Chapter 1 Ryan
Ryan
I couldn’t be the first person to wake up the morning after his stag do with a headache worthy of the record books.
Pretty sure I was the first who could blame it on his gatecrashing ex as opposed to alcohol though.
Throwing two aspirin into my mouth, I glared at the kettle like I could make it boil faster through will alone. Tea had to fix it.
Can it erase the memory of how good Dom looked?
I clenched my jaw. No. Nothing could erase that. But it didn’t matter. The days of me being distracted by Dominic Walker’s attractiveness were long past. I was older now. Wiser.
And, I had Kate.
Like she knew I was thinking of her, my phone buzzed with an incoming text.
KATE
How was it? Did you have fun?
I smiled. Kate was exactly who I needed in my life. Uncomplicated. Easy-going. Relaxed. Basically the exact opposite of Dominic.
Shame she doesn’t make you burn like he does.
My smile faded, to be replaced by a scowl. It didn’t matter that the intensity of what I felt for her could never compare. Burning wasn’t healthy. It only led to pain.
Pain I wasn’t in a hurry to experience again. Ever.
I tapped out a brief reply, not hinting at anything being out of place. There was no point worrying her. There wasn’t anything to worry about.
Sure about that?
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I exhaled slowly. Fucking Dominic. He’d been back in my life for less than twelve hours and my brain was already stuck on a spin cycle. Not a surprise, but definitely a frustration.
Maybe it was good that I’d seen him last night. Farnborough was a big town, but not that big. I was bound to run into him at some point. At least now it was done with. I knew he was back, and if our paths did cross, I could just ignore him.
Simple.
His whispered words came back to haunt me. ‘I’ll be seeing you, Shadow.’
The kettle clicked off and I filled the cup automatically. I stared down at the bobbing teabag, thinking it was quite an apt metaphor. That had been me up until last night. Merrily bobbing along, happy with my existence.
Only for Dom to show up and pour his shit all over my life in an attempt to drown me.
Well, I wasn’t going to let him. Everything was going according to plan, and there was no reason for Dominic’s return to change any of that.
My phone buzzed again.
KATE
Ah I’m so glad you had a good time!
The need to see her itched at the back of my neck. Normally a week might pass without a date night, but after yesterday…I needed to lay eyes on her. To remind myself of the happiness that was almost within my grasp.
And what I needed to do to make sure it didn’t slip through my fingers.
RYAN
Are we still on for dinner tonight? 7 at Enzo’s, right?
Despite our impending nuptials, Kate and I weren’t yet living together. With her working in London, her place was more convenient for the train station, and it wasn’t the biggest of flats—barely more than a studio. So, for now, we were keeping our own spaces.
After the wedding, that’d change. We were going to buy a house together.
Not that we’d managed to view any places yet.
Life had been so hectic. But we would. We just needed the wedding out of the way, and we could take the next step.
That made sense, right? You got married.
Bought a house. Settled down and lived happily ever after.
Just as it should be.
My phone buzzed and my heart sank when I checked it.
KATE
Oh crap, I’ve just remembered I have a client dinner. I know it’s a Saturday but they’re really important to the firm. So sorry hun. Coffee Monday?
I pinched the bridge of my nose again. This happened a lot with Kate.
Coffees would get postponed, weekends away cancelled, and there’d be dinners where it was just me at the table.
Usually, it didn’t bother me at all. Kate’s career was important to her, and I understood all too well the pressure that was put on people in the finance industry.
I was perfectly happy with my own company, and was long past letting silly things like eating alone in a restaurant make me uncomfortable.
Tonight though…I really could’ve done with seeing her. Letting her calm nature soothe the storm that Dom had unleashed.
But I wasn’t an arsehole. Kate couldn’t help that her schedule was all over the shop. Last thing she needed was me piling on guilt and stress.
RYAN
Course, sweetie. Just let me know when you’re free.
KATE
You’re the best! Love that you’re always so understanding. <3
You weren’t always.
I closed my eyes. The last thing I needed or wanted was Dominic’s voice in my head right now. Things were different now. I was different. My life was different.
And there was no room in it for Dominic Walker.
An hour later, I was slipping out of my front door. Gym bag over my shoulder, I paused when I saw the hallway full of moving boxes. The door to the flat next to mine was wide open, chatter floating out from inside.
