Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
THE MAN HAS A PRETTY FACE.
Blair
I brought little with me for this move.
Not that I had much anyway.
Moving from my sister’s spare bedroom to this tiny home that’s already furnished for me is like the same thing as the apartments in San Francisco. Which is why I’m already heading back to my car to grab the last box.
Reginald barks on the porch, and my eyes land on where his attention is.
An engine rumbles before a pickup truck emerges from behind the trees.
Not just any truck.
Do not even tell me the angry cowboy lives next door to me.
I mean, this is a small town, so it’s possible. But of all places for him to live, it has to be on the same road as me?
Or maybe he’s just visiting family?
That could totally be the case and I’m just overthinking things.
The truck pulls onto the road, and I can’t help but stand there with the box in my hand, unable to move. The truck looks like it’s been through the ringer and might fall apart a mile down the road.
Woof .
No pun intended, since Reginald is barking his head off right now.
The truck slows down as it passes us in the driveway, and my heart rate skips a beat as it races in my chest. Nan is sitting up in the passenger seat, leaning over the center console as she waves her arms aggressively in a greeting as if she didn’t just see me thirty minutes ago.
I can’t help but cover my mouth and giggle before my gaze lands on the driver.
The same stormy eyes bore into me.
All the excitement I had looking forward to making friends with my one and only neighbor is gone with the wind. Kicked up like the dirt behind his truck. Because nothing about the way he’s scowling at me, screams that he’s a friendly neighbor.
He looks like…he hates me?
Already?
Jesus Christ, I just got here.
Reginald continues to bark at the truck, but his butt wiggles rapidly in true corgi fashion. Which tells me he’s happy. He’s usually a fantastic judge of character. So maybe I’m seriously overthinking this and reading his face all wrong.
The man has a pretty face. Is that a thing for men? I don’t think so, but there’s no denying that he has a pretty one even with the scowl currently plastered all over it. His sharp jawline is adorned with a thick, dark scruff, and his deep brown hair is neatly tucked under a backward baseball cap. He’s wearing a black and white checkered flannel, which seems to be a popular choice in this area as I noticed a similar theme among people walking along the sidewalk when I first met Nan.
Despite the vibes I’m getting, I lift my arm in a friendly wave.
Forget what I just said .
With one greeting from me, he’s peeling off down the road and disappears around the bend.
I sigh as I grab my last box.
“Let’s get unpacked,” I tell Reginald.
He barks in response and bolts through the front door ahead of me.
I enter the tiny house for the third time already and I’m still in shock that this is my place. The inside is even more perfect than the outside. Nan wasn’t lying about it being kept up nicely while it remained vacant. In contrast to the dark blue siding on the outside, the inside is all light and neutral colors, allowing natural light to radiate through every inch.
The first thing I noticed upon walking into the home is how you can see from the front to the back easily with the open concept. That’s the moment I knew it was perfect, which is weird, but I love the rustic yet contemporary feel of the space. The white cabinets, paired with the natural light through the windows only enhance the clean feel. The countertops are made of light-colored wood, extending into a small L-shaped counter that separates the living room with a single black stool placed at the counter.
I can’t wait to decorate and really make this a home.
My phone rings on the counter and I realize I never called Kodi when I got here.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Oh good, you’re alive. I thought you were lying in a ditch somewhere in the middle of nowhere,” Kodi says, her tone laced with sarcasm.
“In the middle of nowhere, but not in a ditch.”
“Hilarious,” she deadpans. “Are you there or not?”
“I am. This place is seriously so cute and perfect, Kodi. You would truly have a field day decorating it. Every single wall is covered with shiplap. Your favorite.”
“Oh my god, that’s amazing. But get to the good stuff. What’s the town like? Have you met anyone yet? Made any friends?” She rattles off the questions in rapid succession.
I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. “I’ve been in town for, like, less than an hour, so I don’t have answers for you. I met with Nan, and she brought me to my place, and now I’m unpacking.”
“That’s boring.”
I ignore her comment. “Nan is a riot. She reminds me of an older version of you.”
“Is that really her name? This is still so weird to me, Blair. You’re like states away now, with a random lady named Nan showing you your new home, and”—she draws out the word—“you’re in the middle of nowhere!”
I sigh. I know my sister doesn’t understand it. Hell, I don’t either. This was a scary but exciting adventure for me. Crossing the town entrance did something to me. For the first time in as long as I can remember, a piece of me felt at home. I don’t know why I feel that way just yet, but I’m eager to find out.
It feels right.
It feels good.
“I’m really liking it so far. It’s quiet and secluded and the perfect place where no one knows who I am. I’m not associated with my past life, Kodi. I’m finally allowed to be myself and be who I want to be with no one telling me how to breathe. You know?”
“I get it,” she resigns. “I just hope you end up finding a good friend. Do you have neighbors close by?”
“There’s only one other house on my road. Which is a dirt road, for your information.”
“Gross. Your poor car,” she whines for me. “But have you met her yet? Did she see you and come over with a town welcome basket or some shit?”
“She is actually a he, and if I’m being honest, he doesn’t seem super friendly. He definitely doesn’t seem like the type to bring a basket of fruit over. Unless it’s one of those poisonous apples. ”
“Ohhh,” she emphasizes, curiosity peaking in her tone. “A male neighbor, huh? Just the two of you on the road. This sounds like a fun time written all over it.”
“Kodi,” I warn, “I didn’t move here for that. It’s the last thing I want to do while I’m here. I’m strictly here to focus on myself.”
“You can do that and still get laid.”
“Something isn’t right in your head.” I laugh. “After the shit I just went through with Theodore, I never want to get involved with anyone again. I refuse. My trusty vibrator is the only thing that will touch me down there for a long time.”
That’s only partially a lie.
It’s not that I never want to be in another relationship, it’s that I plan to be way more cautious before jumping into one. Being cheated on in the worst way possible does something to you. It changes you. It makes you trust less. It makes it hard to believe people’s true intentions.
I want to learn how to trust again.
I don’t want love in the dark.
I want big, loud, can’t live without me love.
I want faithful love.
The memories of the day I walked into Theodore’s office hit me like a truck. Emotions I fight so hard to keep down whenever the thoughts stir in my head, itching to break the surface. But I won’t allow it. I can’t allow it.
I won’t let my past take away from my future here.
“Someday you will find someone, so you don’t wear your batteries down on that thing,” Kodi says. “Someday.”
“I should get going,” I say with thick emotions in my throat, avoiding the topic. “I want to unpack a bit. Then I really need to go find a store or something. My clothes do not fit the vibe here. I really don’t want to look like an outcast any more than I already feel.”
“Text me your new address. I have some perfect things for you. ”
I smile to myself. “You’re the best. I’m going to work on getting a job next week. So I’ll send you some money for them.”
“Nonsense. I told you to go set the world on fire. You need to look good doing it.”
I shake my head. “Bye, Kodi. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I hang up and survey my surroundings.
There’s still a lot to unpack. Mentally and physically.
But I’ve never been so ready for change.