Chapter Eight
Sleeping had never been better since Aurelio had come into her life. After the nights events, a first for the two of them, they had settled back into easy conversation. Until Aurelio decided he wanted to help her fall asleep by telling her all the things he would do if he was there. Her fingers had listened as he spoke and sleep had found her quickly.
The tone of the late night convos shifted, they were in a new phase Mia felt. They ahd shifted this relationship and with it the expectations grew. Despite what they now shared, Mia had other things keeping her mind worried.
Oliver officially moved in over the next week. The memory of their first meeting left a bitter taste in Mia's mouth, prompting her to avoid him whenever possible. She would wave politely, feign a phone call, or ignore him as she pretended to listen to something through her headphones. Meanwhile, Janet seemed smitten, often exclaiming how happy she was to have a "big strong man protecting their floor."
"And a police officer at that!" Janet’s voice penetrated the door as Mia stood on the other side.
“Detective, actually,” Oliver corrected, and Mia rolled her eyes. His entire demeanor radiated bad vibes.
When Aurelio asked what she meant, she struggled to find the words. "Have you ever been in a pool and felt like there was a shark lurking in the deep end?"
That analogy best captured the sensation she felt—an undercurrent of danger lurking where none was visible. Surprisingly, Aurelio didn't laugh or dismiss her concerns. HE listened and let her air out the thoughts, Happy as he was to listen, Mia refrained from mentioning Oliver to Aurelio Despite her earlier promise to voice anything that was bothering her, she didn’t want to spend their time together discussing Oliver.
Instead, Mia did her best to avoid him all together.
Standing just inside her door, listening to the sounds in the hallway before venturing out had become part of her daily ritual. Today, the corridor was eerily quiet—no shuffling footsteps from Janet’s apartment or stomping from Oliver’s. Taking her phone from her pocket, she spied a message from Aurelio, a smile gracing her lips as she tapped to read. A simple good morning Beautiful greeted her, followed by a sleep well question and two devils. Shaking her head, Mia smiled as she sent back a quick response, telling him her intended plans of laundry and errand running.
Mia started to slide the phone back into her pocket while moving the heavy and overflowing basket up to her hip. Spotting her keys just behind her on the kitchen island, she reached for them. The basket began to slip, tumbling to the ground as she stepped to the counter, tripping her. Mia tried to catch herself on the island, hands out as he finger slipped on cold surface, and her head hit the hard corner of the countertop with a thud. With a final crash, she toppled over, the phone smashing against the floor a foot away.
“Shit!” Mia yelled, sitting up. Her eyes swam with black spots as her head throbbed with each passing beat of her heart. “Shit. Shit. Shit!” Mia lifted her fingers to her forehead gingerly. When she pulled them back, they thankfully came away clean, but there would for sure be a bruise. She stretched for the phone, latching onto it as she stood. Her clothes spread around her, she felt tears form and fall down her cheeks. She placed the phone on the counter and gingerly touched the spot she had hit. The skin was sensitive to the touch; the bruise was most likely already forming. She closed her eyes, head pounding as she steadied herself. After a few moments she began to collect the laundry, refilling the basket in moments.
This time, she grabbed the keys and slid her phone in her pocket before even touching the basket. Sighing, she gripped the hamper tightly against her hip and slid the door open. Moving into the hallway as quietly as a church mouse, she closed the door softly before locking it behind her.
“Hey,” a voice startled her from her left. Oliver stood there, his green eyes glinting under the bright lights. His shark-like smile widened as he leaned casually against the wall separating their apartments. Mia turned toward him, forcing a smile as she positioned the hamper between them.
“Have you been avoiding me?” he asked, feigning innocence as he stepped closer, straightening to his full height. His shadow fell over her, blocking out the light.
“What?” Mia responded too quickly, waving a hand dismissively. “No, of course not.” She laughed softly, glancing at Janet’s door, wishing the older woman were around for support.
“Well, good.” Oliver exhaled deeply, chuckling. “I haven’t seen you since the night I signed the lease.”
So, he had become a tenant that night. Mia hadn’t been sure, but Janet had burst into her apartment later, bubbling with excitement. “He’s moved in!” she had said, using the emergency key Mia had given her. Apparently, Oliver thought key cards for each floor were a great idea and even knew someone who could do it cheaply as a favor. The moment Janet said that, Mia almost asked for the key back but held her tongue, remembering how eager Janet had been.
Mia trained her eyes back on Oliver, smiling wider, hoping to convey reassurance. “So, I was hoping to ask you out,” he said, raising an eyebrow. His grin made her heart race. Mia frowned slightly, nerves still buzzing within her. Trying to quell her anxiety, she let out a laugh, hoping to break the tension between them. Oliver’s smile widened as she shook her head gently.
“Oh, um, thanks, but I can’t tonight.”
His expression faltered, disappointment washing over his face as the air grew heavy with silence.
“I have plans. Sorry.” True enough, she was planning to FaceTime Aurelio and watch the latest episode of Drag Race. But Oliver didn’t need to know that her plans meant she’d be home.
“Plans?” he pressed. “Girls’ night with friends from work?”
Mia forced a tight smile, shaking her head. “No, actually. Plans with my boy… best friend.” She hesitated, feeling the weight of the words. They hadn’t defined their relationship yet, even if Aurelio had asked to meet in person twice.
