Number Neighbors

by Hart, Emma

  I sighed and looked around the store. It was lunchtime now and nobody was here, so I walked out from behind the register and flipped the sign on the door, then turned the key to lock it.

  “All done?” Immy asked.

  I nodded, walking through to the back to join her. She’d come in through the back door and the seating area smelled like tacos and coffee.

  AKA, the closest thing to food heaven without there being wine involved.

  I sat down in the sofa and grabbed the bag to unload the food. “How’s Grandma?”

  “Fine. It was just a checkup for her blood pressure meds.” Immy sat down. “God knows why she’s on them. I’m the one who damn well needs them with her around.”

  She wasn’t kidding. “Did you find out what happened last night?”

  “Yeah, it’s exactly as we thought. They played one round of bingo, Evelyn won, and they all took off to the nearest bar which happened to be Pete’s. She admitted they planned on getting a cab back to the bingo hall before I said I’d pick them up.” She pursed her lips. “It’s absolutely ridiculous. I told her she’s grounded.”

  “You grounded her?” I burst out laughing. “Oh, my God. I bet that went down well.”

  “Like a brick on my head,” she admitted. “Did you see Isaac when you got home last night?”

  My cheeks flamed.

  Immy’s jaw dropped. “You saw all of him, didn’t you?”

  I bit into my taco so I didn’t have to answer her. I was a grown up like that.

  “Hannah!” She reached over and whacked me in the shoulder. “Tell me!”

  I groaned, chewed, then swallowed. “Yes, okay? Fine. We had sex.”

  She squealed. “Did he stay over?”

  I nodded.

  Another squeal. “Now what happens?”

  “I… don’t know.” I sighed and put down the taco. “I really don’t. It’s not like we knew each other particularly well before this all happened. But he did know the plant I’ve been watering for years is actually fake.”

  “The one by your TV?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Huh. I thought that was real.”

  I held out my hands. “Same. Obviously. Anyway, I guess I don’t know. I’m feeling a little uncertain about it all, you know? I can’t decide if we’re just here because of all those text messages or not.”

  “That makes sense. I mean, you’ve had a bit of a crush on him for ages, but I guess I’d feel the same way you do right now.”

  I grimaced. “I don’t know how to bring it up either. I don’t want him to outright say he’s done now that I gave up the goods, but I also want to know whether there’s something real in all this or not.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “I like him,” I admitted, letting the words hang in the air for a moment. It was the first time I’d said it out loud, and it was only now that I realized just how true it was.

  I liked Isaac.

  I was growing real feelings for him, and now I was scared of what would happen.

  “I really like him,” I continued. “He’s funny and handsome and that accent doesn’t hurt either.”

  “Does he fuck in a British accent?” Immy asked, balking when I glared at her. “Sorry. I just wondered.”

  “No, but he dirty talks during it in a British accent, so there’s that.”

  “Nice.” She nodded slowly. “You might just have to get it over and done with. Just ask him how he feels, Hannah. You’re an adult. You can do it.”

  “Like you did with Mason you mean?”

  “Totally different situation.”

  “The principle is the same.”

  “Ugh, shut up.” Immy shook her head and picked up her coffee. “Look, Han, your fears are totally valid. I bet he’s probably wondering something similar. You’re just gonna have to open yourself up to take a little bit of a risk, that’s all.”

  “I hate risk-taking,” I muttered, picking a jalapeno off one of my tacos. “Stop putting jalapenos on my damn tacos.”

  She reached over and took the little pile I’d made, sprinkling them on hers so she had double the peppers. “That’s why I do it.”

  “I know. When do you think I should talk to him?”

  “As soon as possible. The worst that can happen is you go back to normal where you pass as neighbors and that’s the end of it.”

  “He’s also Lucifer’s vet now.”

  “Yeah, but you’re getting rid of the kitten, aren’t you?”

  “Oh, stop it. We all know the Lord of Darkness isn’t going anywhere,” I huffed.

