Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

Adrian

To avoid thinking about the hottest man I’d ever seen in person and his children delivering my toilet paper to me yesterday, I attempted to focus on studying for cybersecurity. Did the rational part of me know that Victor didn’t realize he’d carried over a wipe-my-ass box? Yes. Did that make me feel any better? No. Was I well aware that everybody used the bathroom? Again, yes, but that didn’t make me feel any less embarrassed.

I’d almost called Josh last night to tell him about my latest embarrassment, but he’d use that as another excuse to beg me to come spend the holidays with him. No, I’d suffer with my misery inside my own house alone. I’d make sure I never ran into Victor and his children again. Not that I was sure how I’d do that since they lived next door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” The only time anyone came to my door was with a package, which was why I’d answered yesterday without checking out the window. I’ve been expecting that shipment, even if who delivered it took me by surprise. But that was the only thing I ordered this week.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

For fuck’s sake. Who the hell could it be? I went to the front door and yanked it open, ready to give someone a piece of my mind for bothering me. I was startled to see the neighbors on my doorstep once again. “Uhh…”

“Hey, Mr. Adrian, do you have a cup of sugar so I can have brownies,” the little boy, Jeremy, said.

His older sister elbowed him in the side. “That’s not how you ask.”

Victor tapped his daughter on the head with two fingers. “We also don’t hit our brother.” Then he rolled his eyes at me like we were in on an inside joke and smiled. “Hi, Adrian. I’m sorry to bother you again. I promised the kids brownies, and the only thing I ordered that didn’t come in was a bag of sugar.”

I blinked. Then I leaned back so I could see the wall on my clock. Blinking again, I tilted my head. “It’s only ten AM.”

The little girl, Marissa, nodded sagely, like she had infinite wisdom. How old could she be? Seven? Nine? Hell, I didn’t know anything about how big or small a kid was supposed to be when they were young. “The brownies are for after lunch. We have to make them now if they’re going to be ready.”

The duh was implied by her tone, and Victor caught his lush bottom lip between his teeth to bite back a smile. Wow. Why was that so sexy? I cleared my throat. “Don’t most mixes only need an egg and oil or water or whatever?”

“Dad only makes brownies from scratch,” she said, sounding like she doubted my intelligence the longer she interacted with me.

“Daddy’s brownies are the best!” Jeremy yelled.

Victor shook his head as he stared down at his children fondly. His gaze moved up to my face. “I’m really sorry to bother you, but as you can see, they’re still in their pajamas. If you don’t have any, that’s no problem.”

What I wanted to say is, if I give you the sugar, will you leave? Instead, I held up one finger, then closed the door in their faces. From the other side, I heard Jeremy say, “Hey, that was rude.”

Humiliated in front of this family once again, I ran for my kitchen, grabbed the container of sugar off the counter, and hightailed it back to the front door. When I opened it, Victor was waiting patiently, but the little boy and the little girl looked perplexed. Shoving the sugar into his hands, I barked, “There you go. Bye.”

“We don’t need?—”

The door slammed close, and I locked it, then slumped back against it and hit my head gently against the wood. What was I thinking? They’d have to come back and return the container now. Why hadn’t I just given him a bowl of it or something?

From the desk, my cell phone chimed, and I ran for it, hoping it was Josh because now I needed to complain about how ridiculous I was. Although, technically, this was their fault. Who continuously knocked on the door of a perfect stranger? Looking at my screen, I groaned. Mother .

With a sigh, I hit speakerphone and answered with, “Hello.”

“Adrian, is that you?”

“Who else would be answering my phone, Mom?”

“Don’t be rude. How am I supposed to know? You haven’t called me in ages,” she said with a pout in her voice.

“But you were—” I started.

“Don’t whine, darling. It doesn’t become you. I need your RSVP for the holiday dinner I’m having.”

Putting my hand on my forehead, I rubbed my temples. As usual, I had no idea what she was talking about. If I admitted that, she’d either tell me I’d simply forgotten or that the invite must’ve gotten lost in the mail. The reality was, she’d forgotten or didn’t really want me there. “Can you tell me the day again?”

“It’s the Saturday before Christmas,” she said with a hint of impatience. “Don’t feel obligated to attend, though. It’ll mostly be Roger’s leadership team and their wives. Oh, and his children, of course.”

“Of course. Maybe we can get together for Christmas instead?” I asked hopefully and hating myself for it. I already knew the answer.

“I’m sorry, darling. We’re flying out of the country Christmas Eve morning.”

No surprise there. Swallowing down my disappointment, I asked, “Thanksgiving?”

Her laughter tinkled across the line. “Didn’t I tell you? Roger and I are going on a little four-day cruise with his kids and grandchildren. Isn’t that the cutest?”

Resentment welled up inside of me. Not at Roger. I barely even knew the guy, but had it even occurred to my mother to ask me to come along as well? Nope. It never had, and it would be a cold day in hell before it ever did. “Okay, no problem.”

“We’ll make plans in the new year. Just me and you. Sound good?”

“Yeah, Mom. Sounds great.”

“Love you,” she sang before making smacking kissy noises and disconnecting.

“Love you, too,” I mumbled to myself. What a crappy day already. The thought of studying was unappealing, and if I called Josh right now and complained about my mom, I’d only feel worse by how pissed off he got on my behalf. Maybe it was time for a nap.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Jerking awake, my gaze went straight to the wall clock. 1 PM. Rubbing my hand over my face, I stumbled to the front door, annoyed that I’d given up precious studying time just because my mom hurt my feelings. Really, I should be used to it by now.

Without thought, I opened the door, and three sets of eyes stared back at me. “We brought you brownies, Mr. Adrian,” Jeremy said, shoving a plate toward my stomach.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, focusing on the little boy instead of his smiling father.

“That’s what neighbors do,” Marissa said with finality. This little girl was a little scary.

“And here’s your sugar,” Victor’s deep voice rumbled as he held the canister out toward me.

Unsure what else to do, I grabbed the canister, cradled it in one arm, and then took the plate from the little boy. “Uh…”

“Thank you,” Marissa prompted.

“Marissa,” her father hissed.

I cleared my throat. “No, she’s right. Thank you,” I said, darting my gaze between their three faces.

“You’re welcome,” Victor said with a warm smile. Jeremy beamed at me, and even Marissa grinned. “We’ll get out of your hair now, but thanks for saving the day.” They turned and went down the steps and headed home while I stood in the open doorway, gawking at them. Why were these people so nice? Weird.