4. Cassidy
Cassidy
“Five-thousand words.”
Aarya gasps. “Oh my god. That’s a great start.”
“I know.” I kill the engine and lean back against the headrest. “It feels good to write again. This is what I’ve missed for so long.”
“And all you needed was a little inspiration.”
“Thanks for pushing me to write about Neighbor Man.”
“Thank yourself for making that TikTok—which we need an update for, by the way.”
My lips tug into a frown. “I haven’t seen him in a couple of days.”
“No more slamming door?”
“Nope. I didn’t blast my music yesterday, and he didn’t slam his door.”
“Well, you need to have a run-in with him because you need more content.”
I laugh. “You want me to stage a run-in?”
“Think of it as part of your job. You need him to continue writing your book.”
I shake my head. “All right, let me go. I have to lug these groceries inside before my ice cream melts all over my back seat.”
“Fine, but think about it.”
“I will.”
I forgot all my shopping totes at home—does anyone ever remember them? —so I refused to buy more than one at the grocery store out of pure spite. I managed to stuff all of my items into one bag. Now all I have to do is make it to the sixth floor.
I shut the door and click the alarm on my key fob, but gasp when I turn around.
No fucking way.
“Sheldon.” I clutch at my chest. “Pro tip: Don’t lurk in a parking garage if you’re not trying to scare a woman.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” His eyes trail down the length of my body. “You look...you look great.”
I position the ninety-pound grocery bag in front of me. “Why are you here?”
“I really hate the way we left things. I know we haven’t spoken in a while but, I don’t know. I just wanted to see you.”
I blink once. Twice. Then a loud laugh rips from my throat. “Are you fucking serious right now?”
He grimaces. “I know, I know. I have a lot of nerve coming here like this, but—”
“But nothing. Where’s Alicia? Shouldn’t you be with her? Or are you cheating on her too?”
He steps forward and clasps my hand. “I broke up with her. I wasn’t happy. It was fun in the beginning but it wore off.”
I yank my hand out of his hold and step backward, my ass hitting my car. “Fun in the beginning—meaning when you were still with me.”
He grimaces. “That came out wrong.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t know why you thought you could come here.”
“I miss you. I know I fucked up but I made a mistake and I was hoping you could give me a second chance.”
My chin jerks back. “I want nothing to do with you, Sheldon. You had your chance with me and you blew it.”
“I’m sorry, Cass.” He steps into my space again. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I regret it every single day.”
“Good. You should.” I move around him and speed-walk across the parking lot.
He jogs after me. “Please, can we just talk?”
“No.”
He reaches out and grabs my wrist. “Please, wait.”
“I said no. Leave me alone, Sheldon.” As I pull back my arm, the strap on the tote breaks, and all of my groceries go tumbling onto the ground.
“Hey!”
Both of our heads whip around at the sound of the bellowing voice.
Oh, for God’s sake.
Neighbor Man stalks over to Sheldon and shoves his chest, sending him stumbling backward. “Keep your hands off of her.”
Sheldon regains his footing and his hands shoot up on either side of his head. “I wasn’t trying to hurt her.”
He shoves Sheldon again. “Then why are her groceries all over the damn place, huh?”
“Tell him, Cass.” Sheldon’s Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he glances at me for help. “I just came here to talk.”
Neighbor Man turns his head and looks at me over his shoulder, waiting for me to clarify.
I arch a brow and purse my lips. “I don’t want to talk to you, Sheldon. Not now and not ever.”
Sheldon’s eyes narrow as they flick to my neighbor. “Is this your boyfriend?”
Sure, I could be honest and tell him no...but I guess I’m petty. “He is none of your business. Now go home and leave me alone.”
Neighbor Man moves to stand beside me, but he angles himself so that he’s half-blocking me from Sheldon.
“Wait a second.” Sheldon tips his head like he recognizes Neighbor Man from somewhere. “Holy shit, are you—”
My neighbor lunges forward and grabs the collar of Sheldon’s shirt, bringing his face close to his own. “I’ll give you three seconds to get out of here before I remove you myself.”
Damn. He’s kind of hot when his temper isn’t directed at me.
Sheldon scurries across the parking lot, and my neighbor stares after him until he disappears through the entrance of the garage. He’s standing like a statue, muscles taut and hands balled into fists.
I clear my throat. “Thanks for that.”
He turns his attention back to me, his eyes scanning my body. “Are you okay?”
I sweep my arm out and gesture to my groceries. “Just some bruised apples.”
Neighbor Man kneels down and collects the items at our feet, stuffing them back inside the tote bag, while I chase after the runaway apples. One of them rolled underneath someone’s car, so I flatten myself against the asphalt and stretch out my arm until my fingertips graze it.
I stand up and brush off the dirt from my tank top, and Neighbor Man takes the apples from me. He’s holding the bag from the bottom, cradling it in his left arm.
I reach out for the bag. “Thank you. I can take it from here.”
“I’ve got it. We’re both going to the same place.”
Oh.
I’m not going to argue with the guy after he just made Sheldon shit his pants and run away screaming like a little girl on a playground, so we head into the building and step into the elevator.
“That was my ex.” I don’t know why I feel the need to explain myself, but he’s not speaking and I can’t revert to awkward silence after what just happened downstairs.
“He seems like a real winner.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah. He cheated on me and now he says he want me back.”
Neighbor Man stares down at the bag in his arms.
“That was really kind of you to step in like you did,” I continue.
He hikes a shoulder like it was no big deal. “You looked like you needed help.”
“Well, it was nice of you to help me when you hate me.”
His eyes dart to mine. “I don’t hate you. I don’t even know you.”
I rack my brain for a quippy remark, but I come up empty. I should say something else. I’m a writer; you’d think I’d have an arsenal of dialogue at the ready. But what is there left to say? He helped me, and I’ve thanked him. Conversation over.
The elevator door opens and he gestures for me to walk ahead of him.
When we get to my door, I pull out my key card and open the door, propping it open with my foot as I take the bag from Neighbor Man.
He walks to his own door and unlocks it, but before he steps inside, he turns his head and meets my gaze. “I’ve been making an attempt to shut my door quieter.”
I blink, unable to tell if he’s making a joke or if he’s waiting for me to concur with his statement.
“I haven’t been killing any cats either.”
“No, but there is a very vocal bird in that menagerie of yours.”
I scowl, and the corner of his lips twitch. Then he closes his door—quietly—behind him.
I bolt inside and post the entire interaction on TikTok.