Romance with Mr. Grumpy Pants: A Witty, Opposites Attract, Enemies to Lovers, Next Door Neighbor, Sw

7. Jessica

I stand by the window with my laptop tucked in a bag under my arm. Writing a romance novel at home is now impossible. I have to get out of here.

After returning from Brian’s place, I stared at my laptop screen for an eternity, and nothing had changed. Even when he isn’t drumming, my head is filled with the same sounds crashing in the distance.

Simply knowing he’s next door is a distraction. I can see him working through my window, moving around with all this stuff I know next to nothing about. He must be rearranging his layout or something. I won’t wait to find out, not when I only have a couple of days until my deadline.

If only Gina could grant me a day’s extension. There’s only one way to find out. I reach for the pocket of my dress and whip out my phone. She picks up after two beeps.

“Hey, Jess.”

“Hi, Gina. How are you?”

“I’m good, but I’ll be better when I get the final chapters of your novel.”

“Yeah, about that…”

“I’m listening.”

“Can I have a day’s extension on the project? I’ve barely written a paragraph so far.”

“Whoa. That’s not good news at all.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“You’ll have to hurry up.”

Does she seriously think I don’t know that?

“Hurry up? I’d do better if I had an extra day to work on this, Gina. I have to—”

“Even if I could persuade the team to give you an extension, that’s only gonna make you more relaxed,” she interrupts. “Besides, the promotions team already has a schedule for all these upcoming releases. Same with the editorial team. Any slight change would affect all of us. You know this.”

“So, that’s a no?”

“It’s a try-to-understand-and-get-this-over-with. You know what I mean, right?”

“It’s out of your hands then?”

“Exactly.”

“Thanks for trying.”

“Take care of yourself, girl, and get to work,” she urges.

“Fine.”

I hang up and let out a turbulent grunt. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately.

Tucking my phone back into my pocket, I step away from the window and leave the house. My destination, Carl’s Coffee Place, is a little further up the road. It’ll be worth it when I get there. Unlike the early morning hours, Carl’s is mostly quiet by noon.

I take a moment to savor the brown ambiance of the coffee shop’s interior. The yellow-gold tinted lights look even better with the sunlight filtering through the glass windows. It”s as if every detail is bathed in a radiant glow, transforming the space into a sanctuary of comfort and charm. Even the contrast of my reflection, dabbed in a pink dress, looks better than how I feel right now.

A young couple to my right sits with their heads tilted a little too close to each other. Lovebirds. They don’t seem to notice me walking in. Why should they, anyway? They’re much too engrossed in one another to care about anything or anyone else.

Luckily, they opt for a seat away from my favorite spot – the table in a corner, almost hidden from the rest of the coffee shop. But I guess it’s not hidden quite enough.

Carl spots me from his vantage point at the counter and offers his trademark salute. I fancy a smile. It’s the best I can do to keep him from coming over. He never seems to run out of things to say and I don’t have time for that today.

I open my laptop and get ready to work when Carl appears with a cup of coffee.

“Black, with a dash of cream and sugar. Just as you like it,” his chubby cheeks wobbling as he welcomes me with my usual.

“You didn’t have to, Carl.”

“Nonsense, and it’s on the house.”

“Aww. Thank you.”

Now, get lost, please.

“What brings you here?”

OMG. Here we go. I want to say Brian Shepherd, but I opt for, “Coffee?”

“You sure about that?”

“I have a deadline to meet, and I’d appreciate it if—”

“I’ll let you be, honey. I completely understand. You think I don’t, but I do. I’ll…err…let you work on your stuff while I err…get back to work. See how my staff is coping without me.”

Just get on with it already.

Finally, he moseys back to his spot. I take a sip of the coffee. It turns into a longer draw than I intended, letting out a blissful sigh with a lip smack. Carl sure knows how I love my coffee.

Alright, Jessica. Write.

After a few minutes, I find my mojo. The first few sentences flow effortlessly, then the rest follow. I type away, silently mouthing the words. This is the zone. Boy, have I missed being in my element. Gentle, refreshing gusts of wind brush against my face as the door opens and closes when diners depart, adding to my tranquility.

From my peripheral view, I can tell that someone steps in and seems to be headed in my direction. Right now, I don’t care. What matters is hashing out my novel.

The chair in front of me scrapes against the wooden floor. I raise my eyes.

“Hello.” A young man in a black suit smiles before me.

I hear Carl’s giggle from way over at the counter. He pumps his thumbs in the air at me.

Ugh.I hate you, Brian Shepherd.

I wouldn’t have these interruptions if I was hidden, working in the comfort of my bedroom. Now, I have to deal with all of this because Brian lacks common decency.

“Hi,” I reply, my tone stiff. I can’t imagine it being any other way.

“My name is Jonas. Mind if I—”

“Actually, I do mind,” I cut in. “I’m actually in the middle of something here.”

“I guess I’ll just buzz off then.”

“Yes, please.”

He backs away, sulking. I’m sure he feels slighted by my tone. I consider apologizing but immediately decide against it. That’ll only encourage him to remain here longer.

He’s resilient, though, much to my annoyance. Why won’t he take the hint? What’s with all the men in this town? The more I say one thing, the harder they lean in the opposite direction. Could there be something about me that attracts the most impossible men?

“Can I at least have your con—”

“No. Can you please let me work in silence? I’m trying to stay focused. Please.”

Although I ended the sentence with a plea, I doubt he sees it as one. His frown deepens. Carl shakes his head while he wipes his counter. Was I too harsh? Maybe I projected my anger toward Brian at him.

The couple turns in my direction. I scowl at them. Mind your business, would you?

OMG.I’m starting to think and sound like Mr. Grumpy Pants next door. No. Absolutely not. I’d switch careers faster than I’d become anything like him.

The man is already walking away from my table. I shake my head from side to side. Fine. “Jonas?”

He stops. “Yeah?”

“Sorry I snapped. I’m just not in a good mood.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t mean any harm.”

“I’m sure you didn’t. I’m sorry.”

“So, does that mean I can…” he probes, pointing toward the chair opposite me.

“Not today.”

His shoulders drop. I can’t blame him for being hopeful, the same way I won’t blame myself for turning him down. I hold his gaze until he breaks and shrugs for the hundredth time.

“Oh, well. See you around, then.”

I hope not.

I’m back-clicking on my keyboard. Staring at the words on the screen now, it doesn’t feel like I just wrote them a few minutes ago.

I shouldn’t be here. I should be at home, far away from all these disruptions. I should be done with this novel already. I don’t usually spend half my time warding off Jonases and Carls when I work from home.

I lean back in my chair. Everything is becoming a blur. I bring the coffee cup to my lips, taking a savory sip again. Brian’s soulless smirk flits through my mind.

It’s all his fault. It feels like a lifetime ago when I could sit down and exist in my zone for as long as I needed, fleshing out storylines and characters and walking miles in their shoes. If he hadn’t been so inconsiderate of his new surroundings, I wouldn’t be in this position.

Now, I’ll spend my nights listening to his racket and my days helping him unbox his junk. And I don’t even like him at all! How did I get to his point?

A notification pops up on my phone. It’s almost time for Lily to get out of school. I hit snooze on the reminder. Another day, another incomplete chapter. I shut my laptop down and tuck it back in my bag.

“You done?” Carl inquires.

“Yeah. I’m done. Take care, Carl.”

“You too, Jess. See you around.”

Yeah, yeah.