Chapter 2
2
Cassie rolled her eyes at her brother as he rambled on behind her. They were at her apartment and he was talking about how much work needed done to the outside of the building. The same thing all her brothers and father had done every time they came over.
It wasn’t bad, not really, anyway. Sure, they needed to do a better job with the bushes and the place could use a pressure wash or seven, but it kept her rent low so as far as she was concerned, she didn’t care.
“I’m telling you, it’s ridiculous that you pay to live here and they aren’t even doing the bare minimum, Cass.”
She took a deep breath at the top of the stairs and turned to face him before he could take the last few steps and be taller than her again. “I don’t care about what it looks like out there. Either fix it yourself or shut up about it.”
“I’m just looking out for you.”
“By complaining every single time you come over here? Speaking of which, you didn’t need to come over here, anyway.” He’d followed her home after family dinner and let her know he was going to work on her drains before they got bad.
“Wrong. I have to come take care of all your hair in the drain before it gets bad and one of us has to take care of it after there’s six inches of water stuck in your shower.”
“It wasn’t six inches,” she muttered as she dug her keys out of her purse.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
Just then, a man walked up behind them, two brown moving boxes in his arms. It looked like she was getting a new across the hall neighbor. Just what she needed tonight.
The man set the boxes down to fish his own keys out of his pocket. Cassie studied him, completely distracted, trying to figure out where she knew him from. He was tall, fit, clearly athletic, with brown hair and eyes. There was something so familiar about him, but she couldn’t place him.
“Dude,” Jack, her brother, said, jarring her from her stupor.
Cassie stopped staring and stuck her key in the doorknob. “Come on,” she said to Jack.
“Are you Grant Pope?” Jack ignored her in favor of the newcomer.
She knew that name. As she registered it, she turned to take in the new guy as he answered.
“Yep.” He didn’t look over at her.
That made sense as to why she knew him. He was a soccer player and her whole family followed soccer the way that most families followed football.
“No shit. You’re moving in here across from my sister?” Jake started. “That’s crazy. Wait until I tell my brothers.” He was giddy, pulling out his phone.
“No.” Cassie covered his phone with her hand and pushed it down. “Let the man move in.”
“Come on, this is exciting,” Jack whined, but put his phone away.
“I’m sure he doesn’t want all five of you fangirling over him while he’s moving boxes in.” Realizing her mistake, she quickly added. “Or ever, at his home.”
She caught a grin from Grant. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to just get everything up these stairs and into my apartment for now.”
“I heard you were being traded to Bardley but none of us really believed it. Bum luck about your injury.” Jack reached down and picked up the other box. “Least I can do is give you a hand.”
Cassie shook her head and put her keys back in her pocket. “We both can give you a hand and then my brother here can go home.”
“Nope. Still need to take care of your shower. If I don’t, Dad will kill me when it gets bad.”
She glared at the back of his head, knowing he’d feel it. He was standing between her and Grant, and she forgot that Grant could see her.
“She trying to kill me with her eyes?” Jack laughed.
Grant really smiled then. “Looks like she might be successful.”
“Nah, she’s been trying for years. Hasn’t mastered the skill yet. You got any sisters?”
Grant shook his head, clearly resigned to having help. “Come on then.”
They made several trips from his small rented truck and carried them upstairs.
“What are you sleeping on?” Jack asked after the last load of boxes.
Grant pointed at the air mattress box in the corner. “My furniture won’t be here until this week.”
“That sucks. You could always crash at my place.” Jack looked thrilled at his suggestion.
Cassie groaned. “I think you have imposed yourself on him enough.” She pulled at Jack to get him out of Grant’s apartment. “I’m so sorry about him.”
Grant chuckled good-naturedly. “I appreciate the help, even if I didn’t ask for it. Definitely made it faster.”
“You’re welcome. If you need anything, let us know.” Jack was finally walking away. “Well, let her know across the hall, she can get one of us to give you a hand when your furniture shows up.”
“I’ve got movers for that one. It’s heavy, and I didn’t know I’d have such helpful and willing neighbors.” Grant rested his hip against his counter and waved at them. “Have a good night.”
Cassie waved back with her free hand and pulled at Jack with her other. “You, too. Sorry, again.”
“Why do you keep apologizing?” Jack asked as she let him into her apartment.
“Because you thrust yourself on him and didn’t give him a chance. You practically drooled over him and then started touching all of his stuff. It was rude and embarrassing.”
“He thanked us. You’re dramatic and if you think I won’t be telling everyone who I met in the group chat, you’d be wrong.”
“Leave him alone and keep your mouth shut about it. You’ll have the whole family over here wanting a glimpse. Leave him in peace.”
“Too late.” Her phone chimed with the group chat sound.
Jake: Guess who moved in across from Cass? Grant freaking Pope.
“Dammit, Jake.”