Looked like I was finally getting new neighbours.
God, I hoped they didn’t have a cat. The couple who’d lived there until a couple of months ago had been lovely, but their cat was a terrorist. Didn’t like me or anyone else in the building.
He’d hiss at me through the crack under the door before sticking his little murder mittens out to try and swipe me.
Cassie and Jane insisted he was just the sweetest. Guessed he didn’t like to sit high up in the stairwell and jump down on them, claws out and yowling.
He definitely liked to do that to me. I didn’t know if all cats were arseholes or just Mr. Timmins, but I wasn’t in a hurry to find out.
I hovered, wondering if I should introduce myself or not. A burst of laughter filtered through the air, and suddenly I was transformed back into that awkward, nervous teenager, waiting on the periphery, unsure whether or not he’d be welcomed.
Fuck that. The thought was enough to have me squaring my shoulders and marching up to the open front door. Rapping my knuckles on the frame, I called out a greeting. “Hello?”
A burly workman in grubby overalls popped his head around a doorframe. “Alright, mate, can I help you?”
No cat trees in sight. A win. “Just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Ryan, your next-door neighbour.”
The guy thumbed over his shoulder. “Oh, I’m not the tenant. Let me just grab him.”
My watch buzzed on my wrist, reminding me to get my arse into gear.
It was too late now; I couldn’t leave without seeming rude.
That was one impression I didn’t want to give my neighbour.
Especially considering we shared a bedroom wall.
Only thing worse than a murderous cat would be a neighbour who hated me and decided to keep me up half the night to be a dick.
Just then, the neighbour in question appeared, and I wished I had left. Better yet, I wished I’d never chosen this building in the first place.
But judging by the smirk playing on Dom’s lips, it wouldn’t have made a difference where I lived.
I suspected he would’ve ended up there anyway.
There was no describing the anger that filled me. I had to strangle the strap of my gym bag to stop myself from launching at him. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Either not seeing my fury or choosing to ignore it, Dom leaned against the door and grinned.
His long-sleeved shirt stretched over his biceps as he folded his arms over his chest. Like last night, I couldn’t stop myself seeking out the tattoos peeking out of the neck of his shirt.
The scar that lingered not far above them. “Howdy, neighbour.”
“You can’t be serious,” I hissed. “You can’t live here. It’s not possible.”
Dom made a show of looking around at the boxes and furniture. “Seems like it’s possible to me.”
“We’re all done here,” the guy I’d first seen said, appearing behind Dom and slapping him on the back. “Any issues, just give us a shout.”
“Thanks, man,” Dom replied with a smile. “And tell Raffle thanks. Much appreciated.”
“Gotta take care of our men in service,” the mover said gruffly. “Appreciate what you guys did over there.”
“Thanks.” Did he hear strain in Dom’s voice? See the way his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes? I couldn’t notice things like that. Not anymore. “Take care.”
Three others followed him out, all bidding Dom an easy farewell. Then they were gone, and it was just the two of us. Awareness pricked at the back of my neck. I should leave, but how could I? If I did, Dom would unpack. He’d settle in.
Right fucking next door to me.
“Come on in,” Dom said, shoving off the door and strolling into the flat. “Kettle’s just boiled.”
I clenched my fists. “I’m not stopping.”
His response was a dry chuckle. “Tea’s getting made whether you come in or not. I don’t give a shit if we have this out in the hallway, but unless you want the rest of the building knowing our business, I suggest you come in.”
My nostrils flared. How did he still know how to play me after all this time? Was I always this easy? Had I not changed?
Stepping over the threshold, I closed the door behind me. Not with a slam, because I was more mature than that.
Mostly.
This flat—I refused to think of it as Dominic’s—was the mirror to mine, with the same layout, so I had no issue locating his kitchen. I didn’t step inside, just hovered in the doorway. If I kept a few feet of space between us at all times, then everything would be okay.
His back was to me as he filled the mugs. “Where are you off to so early?”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Thought you knew everything about me.”
Dom laughed, turning to hand me a mug. I was careful not to let our fingers touch as I took it. From his smirk, he knew exactly what I was doing. “Well, judging from your clothes and the bag over your shoulder, I’d say the gym. But it seemed impolite to assume I know everything.”
“Never stopped you before.”
He shrugged, picking up his own mug. “Maybe you’re not the only one who’s changed.”