Team Stelter
Delaney
My lips were still tingling.
Actually, everything was still tingling – my fingers, my toes, and a few other places that I didn't dare dwell on, especially now, in front of an audience.
From inside the elevator, Mrs. Stelter was wearing the same expression she'd worn this morning, when she'd caught me holding that stupid burger bag.
But now, as the three of us faced off, her expression got even worse. Her eyes narrowed. Her lips pursed. Her nostrils flared.
She looked angry enough to wallop me with her handbag.
Damn it. That's what I got for not sneaking down the stairs.
And even though Maddox was standing beside me with his arm draped protectively around my waist, I still felt like a giant imposter, skulking where I didn't belong.
As the silence stretched on, I had to stop myself from blurting out, "See, I'm with an actual resident of the building." As if that would calm the likes of Mrs. Stelter.
Just like earlier, she made no move to get off. I made no move to get on. And Maddox made no move to turn away, which was actually pretty nice, considering nobody liked to be tossed to the wolves.
Okay, just one wolf, but the point remained.
I was just about to give Maddox an apologetic glance when Mrs. Stelter hitched her purse higher and glared daggers.
But not at me.
What the heck?
She was glaring at Maddox.
Her voice trembled as she said, "You."
I squinted in confusion. "Me?"
But her gaze remained firmly on Maddox. She opened her mouth to say something, but then abruptly snapped it shut.
She still didn't budge from the elevator.
I glanced between them, wondering what sort of neighborly feud would cause so much friction. Then again, this was Mrs. Stelter, who'd given me a year's worth of grief in a single day.
As for Maddox, he looked far from thrilled, like this lady had been hassling him every time they passed in the hall.
I could only imagine.
Even without the kiss, I would've been firmly on Team Maddox.
Finally, Mrs. Stelter looked back to me and stiffly said, "I hope you know what you're doing."
I stared. "Actually, I'm trying to get on the elevator."
Her jaw clenched. "Again?"
Seriously? "Hey, you're one to talk. It's like you ride the thing up and down all day."
She bristled. "Excuse me?"
Reluctantly, I untangled myself from Maddox and crossed my arms. "I'm just saying, every time I go to get on, there you are."
"And there you are, too." Her voice rose. "Perhaps you're the one riding up and down all day."
"Oh, please," I scoffed. "I haven't ridden the thing in hours."
"Just what are you implying?" She looked fit to be tied. "For your information, I'm a very busy person."
I snorted. "Yeah. Busy riding elevators."
Was I being rude? Yes, totally.
But hey, she'd been rude first. And the way it looked, she had no plans to let up – or let me enter the elevator.
Or, at least, that's what I thought until she stepped aside to let me in, which made no sense whatsoever. Why wasn't she getting off?
I made no move. "Wait…what are you doing?"
"Making room for you to get in. Obviously."
I glanced at Maddox, whose expression I couldn't quite decipher.
I turned and scanned the empty corridor. No clues there.
Finally, I returned my attention to Mrs. Stelter and asked, "But…don't you live on this floor?"
Her lips thinned. "Yes."
"But…you don't want to go home or anything? I mean…you rode all this way up here, so—"
"So I can ride back down if I want." She sighed. "So, are you getting on or not?"
Reluctantly, I joined her in the elevator and turned to face the front, where Maddox stared from the corridor, looking concerned.
He moved forward. "Hang on. I'll come with you."
In unison, Mrs. Stelter and I both blurted out, "No!"
He stopped. She and I shared a look. She looked smug. I felt mortified. I turned back to Maddox with an apologetic smile. "Sorry…what I mean is, thanks. That's really nice, but I'll be fine."
Next to me, Mrs. Stelter told him in a stiff voice, "And what I mean is get your own elevator, because you're not welcome on ours."
Ours?
Good grief. Had I just been transferred to Team Stelter?
Outside the elevator, Maddox frowned like he was debating yanking me out for my own safety.
As the doors slid shut, I called out, "Don't worry. I'll be fine!"
The last thing I saw was his face, looking decidedly unconvinced.
Well, that wasn't ominous or anything.