me anyway. “So, what did he do this time?”
“I-well, I don’t actually know if it’s him or me, but whatever it is, he’s upset with me.” I give Kassandra a rundown of last night, me asking Travis for help, then Rome pulling up and seeing us.
“The weirdest part was, he didn’t even bother saying hi. He even shut his curtains last night. I mean, c’mon, it’s not that serious.”
Kassandra guffaws at me. “Oh, God forbid he shuts his curtains before bed and doesn’t say hi to you, you greedy bitch.”
“That’s just the thing, though. He never shuts them. So why now, last night of all nights?”
“He’s probably jealous. Chances are, he wants to fuck you, but since you guys are neighbors, he doesn’t want to make things weird. After seeing you with Travis last night, I’m sure he’s jumped to some kind of conclusion regarding the two of you. Also, can I just say how idiotic you are for asking Travis for help, of all people.”
A groan tears past my lips. “I didn’t have anyone else to ask.”
“Um, hello, hot neighbor who wants to fuck you is calling. Oh, what’s that? I’m an idiot who asks the manwhore boss instead.” I nudge her on the arm. When she says it like that, I realize just how foolish it was of me to ask my boss for help. “Seriously. Travis is going to get the wrong idea. You’re the only woman who has ever told him no. Hell, knowing him, he probably sees you as some kind of challenge, some goddamn mountain to climb and say he conquered. Just be careful. Don’t get me wrong, Travis is a great guy when he wants to be, but the last thing I want is you turning into the next Lucy of the office.”
I cringe. “Yeah, that was definitely not one of my finer choices, but I made sure I talked with Lucy beforehand. The last thing I need is her hating me because she thinks I’m trying to encroach on her territory.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble, babe, but the territory has already been encroached the second Travis laid eyes on you. I’m sure he imagined all the ways he’d screw you, while you guys shook hands.”
“Oh, gross. You’re seriously the worst. You know that, right?”
She shrugs, pushing off the counter with a self-serving grin. “So I’ve heard. Oh, and Dr. Bennett is ready whenever you are.”
I shake my head at her and force myself to push all thoughts of my neighbor out of my mind. I have a job to do.
“Hey, Max,” I coo down at the husky, as he wags his tail wildly, rubbing his head and ears against my hand. I bend down, showing him some love, by giving him a good scratch. I’ve yet to turn around and face his owner. I was quite surprised that when I got home, Rome was just barely getting home, too. I’m certain if I got there any later, his garage would’ve been shut. Anything to avoid dealing with me.
Summoning the courage to face him, I do so warily, not sure what version of him I’m going to get.
Annnd apparently, it’s the bored, cold version. Great.
“Hi.” The greeting comes out a lot shyer than I’d like, and I can’t believe I’m unable to come up with something more original than my weak hi. Without acknowledging me, Roman calls over Max with a sharp whistle and a gruff command. Max goes without question, leaving me standing there feeling foolish. They retreat into the garage, and just as he’s about to press the button to shut the garage on me, I open my mouth.
“I thought we were over this, Rome? Over this whole asshole act.” I wave my hand down his body. “I thought we were friends.”
He pauses with his back to me. When he eventually turns around, there’s a cold smirk plastered across his face. With a sinking feeling in pit of my gut, I take a wary step back. He presses the button, and the garage gears kick into action, roaring, as the door comes down. Just when I’m about to lose sight of him, he speaks.
“You thought wrong.”
The garage door shutting is so final, I feel like it echoes around our neighborhood. I glance around, noticing the only person still outside is Josie, the older woman across the street.
“Is he always so…grumpy?” I call out to her.
With her cat on her lap and a cigarette dangling from her lips, Josie is, in fact,