Willow scans my empty living room, her eyes narrowed and her face flushed.“What’s wrong?What’s the emergency?”
Lola chokes up on the bat, elbows out, just like our old gym teacher taught us.
I can’t even find it in me to laugh or make fun of them.I guess I should’ve thought about texting them something besides “SOS.”
To be fair, this is an emergency.Just not one that requires a weapon.
How did I get so lucky, having two amazing, lifelong girlfriends who would literally beat someone with a baseball bat to save me?
I point at the wide window facing the Simpson house.“That is the emergency.”
Slowly, Lola lowers the bat and follows Willow to the window.They each catch a panel of the gingham curtains and draw them open, squinting into the brightness.
I can tell you the exact moment Ethan steps out of the house.First, there’s abangfrom his screen door.Then, both girls let out a collective gasp.
Lola’s mouth falls open, and she whirls on me with wide, accusing brown eyes.“That’syour new neighbor?”She thumbs over her shoulder toward the fluttering curtain.
“Yup.”
Lola whistles through her teeth.“He is…” Whatever she’s about to say fades into another low whistle.
“Yup.”My thoughts exactly.
Twisting back toward the window, Lola braces her hands on the counter, her dark hair swinging with the movement.“And he’s the one who dissed your coffee and said shit about your house?”
“Yup.”
That’s why I needed my friends.
My neighbor is rude and aloof and yet…
There really shouldn’t be an “and yet” but there is.And it’s wrapped in a six-foot-and-change package of abs, shoulders, and hypnotizing green eyes.
I bite my thumb a little harder.
Last night he was actually nice.Sort of.
Then, this morning when I got on my bike, my brakes no longer squeaked.
I thought it was a coincidence until I saw the spray can of WD-40 sitting on his bottom step.
First my tire, then dinner, and now my brakes.
Is Ethan my grumpy fairy godmother?
Was he sent by the ferry gods after all?
I don’t know if I’m just starved for male attention or what, but I enjoyed last night with Ethan so much that when we went our separate ways, I almost asked him to come inside.
Then I remembered the state in which I left my house and decided against it.Given his job and his previous comments about my stairs and roof, he’d probably have an aneurysm if he saw how many extension cords are plugged into the single electrical socket in the living room.
Both girls are too quiet, and I’m pretty sure Willow is drooling.
Finally Lola inhales a deep breath and stands up straight.“Okay, I’m sorry, but the only way you’re allowed to be that much of a dick is if you’re hung like a horse.”
I resist the urge to facepalm.“Seriously, Lola?”This isnothelpful.I don’t need to bemoreattracted to Ethan.I need someone to hose me down and cool me off.To say there is absolutely no excuse for the way he acted when we first met.
Smirking, she turns and starts opening cabinets.The doors slam as she searches, and I have to remind her that my poor kitchen needs to be handled with care.
