Chapter 14
I’ve been working on setting up an outdoor space at the front of my house so I can work outside when it is nice and also be on neighborhood watch.
My neighborhood consists mostly of married couples with older kids, so it is typically pretty quiet until the Johnsons’ corgi, Tina, shits in the widow Jenkins yard and she loses her mind.
They bring their doggie bags and pick it up, but she still doesn’t want any “dung particles” on her grass.
I noticed a moving truck at the house across the street, to the north of the Widow Jenkins.
The house had been empty for a while. I noticed the price drop, since I am an active real estate watcher, so it must have finally sold.
There are about a million boxes, and they all say “toys,” which leads me to believe there are kids moving in or someone has a really big nightstand drawer.
I saw a middle-aged-looking guy talking to the movers, and he had a little girl in his arms. So, it looks like another married couple is moving in.
I guess it’s just the Widow Jenkins and me holding down the single-and-fabulous category of the HOA.
To be honest, other than my sister, she’s probably my best friend right now. I couldn’t be happier.
Later that afternoon, I was back in my spot and saw the new neighbor out mowing.
On the day of their arrival? It seems like a hectic day to be mowing, and I wonder where his wife might be.
He is sweaty and has kids shouting at him, and all the while, he is really hitting those diagonal lines in the front yard.
He has earbuds in, a big smile on his face, and seems to be really enjoying himself. You do you, Grass Daddy.
I went to the grocery store to stock up on single, white female grocery supplies: wine, crackers, cheese, hummus, chocolate, so all of the major necessities.
I ventured to the big grocery store, not the one close to where I live, because I hadn’t been for a while and needed to stock up.
Since it wasn’t my regular store, I didn’t even look in the mirror before I left because no one here was going to know me.
I was trying to decide what gummy snack would pair best with a pinot noir when I heard someone say, “Cassie?”
I turned around, and it was my old internet boyfriend, Luke, whom I had met over a decade ago.
Whereas I am wearing clothes that are barely acceptable for leaving the house and didn’t even have leftover makeup from yesterday on, he was glowing.
Somehow, a little gray hair and some fine lines around his smile had made him infinitely hotter.
He was wearing glasses, but they were sexy, hardworking man glasses—not the distracting ones I had come to know and love.
He was tall, muscular, tan, and entirely too good-looking to be talking to me in my current state. He was, in fact, a silver fox.
“Luke. Oh my god, what are you doing here?” I said.
“I just moved back to town. I was wondering if I would ever run into you. I know you don’t often extrovert and go out, so this is quite the surprise!”
“Yep, you caught me on my weekly adventure out in public. What a coincidence. Look, I even dressed up for the occasion!” I laughed while gesturing to my pajama pants and old 5k t-shirt. “I didn’t know that you moved back, but why would I?”
“Yeah, just recently. Would you want to grab a coffee or drink sometime?” he asked. “You know, if you feel like putting pants on and leaving the house.”
I laughed, “Sure, that would be great. Do you still have the same number?”
“Yes, I do. You?”
“Yep, just text me when you get settled in, and we’ll make a plan. It was so good to see you. It’s been forever”.
He smiles and walks away. I scream internally and berate myself for being willing to go in public looking like I’m on the brink of a mental breakdown.
What a freakin’ hottie with a body. On the aging and hotness chart, he took a sharp turn upward, whereas I have been on a steady decline.
It was nice that he asked about hanging out.
However, I doubt I will be hearing from him anytime soon.