“Hey, bud, how are you doing?” I bend down, scoop him up, and bring him to my chest. He lets out a loudbaroo-type howl before attacking my face, attempting to give me his version of kisses.
“I guess you had a good night and early morning,” I say. I hired a dog walker for the early hours of the evening, then pay another neighbor to take him out one last time before they head for bed. They do it again in the morning, taking him out for me, and when I make it home, he’s ready for a nap right along with me.
“Alright, shower, snack, and then bed.” I make a mental note to talk to my neighbor and should probably figure out who left the letter in order to apologize.
I rub behind his ears, and he squirms out of my arms, trying to bite my fingers. Did I mention he’s only a pup, barely fourmonths old, and had a rough start? The minute I let him down on the ground, the zoomies take hold, as well as his voice. He won’t stop until I play with him, and as tired as I am, at least having a good morning in the form of the pretty woman in the parking lot and this little man makes it a hell of a lot better.
2
Kara
“Oh my god, the note must have worked.” I wake up on my own—no alarm, no blaring television—and feel rested for the first time in what feels like forever. I’m overexaggerating because there were nights when Nellie would keep us up every hour on the hour, I’d be recovering from a surgery, and we’d all rally on little to no sleep. I guess now that I’m older, more set in my ways, regular sleep is much needed and much appreciated.
I slide out of bed, relishing the fact that it’s the weekend, my two-week notice is officially submitted to my current employer, and I’ll be working at the shop alongside my brother. Well, in the office. I refuse to work with grease and men who burp and fart like it’s their life mission, all while listening to them complain about life in general. The exception of the last part is my brother: he listens to me bitch, so it’s only fair I listen to him doing the same.
The top half of my leg aches into my knee, probably from using the stairs more than I usually would in my everyday life, but it’s part of creating a home of my own. It’s well worth it to be able to have a place I can put my stamp on, come and go as I please, and make my way out into the world. You would think I’m freshly eighteen years old, just starting out, but getting into a terrible accident and needing your family to depend on comeswith a price. My independence was that cost. In a span of a few weeks, I was forced into a complete and total one-eighty in how I lived. My parents and brother somehow managed to pack up my then apartment and help me file for short-term disability, all while my brother had to run back and forth to the hospital, if he even left, to take care of both Nellie and me.
That saying, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It couldn’t be more suited for me as a reminder and is something I say anytime I have an ache or pain. I also did something for myself a few months ago: I made a tattoo appointment and had it placed in an area you can only see when I’m naked or if I wear a two-piece bathing suit, something I don’t do when I’m around my family, specifically Nellie. On my lower hip, wrapped delicately from the front to the back, is a quote in dark scroll, feminine and dainty, that says:Nevertheless, she persevered.
I massage the area, and the throbbing settles down instantly, and since my new apartment building has a pool, I think I’ll head there on my day off.
At first, I’d contemplated packing a bag, stopping at Colt’s, snagging Nellie, and heading to my parents’ place. They have a pool, free food, and a bed to nap in should I feel so inclined. Then I thought better of it. The whole point of having my own apartment is to have my independence. Besides that, I ate dinner with everyone last night, on a Friday night, nonetheless.
Colt, his woman, Sable, and Nellie were in attendance. My brother and I talked about my pending job at the shop. How he’s more than ready, and the other person he had working there was happy to hand over the reins and said there was no bad blood. Sable and Nellie were going to work on painting Nellie’s bedroom, which put the kibosh on doing anything with my niece, which worked out for the better, especially with my leg and knee giving me issues.
I grab my oversized shirt, slip it over my head, and stand up from the bed. When I put weight on both feet, there’s no wobbling or creaking. We’re off to a good start.
That’s when I hear it. The television is on in the apartment next door. It’s lower than normal and not at all as loud as it has been. I move through my apartment to take care of the bathroom situation, bypassing looking at the mirror because the back of my head after not brushing my hair last night is not my business. I flush the toilet, wash my hands, brush my teeth, and walk back into my bedroom.
After a quick change of clothes, slipping into my bikini, grabbing my pool bag I keep at the ready, sliding my feet into a pair of flip flops, and tying a wrap around my waist, I’m ready to head out. There was once a time when I’d try to hide the scarring on my upper thigh down to my mid-calf in different sections. But there’s no denying the slight limp, so why try to hide my battle wounds?
I don’t plan on being at the pool very long, so I’ll forgo food or caffeine of any variety. The sooner I stretch out the sore muscles, the better I’ll feel, and then I can truly start my day. I walk through my apartment, loving the easy feel and cozy vibe of the place with its rich textures, contrasting colors, and the subtle jewel tones that bounce off the walls when the sun hits them the right way. A soft smile plays at my lips as I take the keys out of the iridescent carnival glass I picked up at an antique store. The steep price put a dent in my bank account, but it was well worth it.
When I open the door, it’s to the warm sun. Having a hot day in February is rare even for Florida. Lucky for me, the outdoor pool on the property is heated during the winter months, meaning the water is a warm seventy-five degrees, no matter the temperature outside.
“Holy fuck, Batman.” I step outside onto the shared space where I’ve got a small welcome mat and a black metal stand with a Pothos plant, the blooms spilling over in long strands. I was worried it might go through some kind of trauma with the move, but it’s clearly thriving.
The plant isn’t what I’m breathing heavy for. It’s for a different reason entirely.
“Finally. It’s about time you showed up.” My neighbor greets me in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. His skin glistens from what I can only assume is a shower. One lone drop cascades down his sternum. My tongue slides along my dry lips, and I completely miss the undertone of annoyance in his voice.
Nope, I’m too dumbfounded by the packing of muscle he’s carrying, his broad shoulders, strong arms, and a chest that makes me want to knead each dip and groove as I explore my way down to his abdomen. And the light smattering of hair that leads down to his happy trail. I’m clearly sex deprived because I swear to whatever is holy, there’s a slight twitch beneath the green fabric of his cotton towel.
“You’re late.” My eyes snap up, and realization hits at the same time it does him. My nosey neighbor is none other than the man I’ve seen in the parking lot, and if looks could kill, he’d surely be dead by the one I’m sending his way.
All week, I’ve been kept up by his blasted television. Every night, I thought I’d slowly lose my mind. And it’s been him all along.
“Late for what exactly?” I cross my arms over my chest, wait for an explanation, and watch as he does a long perusal of his own. This ought to be interesting. Maybe swimming will do more than help my leg; it might help the swirling hormones that are currently in overdrive, too.
3
Dean
Fucking fuck. Never did I think the woman in the parking lot would be my next-door neighbor or that she’d have a rocking figure as hot as what she’s currently showing off. I guess it’s a good thing I came outside when Scout heard footsteps, alerting me to the fact that the dog walker I hired to come daily was here. The unexpected callout had me fumbling to get shit done with a quickness like no other. Hence why I flew out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist, dripping wet.
“Shit, you’re not the dog walker,” I toss out like I don’t have a fucking brain between my ears.
“Yeah, that’d be a big fat no. You have a dog?” There’s a contemplative look on her face, like something is finally clicking. Apparently, I’m having the same damn epiphany. She must be the one who left a note on my door, and wouldn’t you know it, I’m not pissed at all anymore that I might be late. In fact, I could stand here all day, looking at her, and not have a fucking care in the world.
