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When I arrive back at home it looks like I’m the only one here. I know Hollie is working but Bianca’s schedule at the gallery is sporadic and you never know when she’ll be home. I have just over three hours to get ready. That’s way more time than I’ll need. I’m not usually one for primping and preening but if I want to give this date a real shot, I’m going to have to make myself look as good as possible. Still, three hours is a little excessive.
I decide to pour myself a glass of wine and sit on the couch with the romance novel I purchased earlier this week to wind down from the day. Maybe this will get me in the mood for my date tonight. I want to make sure that I’m concentrated on Tyler and not Dante. It’s only fair to him.
I try to focus on the eReader in my hand but I keep replaying that last conversation I had with Dante repeatedly in my head. The more I think about him questioning my safety and making me promise to call him if I have a problem, the more I realize that he still sees me as the same kid he saw four years ago, the day Bianca and I moved into our dorm. It doesn’t make me angry as much as it makes me sad. I’ve always known that I never had a shot with him but if he can’t think of me as a woman after all these years, even now that I work for him, then there really is no hope. It’s time to lean heavily into this date with Tyler.
Just as I finish my glass of wine and am about to hop into the shower the front door bursts open and an enraged Bianca comes storming through, slamming it behind her.
“Our new neighbor is a total asshole!” Her volume raises on the word asshole and I know she hopes said new neighbor can hear her from inside. I glance out the window and spot a tall, imposing figure glaring in our direction.
“Is that him?” I ask.
Bianca leans across me so that she can look out the window as well and instead of ducking back instantly like I would do, she instead gives the man a smile and wave. He doesn’t look impressed. In fact, he spins on his heel and starts stomping toward the house next door. It isn’t until then that I notice the boxes lining his porch.
“Did he just move in today?”
“With any luck, he’ll move out today too,” she huffs. I’m surprised by her reaction to our new neighbor. Bianca doesn’t normally let much bother her. He really must have gotten under her skin.
“What happened?”
“He practically tried to arrest me,” she says throwing her hands up into the air.
“What are you talking about? What could he possibly have you arrested for?”
“So, I parked my car the teensiest bit over into his driveway. You know how parking is on this street, it’s impossible to find a spot and I’m used to that house being empty.”
“Okay, so he asked you to move it?”
“Ha!” she says without any humor. “He didn’t ask a damn thing. He demanded I move it. I mean seriously, Vi. It’s like an inch into his driveway.” My eyebrow raises in a silent challenge. I don’t think either of them would be worked up over an inch. “Okay, so maybe it was more like a foot... or two. It doesn’t matter! He can totally get his car in and out of the driveway. And you know me, Vi. I would have moved it if it was a real problem.” I just nod my head along, waiting for her to get out the entire story. Bianca’s always been a bit dramatic, I just figure it’s the artist in her. “He just kept demanding I move it so I told him if he was that worried about it he could call the cops.”
I suck in a breath, that seemed to have escalated quickly. “He’s going to call the cops on you?”
“No! That’s when he told me hewasa cop.”
“And that’s when he threatened to arrest you?”
“Well, he didn’t expressly threaten to arrest me... but it was implied! So instead of giving him another moment of my time I just took off and came home. I mean can you believe that? We’re going to have to live next door to this guy? What an asshole!”
I take a moment to weigh my words, trying to be diplomatic. “At least you know now that parking there is a bad idea. Next time you can find somewhere else.” Bianca lets out a groan and flops down onto the couch beside me. “At least he’s kinda cute. Hey, you wanted a hot guy to move in, remember?”
“I didn’t want one that was an assholeanda cop. God, what a nightmare.” She sits up suddenly and turns to face me. “I know! You should totally bake him something!” She’s got a grin on her face that stretches from ear to ear and looks only mildly terrifying.
I know I should feel insulted at the devious glee she has at the thought of me giving our new neighbor one of my creations but instead I find it almost as amusing as she does. Hey, I know where my talents lie and even though I love it, baking is not high on my skill set. “Are you trying to poison our neighbor with my innocent baked goods?”
“I’m just saying, he deserves a friendly welcome-to-the-neighborhood present, that’s all.” She leans over and gives me a tight squeeze before releasing me. “Hey, don’t you have your date tonight?” I feel bad that she’s asking with more excitement than I’m actually feeling so I once again try to get in the right headspace to have a good date with Tyler.
“Yup, I sure do. I was just about to start getting ready.”
She checks her watch and looks at me with wide eyes. “You better get a move on. I would be doing my makeup by now if it were me.” Oh, I have no doubt about that. Bianca’s beauty routine probably has about twenty more steps than my own. Every time she walks out of the house she looks like she’s ready to hit the runway. I have neither the time nor inclination.
“Do you want to help me with mine? You know I suck at blending and all that stuff.”
She claps her hands together. “I would love to. This is so exciting, Vi!”
“Before I forget, let me text you where I’m meeting him and his full name. You know, all that good stuff, just in case.”
“Perfect, and if you need an urgent call to get you out of it, I’m your girl.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I laugh nervously, hoping I won’t need it.