“Boy best friend?” Oliver scoffed, incredulous. “Poor guy. Stuck in the friend zone with a girl like you.” He bit his lip, eyeing her up and down like a wolf sizing up its prey.
A surge of anger ignited in her belly, setting her nerves on edge. She wanted to escape this uncomfortable situation. “Yes, and I actually have to go now,” she replied, lifting the hamper and pivoting toward the stairs.
“Wait, Mia.” Oliver’s hand landed on her shoulder, gripping her firmly. She shrugged off his grasp, the leather of his jacket squeaking as his arm fell away.
“What, Oliver?” She cocked her head, lips pressed together in irritation. She spun to face him, her hair swishing as she met his gaze. He took her in for a moment, he eyes sweeping her face. Concern washed over his features as he reached a hand out, fingers grazing her freshly bruised skin before she could pull away.
“Hey!” she said, Oliver blinking at her. He pulled back his hand slightly and shifted his eyes around the rest of her, seemingly taking stock of her appearance.
“What happened there?” he pointed at her forehead, his hand not thankfully away from her. She swallowed and let out a breath.
“I fell.” She said curtly.
“When?”
“A few minutes ago.” She tapped a foot, Oliver staring at the bruise she was sure had turned a shade of purple.
“Are you alright?” Oliver looked into her eyes, a focus in them as he assessed her. “Any dizziness or spots?” she shook her head no, irritation seeping into her bones.
“How many fingers?” he held up two fingers and she rolled her eyes.
“What do you want?” She said, Oliver seemingly unsatisfied with her answers but didn’t pry further. His hands came up in surrender in front of his chest.
“Look.” He said. “I feel like we got off on the wrong foot. Can we have a do-over, at least to be civil neighbors?” His eyes were earnest, and after a heavy sigh, she placed the hamper down between them. Crossing her arms, she considered their previous conversations. Something about him had unsettled her. But he did seem genuinely concerned about her just now. Perhaps giving him another chance wouldn’t hurt—they would be neighbors, after all. She took him in, towering above her, and hmmed. After a moment she released her arms and let them fall to her sides.
“Sure,” she finally agreed, breaking the silence. “Welcome, neighbor.” She extended her hand, and he shook it eagerly before releasing it, running a hand through his gelled-back hair.
“Thanks, Mia.” He said, placing a hand on the wall next to him and leaning.
“So, rain check on that date?” he asked, his smile growing.
She smiled, thinking a rain check would be harmless. If they were going to be neighbors, it was better to be friendly—more flies with honey or whatever that saying was.
“Yeah, for sure. Now that you’re next door, we can hang out anytime, right?”
Oliver nodded, his expression inscrutable as he shoved his hands into his pockets. As she tried to meet his gaze, his face turned away, and Mia sensed a mix of disappointment and something else in his demeanor—a reminder of that unsettling feeling she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Her heart raced again, nerves creeping back in.
“Well, I have some stuff to get done,” she said, edging toward the stairs and reaching for the hamper.
Oliver nodded, pulling out his phone and glancing at the screen before looking back at her. His eyes looked to the bruise once more. Mia swallowed, feeling unsure as she met his expectant gaze. Before she thought better of it, she reached for his phone.
“Hey, take my number,” she said, Oliver looking at her and swiping at the screen before passing it to her. He gave her a nod and let her take it.
“That would be great.” Oliver said as Mia flipped his phone in her hand, revealing a black case with a yellow Shelby Mustang design. The sight brought a genuine smile to her face, thoughts of Aurelio swirling in her mind. Just thinking of him made her cheeks warm as she anticipated their upcoming video call. She gave him a smile and flipped it back over, tapping quickly. Each digit felt significant as it entered his phone. But in a swift motion, she accidentally hit the wrong digit. Pretending it didn’t happen, she finished with the correct one and glanced at the entry. The incorrect digit loomed like a glaring red flag, but she dismissed the feeling, forcing a smile as she handed the phone back to Oliver. Grinning like a schoolboy, he held the phone close to his face, tapping quickly. After a moment, he turned the phone to show her the contact he had created.
?Cute Neighbor?
Mia swallowed hard, her throat tight as Oliver looked at her expectantly, his smile shifting into a grin as he raised an eyebrow.
She forced a smile, nodding at the phone. “Oh, you forgot my name already?” she joked, laughing softly.
Oliver glanced back at the contact and laughed, thinking the moment had successfully passed, or so Mia hoped.
“Oh, ha, you’re funny.” He shifted his stance, edging closer, his mouth nearly brushing her ear. “How could I ever forget your name, Mia?” he whispered, sending goosebumps racing down her arms.
The air around them thickened as her personal space felt invaded. Anger surged again, prompting Mia to smile and push him back gently with the hamper. His expression darkened slightly, the barrier pressing against his firm chest. Oliver met her smile with one of his own, but the edges of it suggested something more than friendly.
“Bye, Oliver,” she said, hastily making her way down the stairs.
“Bye, Mia.” His whisper echoed in the silent hallway, too loud, the distance between them feeling far too short. All Mia could hear was the frantic beating of her heart as she breathed shallowly. Something about Oliver set her teeth on edge, and deep down, she knew this was only the beginning.