She giggles. “Yeah, I am. I just hate these Jimmy Choos I have to wear.”
I narrow my gaze to her fabulous heels and throw a cushion at her. Mary comes out of my room wearing one of my tight black mini dresses. It hugs her figure perfectly. We’re practically the same size except she’s a few inches taller.
“Wow, you’re hot, cuz.”
She smiles and looks me over. “And so are you, even rocking those socks.”
I kiss them both goodbye and tell Mary I’ll leave the door unlocked for her. I watch an episode of The Walking Dead and make myself too scared to go to bed, so I go to my piano and enjoy the fact that I can’t wake anyone up while I play.
The darkness found me, swallowed me deep,
But I belong to you, I’m not his to keep.
Bring me back, show me the light,
Don’t leave me here alone to fight.
My tears are drowning me,
The pain is too much,
Tell me you see me,
Revive me with your touch.
Show me that love that I need to feel,
Show me that love, show me it’s real.
Show me that love that wakes me from him,
Show me that love that ignites me within.
“You’re amazing.”
I jump from the piano bench, startled to see a man standing in my kitchen, watching me.
I can’t catch my breath enough to scream out.
Fight or flight has my eyes scanning the space around me for a weapon so I can defend myself from this intruder.
He’s holding his hands up in a manner of approaching a wounded child. “Don’t be scared.”
Screw you.
As my heart finds its rhythm again, I take a minute to look at him. He’s tall, with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. His smile is genuine and reaches his eyes. He’s well-built and wearing a black sweater, leather jacket, and black jeans.
“I’m sorry to startle you and to stop you playing. You’re incredible, but I felt uncomfortable standing here without your knowledge.”
I’m a little thrown by that statement, considering he’s a stranger that has entered my home and is now standing in my kitchen, staring at me.
I leave my door open because the building is so secure, but now I’m berating myself. I should know better, especially with everything going on with James. He looks oddly familiar, and then it hits me. He looks like a slightly older version of Gavin. Well, damn.
I follow his gaze as he looks up the length of my body. I see that I’m standing practically in my underwear. What is it with me and flashing people? Grabbing a cushion from the chair in the corner, I hold it over my body, covering up fuck all. I scrunch my nose at my stupidity. I must look like a freak.
He bites his lip to stifle a laugh that slips free. “I’m sorry. I’ll turn around while you find something that covers you.” He turns around, but he smirks before he does and takes one more look over my body. The familiar smile is pure Gavin. Shimmying past him, I grab the blanket I keep on the back of the sofa.
“Do you mind telling me why you deem it appropriate to enter a woman’s home, scare the shit out of her, and not even explain who you are? I’m one step away from kicking your arse.”
He turns back to me, eyebrows high, and that familiar smirk plastered on his face. “I’m sorry. I’m Aidan. Please don’t kick my ass.” He laughs, eyeing my now covered body again. “I didn’t mean to scare you, and as for entering your home, Gavin told me you would be sleeping and that he left you a note and my key.” I walk over to the counter, and sure enough, there’s a note that I missed earlier
Antonia,
Left the spare key for Aidan. He’s getting in late. Leave the door open if you go to bed. I told him you wouldn’t mind him letting himself in. If you’re feeling brave, get that sexy ass of yours down the club, we’ve missed your gorgeous voice (and ass) down here.
Love from your ridiculously good-looking neighbor
I can’t help but smile. “Well, Aidan, I’m Antonia, your NEIGHBOR.”
I reach out, offering him a hand to shake after toga wrapping my body in the blanket that irritates my skin.
He takes my hand and gives it a gentle shake.
“You’re much more than that,” he informs me, then clarifies. “You’re a good friend of Gavin’s. He speaks very highly of you, which, considering you’re a woman and you haven’t slept with him, is a very rare thing indeed.” I see the love that Aidan has for Gavin in his eyes when he speaks of him.
“I’m very fond of him. I think he’s too hard on himself. He doesn’t think he’s worthy of a decent woman’s love.” Wow, I don’t know where that came from, or why the need to share with Aidan, who’s a stranger to me
“That’s very perceptive.” He steps forward so he’s close enough that I can smell his cologne, or maybe it’s body wash. Whatever it is, he smells like the forest after it’s rained. “I know he’s been struggling lately and I appreciate you looking out for him. He doesn’t have many people that do.”
I look up at his sincerity. “What about you? Does he have you?”
His eyes never waver. “Yes. I love my brother and want what’s best for him.”
I feel my head bopping up and down. “Good.” I smile. “Then I think maybe we will be friends too.”
He takes my hand and softly kisses it. “I hope so.”
He opens the door and steps out. I hold the door open and wave.
THE ELEVATOR DOORS OPEN and I’m surprised to see Aidan on the landing, and Antonia standing in her doorway, wrapped in that awful itchy blanket she keeps on her sofa. The number of times I’ve woken up from being passed out on her couch to a rash from that fucking fuzzy thing is too many to count.
“Hey. My temporary manager made an appearance so I got off early.” I grin. “I see you’ve welcomed my brother in the special Antonia way.”
I drop my eyes to roam her tight little body, tipping my head to the side for effect.
“I didn’t see your note, so yes, your brother got the Antonia special; me flustered,” she moans.
“I’ve witnessed the Antonia special, and believe me, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. I still revisit that image. It’s safely tucked away in my spank bank.”
Her eyes widen and her mouth drops. “You’re such a perv.” She dashes off and returns to throw shit at me. I catch what she’s hurling.
“Peaches?” I laugh and bite into one as another one flies at me.
“Don’t eat them! Give them back. You weren’t meant to eat them. They’re Mary’s.” She waddles towards me, the blanket restricting her movements. “Give me them,” she demands.
Laughing at her unfortunate attire, I jog around her.
“If I weren’t wrapped in this, I would kick your arse.”
Laughter tumbles from my lips, and Aidan’s trying to hide his amusement.
“You could always drop it?” I suggest.
Chiming from her phone draws our attention. I raise an eyebrow and gesture with my thumb. “Better hurry.”
She throws an evil eye my way and scurries into her apartment. “I’m telling Mary you ate her peaches,” she calls out over her shoulder.