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Yet, as I wander through my apartment, I can’t shake the thought of Pearl. Her sweet innocence, her subtle beauty, her warmth. She’s a far cry from Tiffany, my ex, and I can’t deny that I’m intrigued.
So, for now, I’ll continue to watch her from afar, trying to tame the desire that’s slowly building inside me. But as each day passes, it becomes harder and harder to ignore.
“Damn you, Pearl Faye,” I mutter under my breath, knowing full well that no matter how hard I try, she’s not someone I can easily forget.
* * *
After a long day at work, I step onto my balcony, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. But she’s nowhere in sight, and I’m left alone with my thoughts.
“Josh, you’ve been through this before,” I remind myself. My past has taught me to be cautious when it comes to love. And yet, I can’t help but wonder if things would be different with Pearl.
“Hey, neighbor!” a voice calls out, interrupting my grim thoughts. I look up to see Pearl standing on her balcony, waving at me. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Hey, Pearl,” I greet her. “How was your day?”
“Pretty good, actually,” she says, leaning against her balcony railing. “Yours?”
“Long,” I admit. “But it’s always nice to come home and unwind out here.”
“Agreed,” she smiles. Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I let myself drawn into them.
Then she waves shyly.
“See you around, Josh,” she says, giving me one last smile before heading back inside.
As I stand there, alone on my balcony, I can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, it’s time to take a chance on love again.
3
THE GYM
PEARL
I enter the gym with the intention of getting a quick morning workout. As soon as I step inside, my eyes are drawn to Josh. He’s currently dominating the bench press, his muscles flexing with every push of the barbell. Sweat glistens on his well-toned arms, and my throat instantly goes dry.
“Damn,” I whisper to myself, trying to force my gaze away from him. But it’s nearly impossible; he’s like a magnet, pulling me in without any effort on his part.
JOSH
The gym has always been my sanctuary, a place where I can unwind and focus solely on pushing my body to its limits. Today, however, I find myself struggling to concentrate as my hot, curvy neighbor, Pearl, enters the room.
I catch her staring at me, and I can’t help but feel a surge of pride at the admiration in her eyes. She tries to look away, but I know she’s still watching through the mirror. And hell if I don’t love it.
“Hey, Pearl,” I call out, straining to lift the heavy weights.
PEARL
My cheeks flush at the sound of Josh’s deep voice. I quickly hop onto the nearest treadmill, attempting to play it cool. “Hey, Josh,” I reply, forcing a smile.
He smiles, finishing his set and sitting up to face me.
“Good Lord,” I breathe out, letting my eyes roam over his six plus feet of pure, hard muscle, my voice barely audible over the hum of the treadmill beneath me.
JOSH
I can’t help but smirk at Pearl’s response to me. She’s always shy around me, but there’s something about seeing her all flustered that makes me want to peel her layers.
“Maybe we should work out together sometime,” I suggest, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. “I could show you a thing or two.”