  Immy grinned. “We were right about that. I’m right about Isaac, too.”

  “I know you’re right, but that doesn’t make it any easier, does it? Like, the situation is no less simple.” I looked down and picked at my taco again. I really didn’t have much of an appetite. It was hard to want food when your heart was all twisted up in knots.

  “No, it doesn’t. But for what it’s worth, I don’t think he would have tried as hard as he has with you so far if he wasn’t interested in you. I know you, you always expect the worst, so think of it like this: the worst he’s going to do is tell you he isn’t interested in taking it further.”

  “Wow. That helps so much.”

  “That sounded better in my head.”

  “No kidding. Don’t audition for the part of Cupid anytime soon. Best to avoid the agony aunt columns, too.” I fought a smile. “But I know what you mean. I already texted him earlier to book Lucifer’s vaccines, so I’ll probably see him later.”

  “And just ask,” Immy said. “It’s better to know the truth and be hurt than it is to ignore it just because you think it might suck.”

  “All right, Socrates, calm down.”

  “Who the hell is Socrates?”

  I rolled my eyes and picked my taco back up.

  The girl needed to learn Google, that was for sure.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN – HANNAH

  Bribery For The Win

  I hauled the grocery bag out of the back of my car and put the trunk down. It’d been two days since I’d seen Isaac because our schedules just hadn’t lined up. We’d talked some over text, but not at all today yet.

  Which was fine.

  Mostly.

  I was starting to feel like a crazy lady. I didn’t really want to be that weird lunatic who obsessed over things, but it was the weird timing of everything. We’d slept together and now we hadn’t been able to see each other.

  I know. It didn’t make sense, but it was true.

  When I’d planned to speak to him two days ago, he’d ended up staying late at the clinic for an emergency surgery. Yesterday, I’d worked all day then had dinner and drinks with Immy and Francesca, so I hadn’t seen him then, either.

  It just hadn’t worked, but such was life.

  I knocked three times on Grandma’s door and pushed it open. “Hey, Grandma! I have your groceries.”

  “Thanks, dear! Put them on the table and—no, you’re reading the instructions wrong!”

  I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  “Can you bring me some water?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” I rolled my eyes as I set my purse and the grocery bag on the kitchen side and headed into the living room.

  “It’s that screw!” Grandma shrieked, pointing at one of the long ones on the floor.

  Isaac was sitting on the floor, surrounded by flat pieces of wood. “It’s not that screw!”

  “What on Earth is going on here?” I looked around the hot mess that was the living room—the kind of mess that was going to make Immy lose her mind.

  Isaac looked up at me. “I fell for the cheesecake bribe.”

  I looked at Mason who was sitting on the other side of the wood staring at the instructions. “Why are you here?”

  “I also fell for the bribe,” he said reluctantly.

  “I here for da cookies!” Maya grinned from the sofa, kicking her legs. She held up a large cookie th
at had a bite taken out of it. “I maded dem!”

  I grinned. I loved that kid. “Is there one for me?”

  “Uh-huh, uh-huh.” She looked down at her plate. “Um, no. I ated dem.”

  I fought a laugh and looked at Grandma. “Did you really bribe them both with cheesecake? I wondered why you needed so much from the store.”

  “She sent you to buy the things for it?” Mason looked from me to Grandma. “Jen, you’re getting worse.”

  Grandma clasped a hand to her chest. “I’m in my eighties! What are my family for if not to do things I demand of them?”

  “I’m not family,” Isaac said. “How did I end up here?”

  Grandma looked him dead in the eye. “You were weak.”

  Well, there was no arguing with that.

  I sat down in what seemed like the only free space left in the living room. Maya had taken up the entire sofa with her cuddly toys and her blanket, so I sat on the edge of a wooden dining chair that usually held Grandma’s knitting things.

