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The split second our gazes weren’t locked was all it took to break whatever spell I’d fallen under. I pulled my phone out of my pocket as I tore my eyes from him and hurried inside.
Hadley picked up on the third ring. “What?”
“SOS!” I hissed as I closed the front door, pulling myself up on tip toes to sneak a look through the window.
“What?” she asked. “Are you okay?”
“NO!” I snapped, ducking down as though anyone could see me.
I heard Hadley laugh. “Okay, so it’s not that bad. What is it? Did Mason ask you out on the way home and you need date outfit advice?”
I rolled my eyes. “No,” I huffed. “The new neighbours have moved in.”
“Oh! Tell me he’s like twenty-five, rides a Harley and set you on fire with one look!” she squealed.
“Stop reading those books, Hadley,” I ordered. “They are giving you acompletelyunrealistic view of the world.”
“Okay. So he’s thirteen, gawky braces, and he stuck his hands down his pants when he saw you?”
“Ew. I’m putting you on a timeout. Until you’re eighty.”
Hadley giggled. “You still haven’t got to this oh-so-threatening SOS. Who moved in?”
“Roman Lombardi,” I whispered and there was silence on the other side of the phone.
Just as I was about to ask her if she was still there, she screamed. Loud and excitable and right in my ear. I dropped my phone and fumbled to pick it back up again as I yelled her name.
“Honey, that you?” Mum called from the kitchen and I stood up, surprised.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Oh, good. Hey, listen,” she appeared at the door and I could tell she’d been cooking by the smudge on her cheek and the mess on her apron, “I invited Carmen over for dinner tonight.”
I swallowed and nodded. “Carmen?”
“Lombardi, hon. You know. She’s just bought the place next door and I invited her and the kids over.”
Kids?Had Paris come home?
“Honey?” Mum sighed, humorously exasperated.
I jumped as my phone went off and I realised Hadley had hung up on me in frustration and was calling me back. I held a hand up to Mum and nodded.
“Sure, dinner. Good. Uh, Hads…” I said absently as I pointed to my phone then ran up the stairs.
“Leave me hanging, why don’t you?” Hadley yelled in my ear as I rushed over to my window and stared out it.
“Sorry. Hads, he’s unpacking cars. And, Mum just–”
“I heard. Oh my God, babes. Opportunity knocks!”
“Hadley,” I warned.
“Piper?” Her voice was sugary sweet.
“Shut up,” I snapped.
“But, he’s just there, waiting for you to–”
