Page 4 of Unpermitted Love

"It's nothing,” I lie, taking a deep breath and trying to compose my thoughts. “Is this about the Callaway project?"

"Yeah. How soon can you get the designs ready?"

"Tomorrow okay?" I ask, looking at my calendar.

"Great Hal. We need to get it approved ASAP."

"Got it."

"Um. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I’m fine."

Jay didn't look convinced, but he nodded anyway and left.

I press the bridge of my nose with my index finger and thumb. I have no business feeling this way about Annalise Wilson. None whatsoever. It’s impossible. Nothing could ever happen between us. Besides, I'm sure she’s heard many untrue stories from Tasha about me. It wasn't possible that she was Tasha's sister and not be poisoned against me. But now I have the chance to end the unspoken tension between us and show her that I’m not a bad person.

She knows nothing about me, and I have the chance to make her see that I’m not the monster Tasha has told everyone that I am. But how am I going to do that without making her want to avoid me further? Her reaction when I tried to help her with her things proves that she's heard more than enough about me. I have never responded or tried to clear my name before. There was never any need for it. I have never cared about what anyone thought of me before.

Until now.

All of a sudden, I feel the need to explain. To tell Annalise that everything she's ever heard about me is a lie. I must explain the reason for the rift between Tasha and I.

We live next door. We're bound to run into each other someday, Hal. Just forget about it. We'll figure that out later. Right now, you need to focus on these designs.

With that little pep talk, I force my mind to forget all about Annalise Wilson for a while and concentrate on the Callaway project. I hate mixing sentiments with business.

I finally get my work done, although it was a Herculean task not to think about her at all. My mind kept conjuring images of her beautiful olive skin and dark brown eyes. And that long dark hair of hers …

I hurriedly drive home to see if I can catch her somehow. I park my car and go to the lobby, all the while looking up at her window. The lights are off. She was probably still at work or school. But I’m determined to find out more about her.

I find myself spending more and more time on the balcony. I sit on the cane bench with my laptop trying to justify to myself that I’m only working outside to get some fresh air. A taxi drives by and I stand up to check if it’s her. It isn’t.

What the hell is happening to you, Hal? You're acting like a teenager!

But I can’t help it. I have to talk to her. I decide to wait for her to arrive home. Several hours pass by and I struggle to keep my eyes open. Two hours later I wake up on the sofa. As I stand up and head to my bedroom, I walk back onto the balcony and double-check the road leading to the building.

No sign of her.

Maybe she got home when I was asleep.

Way to go, Hal.

I turn and leave the balcony, even more eager to see her than I have ever been before.

Chapter Four

Annalise

"Why are you asking all these questions, Anna? Did something happen?" Tasha asks in a panic.

I called her to ask about Hal. It's been two days since I moved and I haven't seen him since he helped me with my luggage. But as we’re going to be neighbors long term, the questions only burned hotter in my mind. I want to get to the root of the rift between him and Tasha. What did she have against Hal? He was her stepson for goodness sake. How can you claim to love someone and hate his son?

"I just wanted to know because you've never really spoken to me about it. All you ever say is to avoid him like the plague. But why? It doesn’t make any sense, Tasha. What happened between you two?"

"Just trust me on this one, Annalise. Look ... I gotta go. I'm driving. I'll talk to you later, okay."

I stare at my phone after Tasha hangs up and shake my head. Why does she keep dodging my questions?

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