  “Is this the bookshelf?” I asked. “What do you even need a bookshelf for? You still have two empty shelves on the one in your room.”

  “I want to display my favorite books in the living room,” she replied without batting an eyelid. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Lots of people do it.”

  “Yes, but most people don’t have the Kama Sutra on their bookshelf,” Mason said. “I still don’t know why it takes two of us to build this.”

  “I just wanted to watch you.” Grandma sat back in her armchair and picked up a glass I was pretty sure contained a gin and tonic. “Two hot, young boys building a bookshelf? Aye, papi.”

  I blinked at her. “Do not ever say ‘aye, papi’ again. You are too white to pull that off.”

  “And too old,” Mason muttered.

  Grandma pulled off her slipper and threw it at him. “I heard that.”

  “When do we get the cheesecake?” Isaac asked. “Because this is the most complicated bookshelf in the world. I’m going to need sustenance.”

  “Boy, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were only here for the cheesecake.”

  “I am only here for the cheesecake.” He checked a screw against the instructions. “I’m not here on my day off for the fun of it. There are a million other things I could be doing right now other than this, you know.”

  “Are you sassin’ me?”

  “I don’t know what that means,” he replied, unbothered. “I assume it’s you butchering the English language again.”

  “He’s feisty,” Grandma said, looking at me and raising her glass. “Marry him.”

  I glared at her, hoping nobody saw the burning of my cheeks. Not that it was likely—they felt like they were on fire. They probably were. That was my default, after all.

  “She looks like she wants to.” Mason grinned.

  I snapped my glare his way. “You know, when you marry into this family, she’ll be your problem, too.”

  That wiped the grin right off his face.

  “I take offense at being called a problem,” Grandma said. “I’m a delight.”

  “Can we focus now?” Isaac said. “I have to get home for a phone call and I don’t particularly want to spend my free time in the next week trying to get this done.”

  “Who are you talking to? Are you cheating on my granddaughter?”

  “Grandma!” I facepalmed.

  Isaac glanced my way with a smirk. “My mother.”

  “Oh.” Grandma looked somewhat deflated. “You’re just perfect, aren’t you?”

  “Careful,” Mason muttered. “She’ll try and get you to move in next.”

  “I heard that, Mason. One more bit of attitude from you and there’ll be no cheesecake for you.” She shuffled toward the edge of the chair and stood up, then made her way out to the kitchen, leaving us all alone.

  I moved to her more comfortable chair. “Why were you arguing over screws?”

  “Because your grandmother,” Mason said dryly. “Isn’t that enough of an explanation?”

  True that.

  “These are definitely the right ones,” Isaac said, holding up the ones he was using before.

  “I know,” Mason replied. “Just ignore Jen. You’ll get used to it when you marry Hannah.”

  I grabbed the nearest cushion and threw it at his head. “Wash your mouth out. You’ll get married before I do.”

  “You’re right. It takes a special man to take the Anderson brand of crazy.”

  “And I suppose you’re that special man, are you?” I raised one eyebrow. “How noble of you.”

  He grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll give your future husband tips.”

  Isaac looked between us. “He’s gonna need ‘em,” he added on a chuckle.

  I threw a cushion at him, too. Just to be fair.

  ***

  “Byeeee!” Maya waved before she left, trailing her blanket behind her.

  I waved goodbye from the living room and picked up some of the trash left behind from the building of the bookshelf. Grandma was taking a nap, having sufficiently tired herself out from all her grouching.

  “Well that was a treat,” Isaac said, taking the trash from me.

  “No kidding. Welcome to my crazy life. You’re gonna need a Xanax prescription,” I said dryly, grabbing some of the cardboard. “That, or the key to the liquor cupboard Immy locked up.”

  “She locked the liquor cupboard? Hasn’t your grandma been drinking gin all afternoon?”

  “Immy thinks she’s smart. Grandma’s smarter.” I shrugged and held the door open for him to carry the trash outside since neither of his hands were free. Following him out, I said, “It’s a constant battle of wits. How did she rope you into coming over here today anyway?”

