To The Rude Guy in Apartment Five - J. S. Cooper Page 0,26

that he would be up this early. Only crazy people woke up this early.

I hurried out of the shower, grabbed a towel, and dried off quickly before brushing my teeth. As I pulled my clothes on, I debated making a coffee before I left, but decided to get some at work. I ran a brush through my hair quickly, grabbed my handbag and keys, and left as quietly as a mouse.

As I opened the door, I saw a note and I rolled my eyes. Of course, he would leave a note. Couldn’t he take a hint?

I was going to ignore him from here on out. There was nothing I wanted to say to him. Nothing I needed to discuss. Enough drama had stemmed from that night to last a lifetime. I didn’t need to go back there again. My relationship with my sister Daisy had gotten better over the last few years, and I wasn’t about to have to explain to her how and why Jagger was back in my life. He could stay out of it forever. I might have had a lapse of judgment last night, but it wasn’t going to happen again.

I shoved the note into my handbag and locked my door quickly before hurrying to the elevator. I was never going to almost hook up with a neighbor ever again. This was brutal. Talk about doing the walk of shame every day. Now I understood why people said never sleep with someone you work with. I couldn’t even imagine what that would be like.

I made it out of the building and breathed a sigh of relief. Jagger hadn’t woken up and caught me. I headed down the dark hill towards the office, staring at the empty roads. I was up and out so early that even the bad traffic hadn’t started as yet.

I grabbed the note from my handbag so that I could read it before I got to the office.

Magnolia,

Last night was fun. I’m sad that neither one of us got to finish though. Maybe you’ll let me take you to dinner this weekend. Text me at 510-777-1234.

Your Very Sexy & Well-Hung Neighbor,

Jagger

P.S. Do you consider me your first?

P.P.S. Have you ever seen blue balls on a man with an eight-inch cock? Let’s just say they don’t come any bigger or bluer.

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. I should have been mad at him. I should have thrown the note into the pile of dog shit I’d just walked past, but I just couldn’t bring myself to stay angry. He’d always made me laugh, even as a little kid. He’d been the fun brother, Doug the more serious one. Jagger had been the one who’d made my heart race, who’d been my first kiss. Though I don’t know if he knew that. I’d passed off that kiss as no big deal.

I remembered it clearly, of course. Jagger had had a party with his friends. Doug and I had been hanging out, playing a board game in his room. This was before we’d started dating. I’d gone to the kitchen for a Pepsi, and Jagger had been there, drinking a beer. I’d told him that he was too young to drink alcohol, and he’d asked if I was going to call the police. Of course not, I’d said and then he’d walked up to me and kissed me right smack on the lips and said thanks. He’d walked out of the kitchen, and I’d stayed there for five minutes just grinning and touching my lips softly. My first kiss was from the first guy I’d ever loved.

I hadn’t told anyone. I was too embarrassed to tell Doug. I hadn’t wanted him to know that I’d had a crush on Jagger, though I was pretty sure it was obvious to everyone but him. That kiss … that kiss had ruined my life. That kiss had led me to believe in the back of my head and heart that Jagger and I were fated to be together. I’d had so many daydreams, but those daydreams had gone and ruined so many lives. I still couldn’t believe that Jagger was acting like it was no big deal, that we had no past. His notes and actions were completely immature, and I had to remember that even though I had grown up, it seemed that Jagger hadn’t.

“No matter your age, you’re never too young or old to start learning how credit works.” I reread the last sentence I’d written. “No,