Chapter 9
Ithink I was more prepared for Neptune to figure out how to open the back door than I was to find Aiden standing there in sweats, a backwards hat, and that devastating smile.
“Aiden?” I step outside just as Neptune rushes past me and straight into the yard.
Skye meets him in the middle. For half a second, they stare at each other before exploding into motion, zooming in wild circles like two best friends who’ve been waiting to find each other again.
“I’m sorry to barge in.” Aiden offers a soft smile. “I used the side gate. I thought you were James.”
“James?” I frown.
“The owner of the house,” he explains. “My uncle noticed the garage open and thought it might be him visiting. We live right next door.” He points to the blue house beside mine—beautiful, clean, tucked into the trees, with wide windows and a deck that faces the water just like mine.
“Oh.” I smile. “No, it’s just me. We’re just moving in.”
“I’m sorry.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll let you finish moving, unless you need any help. Is there anything I can do?”
Honestly, the fact that he’s gorgeous and kind doesn’t hurt.
“A beer sounds kind of great.”
He blinks, glancing down at the six-pack in his hand, and I swear he blushes.
“Are you into IPAs?” he asks.
“I’m more of a wheat beer girl,” I admit, “but I’ll try it.”
“Oh, no.” He shakes his head immediately. “Let me go switch this for something you’ll actually like.”
“Skye,” he calls, starting to turn.
I stop him. “Leave her. I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
He heads toward the gate, then pauses and turns back. “Should I knock, or…?”
I laugh. “Use the side gate. You’re fine. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
“I’ll be right back.” He flashes me a quick smile before disappearing through the gate.
I pull my phone out immediately and open the group chat.
There are already messages waiting.
June:
May, what the fuck just happened?
April:
May, please report back asap
Me:
OMG guys, I thought Neptune had let himself out, but turns out it was Skye. Aiden is my NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR.
April:
WTF?!
June:
Spill! What happened!
Me:
Apparently, he’s friends with my landlord, and he thought I was him, so he came by with beer and the sexiest sweatpants I’ve ever seen in my life.
April:
Those must be some sexy sweatpants for you to notice
Me:
He also had a backwards hat on. help!
June:
Where is he now?
Me:
He went to switch the beer. I said I was into wheat beer, and he went to change the IPA he brought for something I’d like.
April:
Aaaawwww
June:
Yeah… I’m definitely team firefighter.
A light knock on the back door interrupts my spiral. I turn, and through the window I see Aiden petting Neptune’s head, his hand resting gently between his ears, and something in my chest tightens in a way I don’t expect.
“Come in,” I call.
He opens the door, and both dogs rush in.
“Skye, manners,” Aiden says softly, and she immediately slows, then sits, looking up at him, waiting for approval.
“Is it okay if she comes in?” he asks, glancing at me as he walks toward the kitchen and sets a six-pack of wheat beers on the counter.
“Absolutely.” I smile.
As if understanding she’s welcome, Skye gets up from her seated position and walks over to Neptune, who’s already sprawled out in his new favorite spot by the window.
She lowers herself beside him, rests her head on the floor, and within seconds, they’re calm, settled, comfortable together in a way that makes me feel strangely emotional.
“They really like each other,” I say quietly.
Aiden grabs a beer from the box, opens it, and hands it to me. I take it while he opens one for himself, lifting it in a small, casual cheer before taking a sip. I mirror him.
“Do you mind if I put these in the fridge?”
“Sure. There should be plenty of space.”
He opens the fridge and laughs.
It’s completely empty.
“I need to go to the grocery store,” I admit. “But that’s a tomorrow problem.”
He starts placing the beers inside, then pauses and drops to one knee.
“Oh.” He peers behind the fridge. “You’ve got a bit of a water leak.”
“This is a new fridge,” I tell him. “It was just installed this weekend.”
“It’s probably something simple.” He shrugs. “I’ll check.”
I hesitate, watching him, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and uncertainty. After all, this is my home, but I still feel like a stranger in it.
“There are towels in the closet under the stairs.” He glances at it. “Would you mind grabbing a couple for me?”
I set my beer on the counter and head for the door under the stairs I noticed earlier but hadn’t opened yet. Inside, I find towels and sheets, all of them folded neatly, a few with tags still on. I grab a couple of the older-looking towels and carry them back to the kitchen.
When I return, he’s already pulled the fridge away from the wall and unplugged it, fully focused on fixing the problem. He looks up, and when he sees me, smiles, taking the towels from my hands.