  He sighed as he dumped the trash in the can. “She called the clinic and spun some elaborate story about an injured horse and how she needed to call me right away but she’d lost her phone when her peacock threw it in the pond.”

  With anyone else, I’d think that was insane.

  For Grandma Jen? Not so much.

  “Makes sense. So she called you and told you to come over?”

  “That’s pretty much it.” We went back inside and gathered the rest of the trash, and he said, “I was going to stop by and see you this morning, but then she called and by the time she hung up, you’d gone.”

  “She must have called me right before you.” Damn woman. “That doesn’t seem deliberate at all.”

  He smirked. “She tried to push us together. Does she know that we live next to each other?”

  “Yeah, and how well has that worked out the past couple of days?”

  Laughing, he shut the door behind him and turned to meet my eyes. “Come here.”

  “For what?”

  “Damn, Hannah. You’re much more obedient when you’re naked.”

  I reached out to slap his arm, but he was much quicker than me. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into him, circling one of his strong arms around my waist. With me secure against him, he released my wrist and used that hand to cup my cheek so he could kiss me.

  It was soft and gentle, the kind of kiss that made your toes curl inside your shoes.

  One I could relive a thousand times over.

  “I guess we need to talk,” I said softly.

  “I agree.” His voice was warm, and weirdly, that reassured me.

  Plus, he wouldn’t have kissed me if he was going to tell me he wasn’t interested, right?

  “Let’s go to the backyard so Grandma can’t eavesdrop so easily.” I took him by the hand and lead him through the house to the yard. The back porch gave us a little reprieve from the hot sun that was beating down, and we both took a seat on the sofa.

  “This is nice,” Isaac said. “This porch is amazing.”

  I nodded. “Grandma wanted a bigger porch, so she made Immy put one on.”

  “Is it Immy’s house?”

  Again, I nodded. “Grandma wanted to downsize, bu
t there was nothing around in the budget she’d set for herself. Immy bought this house using part of her inheritance from our grandfather and offered to let Grandma move in. There was a slight misunderstanding because Immy meant temporarily, and, well, Grandma has very much made this her home.”

  “That fits with absolutely everything I’ve learnt about your grandmother so far. She’s quite a strong personality, isn’t she?”

  “That’s the polite way of putting it.” I let a small laugh escape. “She’s many things, but beneath it all, she’s the best. Just don’t tell her I said that, for God’s sake.”

  He mimed zipping his lips. “Your secret is safe with me. Unless she gets me drunk. I’m a bit of a talker when I’m drunk.”

  “Interesting. So all I have to do is get you hammered and I’ll know all your dirty secrets?”

  “I don’t have any dirty secrets.” His grin was lopsided. “Do you?”

  “Only the ones that have been buried.” My smile matched his. “We’re just talking for the sake of it, aren’t we?”

  He nodded slowly, then adjusted his body so his arm was on the back of the sofa and he was facing me. “I know this is a bit awkward after what happened between us. Not seeing each other.”

  “I know. It’s not like we did it on purpose, though. Maybe it’s the universe trying to tell us something,” I joked.

  He wasn’t laughing.

  “Do you really believe that?” His face was solemn, and his eyes were unreadable. All laughter had disappeared, though, I knew that much.

  I shrugged, pushing some hair behind my ear. “I’m not sure, Isaac. I do know that I’ve been wrapped up in my own head and overthinking everything since you left my house. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing.”

  “Talk to me.” He took a small section of my hair between his fingers and played with it. “What are you thinking, love?”

  Ugh.

  I loved it when he called me that. It rolled off his tongue so perfectly it could give me shivers.

  “Is this just because of the texts? We obviously had a mutual—if secret—attraction to each other before all this happened, otherwise neither of us would have considered having sex. But my worry is that now, this is all happening just because of the text messages.”