He was also scowling. Like I’d personally offended him by existing.
For a long moment, neither of us moved. I considered waving, introducing myself, doing the normal neighborly thing. Before I could decide, he turned and walked inside. The door closed behind him with a definitive click.
“Okay then,” I said to no one. “Nice to meet you too.”
I rolled up my yoga mat and went inside, telling myself not to feel self-conscious. So the neighbor had seen me doing yoga. Big deal. I was fully clothed. Mostly clothed, anyway. Sports bras covered more than some bikini tops.
Still, something about his stare stayed with me as I showered and got dressed for the day. It hadn’t been friendly. But it hadn’t been openly hostile, either. It had been…intense. Like he was trying to figure something out.
I shook off the thought and set up my study station at the kitchen table. Laptop open. Textbooks stacked. Color-coded highlighters lined up in a perfect little row.
I had three weeks to cram as much legal knowledge into my brain as humanly possible. I didn’t have time to worry about grumpy neighbors.
The morning passed quickly. I worked through two chapters of property law, took notes on an online lecture, and quizzed myself on key concepts. By noon, my brain felt like mush, but I pushed through. That was why I was here.
Around four o’clock, I decided to reward myself with a cup of tea. I filled the kettle, set it on the stove, and turned on the burner. While I waited for it to boil, I wandered into the bathroom to wash my face.
That was when I noticed the water was cold.
Not cool. Not lukewarm. Cold.
I turned the handle all the way to hot and waited. Nothing. Just a steady stream of icy water that made me yelp when I stuck my hand under it.
“No, no, no,” I muttered, rushing to the kitchen sink. Same thing. Cold water only.
Something was wrong with the hot water heater.
I found Eunice’s instructions and flipped through them, heart thudding. There was an entire section dedicated to the heater, complete with a diagram and troubleshooting tips. I followed each step carefully. Checked the pilot light. Checked the thermostat. Checked the pressure valve.
Nothing worked.
I texted Eunice.
Hi! So sorry to bother you, but the hot water heater seems to be broken. I tried all the troubleshooting steps but no luck. Any suggestions?
Her reply came twenty minutes later, while I was still standing in the utility closet, glaring at the unit like I could shame it into working.
Oh no! That thing is so temperamental. I should have warned you. Ask Kai next door—he fixes everything for me. Just knock and tell him I sent you. He won’t mind.
Kai. The same guy who’d stared at me mid–downward dog and vanished without a word?
Great.
I glanced down at myself. I’d pulled on an oversized sweatshirt, determined to get more studying done before showering. My hair was twisted into a messy bun, and I wasn’t wearing any makeup. Not that it mattered. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I just wanted hot water.
I crossed the yard and climbed the steps to his porch before I could overthink it. The cabin was quiet. No lights visible through the windows. I knocked anyway.
Nothing.
I knocked again, louder. “Hello? I’m Emory—from next door. Eunice said you might be able to help me with something.”
Heavy footsteps approached. Then the door opened.
Up close, he was even more imposing. His eyes were dark—brown or deep hazel—and they swept over me with the same intensity I’d felt that morning. His jaw was sharp, his shoulders impossibly wide, and he had the kind of presence that seemed to take up space all on its own.
He didn’t say anything. Just waited.
“Hi,” I said, aiming for cheerful. “I’m house-sitting for Eunice. My hot water heater isn’t working, and she said you might be able to help.”
