bad.
It isn't her fault.
None of this is her fault. It isn't her fault Izzy isn't here. And it isn't her fault I feel guilty that Kristy is here in my house, doing the things Izzy might do if she were alive. And it definitely isn't her fault that I'm feeling such a strong attraction towards her, which has me feeling all mixed up.
"I've had a shitty morning, and now I'm being a grumpy bastard," I tell her.
And a complete asshole for taking it out on her when all she's ever done is help me.
"Here," Kristy says, handing me a hot cup of coffee. "This will make you feel better."
I take it from her. "Thanks."
Her face is full of genuine concern as she studies me.
She waits until I've taken a sip before asking me, “You had a bad morning?”
“There was just more traffic than I’d expected.” I attempt to smile, even though I don’t feel like smiling at all. “I'll be over it in a few minutes.”
Her soft smile is forgiving. “Well, we have everything under control here. You’ll be all set up in no time. Are you hungry? Do you want a piece of cake?”
I nod eagerly. If there's one thing that will make me feel better, it's eating cake that Kristy has baked.
“So, what were you and Gemma talking about?”
“Kristy!” Adam exclaims, bursting into the kitchen before she has a chance to answer. “Babe, I heard you had cake. Tell me it’s true.”
I glare at Adam, annoyed at him for interrupting our conversation and calling her babe.
She smiles at him. “Yes, Adam, I do have cake. Do you want some?”
“You know you don’t have to ask.” He walks over to Kristy and puts his arm around her. “If you baked it, I definitely want it.”
Is she blushing and grinning because of the compliment Adam just gave her, or because Adam's arm is around her and he is flirting?
And what is Adam doing? I've told him right from the beginning that he wasn't to make any moves on Kristy.
Seeing my expression, Adam drops his arm, shooting me a puzzled look as he does so.
Really, Adam?
Is it that difficult to figure out that I don't want him touching her? She is off-limits to me, and to every single one of my mates. She has become a friend, someone I can see myself spending a lot of time with in the future. Well, providing I don't screw it up by trying to jump her bones.
“He really has been a pain to deal with this morning,” Adam stage whispers to Kristy.
“I’m fine,” I say as she puts a large plate of cake in my hands. “Thanks.”
Adam makes a face at me, and I glare back at him before picking up the piece of cake on my plate and taking a bite. The moist chocolate flavour explodes on my taste buds.
“I feel better already.” I point to the cake to let her know it's damn good.
The corner of Kristy’s mouth curves up as her blue eyes meet mine. “I could tell you needed an extra big piece this morning.”
“You were right,” I agree, finishing the cake and coffee quickly.
“You’re like a freaking vacuum, man,” Adam says, still only a quarter of the way through his coffee and cake.
I'm just about to put my plate down, walk out, and start unpacking when I hear the front door slam, and Kyle, Jamie, and Gemma walk in.
“I’m thinking about checking out Shark Bait again tonight,” Kyle says as he walks into the kitchen. “It was really good last time. Who wants to come with me?”
“I’m in,” Gemma says.
Jamie puts his arms around his girlfriend’s waist and hugs her tight. “If she’s in, I’m in.”
“Who else is in?” Kyle asks, looking at Kristy, Adam, and myself.
He wasn't supposed to ask me to go out for another year. That had been our deal. But right now, I'm glad he broke it because a night out on the town with my mates might just do me a world of good.
The last time I went out, I wasn't prepared for how I would feel and what I would experience. I thought being surrounded by people who wanted to hook up and have casual encounters would disgust me. Instead, it was like a shot of pure caffeine to my sex drive – waking it up and putting me on an edge I'm still trying to work out how not to fall off. If I go there tonight, however, I'll be ready for it.
Hell, I might even be one of those people looking to hook up for a night.
I can't keep fantasizing about Kristy the way I did in the shower last night. It makes sense for me to go out again and see if I can shift the focus of my fantasies from my neighbour to someone with whom I'm not in danger of jeopardizing a friendship. Maybe even have a one-night stand if I can summon up the courage for it.
The memory of Camille's brazenly inviting look nearly makes me change my mind, but she had been so blatantly eager. There is something to be said for the art of letting a man chase a little. She doesn't have to run a marathon, just jog in the opposite direction to get my attention. The girls at Shark Bait had done that well the last time I was there. I don't need a relationship, nor am I keen on sleeping with anyone else, but maybe this is the only way to quiet down my libido for a while.
A bit of chasing might be just what I need to take my mind off my neighbour and her seductive curves – which are still burning in my brain.
“I’m in,” I say before I can change my mind.
Kyle looks like I’ve just handed him a winning lottery ticket. “Seriously?”
“You said you never wanted to go back there again,” Adam reminds me.
“I changed my mind.”
Kyle nods, a large grin breaking across his face.
“I’m in too,” Adam says. “Provided Kristy comes.”
“I…I’m not sure I can,” Kristy answers. “I have work tomorrow.”
“So call in sick,” Adam suggests, giving her a wide grin. “It’ll be more fun for me if you come.”
I glare at Adam, not at all happy he's flirting with my neighbour again.
“She manages the café on Sundays.” I point out. “She can’t just call in sick.”
“That’s true.” Kristy's gaze drifts over to me.
The question in her eyes is obvious. "Should I go? Do you want me to go?"
Truthfully, I feel uneasy about the idea of her coming. I want to go to the club to get my neighbour off my mind, not see her dressed up and dancing.
But maybe there's a plus side to it. Maybe seeing her surrounded by hundreds of other people will put things in perspective. And maybe it will put things in perspective for her too. We spend a lot of time around each other. It's easy to forget everything else and everyone else and focus on an attraction between us that is going nowhere.
"You should go," I tell her. "It would do you good to do something other than work at the café or at my house."
"Yes!" Gemma agrees. "Please come. It'll be fun, and we can talk more."
"If you're worried about work, you could come for a short time," Adam suggests. "Just stay for a couple of hours and then go home."
Jamie nods. "You don't even have to drink."
"I won't be drinking either," Gemma adds. "Well, I'll have one beer, but then I'll stop so that I can drive Adam and Jamie home."
"Come on, Kristy," Kyle pleads.
And then we're all pleading with her to come.
Kristy looks torn for a second before a smile tugs at the corners of her lips, and she nods. "I guess it has been a long time since I've been out. I can always take my car and leave after a couple of hours. So... I'm in."
"That settles it then." Kyle gives a triumphant fist pump. "We're all going tonight."
"You're going to have a great time, Kristy," Adam says, putting his arm around her again. "I promise."
Suddenly, I'm glad I said I'd go. I need to keep an eye out for Adam getting drunk and making advances toward my neighbour.
"Hurry up, everyone," I say, wanting Adam to remove his arm. "There's no time for slacking."
Adam scowls at me and shoots me the middle finger, and the rest of them hurl playful obscenities at me as I stride out of the house, chuckling.
My mood is the best it's been all morning. The sun beats down on me, its warmth radiating through my body as I walk along, and I'll admit, I'm a bit excited at the thought of going out tonight.
I don't know if I'm ready to have a one-night stand or even hook up yet, but going out sure beats staying home and jerking off while fantasizing about my neighbour.
So so so good! Can’t wait to read more.