“Looks like the water line to the ice maker wasn’t properly connected. Easy fix.”
“Thank you,” I say softly.
He’s already on the floor drying the water with the towels, and I don’t quite know where to put myself or where to look.
“Is there anything I can do?” I ask, unsure whether I’m helping or hovering.
“Oh, no.” He glances up, still smiling. “I’ve got it. I’m happy to help.”
“Okay.” I nod. “I’ll start getting my bags out of the truck. Let me know if you need me.”
“I can help with that too.”
“There’s no need.” I turn to tell him not to worry about it, but he’s already behind me.
I almost run straight into him.
His hands come up automatically, gripping my arms to steady me.
“I didn’t know you were behind me.” My gaze lifts to his.
“Sorry.” He laughs softly. “Didn’t mean to scare you. But I can’t let you carry your bags by yourself.”
“It’s only two bags,” I protest. “And you’re already fixing my fridge.”
“I can carry your bags and then finish with the fridge.” He releases my arms. “I’m capable of multitasking.”
“Okay.” I laugh and turn toward the garage, with him right behind me.
He lifts the bags out of the truck and carries them inside with ease.
“Are these going up to the main room?”
“Yes, please.”
Without hesitation, he heads up the stairs with my entire life in his hands.
I grab Neptune’s bed from the back of the truck and carry it inside. When Neptune and Skye see it, they stand and move aside to make room for me.
“Right by the window?” I ask.
Neptune makes a low sound of approval.
I place the bed down, and he steps onto it, circles a few times, then curls up comfortably.
“There’s room for two, Skye,” I tell her, and she pads over and settles beside him, easily curling up against his side.
“I guess the extra-extra-large bed was a good idea after all,” I say out loud.
Aiden comes back down the stairs. “I need to run to my garage and grab a couple of tools. I’ll be right back.”
“Sounds perfect,” I say. “I’ll be upstairs unpacking.”
He smiles, heads out the back door, and I’m left standing in my living room, wondering how I’m already here — in this house, in this town, in this moment — with this man, in my space, helping me build a life I just arrived in.
I close my new sock drawer, rest my hands on it for a moment, and breathe.
The bed is made with fresh sheets, and the room already feels lighter and more like home.
I move around slowly, opening drawers, touching walls, letting myself get familiar with the space in a way that feels both exciting and slightly surreal.
I’ve wandered through most of the house by now, learning where the light falls, which doors creak, which windows catch the ocean just right, when my phone vibrates in my back pocket.
April:
Give me some intel, I’m dying here
I chuckle and type back.
Me:
He brought beer. We haven’t talked much. He’s downstairs with the dogs while I unpack my luggage.
June:
Why aren’t you down there with him?
I pause, leaning against the dresser.
Me:
Idk. He found a leak in the fridge and said he’d work on it. I didn’t want to stare, so I started moving around.
April:
Freaking May.
Me:
What?
April:
You have a hot-ass guy working on your fridge, or whatever, and you’re upstairs instead of… I don’t know, talking to him?
June:
Isn’t it more awkward now, though?
Me:
Not really. I’ve been downstairs a few times. He just smiles at me every time he sees me.
April:
What is he doing now?
Me:
Last time I went down, he was outside playing fetch with the dogs.
April:
God, he’s fucking perfect
June
Right. What are you going to do about your date, though?
That’s when it hits me, my stomach drops as I glance at the clock. Finn is supposed to be here in fifteen minutes.
Me:
Damn it. I forgot about it. I gotta change.
I toss my phone onto the bed and head back into the closet, peeling off my shirt and sweats before pulling on my favorite jeans, suddenly hyperaware of the fact that I’m standing there in nothing but denim and a bra, surrounded by clothes that all feel either too casual or like I’m trying too hard.
I’m halfway through pulling a shirt over my head when the doorbell rings.
Of course he’s early.
I freeze, fabric twisted around my arms, my heart pounding as everything collides at once. Finn is at my door, I’m half-dressed in my bedroom, and Aiden is downstairs, in my house, like this isn’t already complicated enough.
“Hey, May?” Aiden’s voice drifts up. “Would you like me to open the door?”
I stare at the closet door, at my reflection in the mirror, at the absolute mess of timing that is my life, and curse every decision that led me to this exact moment.
Through clenched teeth and pure panic, I answer.
“Yes, please.”
And my brain offers exactly one thought.
Fuck me.