Page 118 of Just Act Natural

But I can’t keep living with the rest of my family anymore. I’m thirty-two. I need to create a little space for August and me. And maybe get out from under my mother’s increasingly smothering wings.

I turn to face him. “Do you want to see your new room?”

His wide grin reveals two missing teeth. “I want to meet the dog!”

“Let’s wait to see if he’s friendly.” The dog looks a whole lot friendlier than the man, but you never know.

We climb out of my car, and Amy steps off of the porch to greet us.

“Good morning, you two!” She offers an open hand, and August slaps it in a high five. “I’m glad you’re here. Are you ready to get settled in?”

“I want to meet the dog!”

His little brain’s just got the one track this morning. Actually, mine does too: the scowl on the man watching us. He’s not exactly doling out warm fuzzies. I knew he wouldn’t be, I just wasn’t expecting a level-five glare in greeting.

Amy chuckles. “It’s good to have priorities. The dog’s a sweetheart. Let me introduce you to your neighbor first.”

We clamber onto the porch the two duplex units share. I gently hold August’s shoulder to prevent him from launching at the dog in a full-body tackle, but he’ll only wait so long.

“Tess and August, meet my nephew, Ian.” Amy gesturesbetween the three of us. “Ian, these are two of the best people in Sunshine you’ll ever know.”

I flash a brilliant smile at Ian. In my experience, a little sweetness goes a long way. Whether in the bakery when the line is long and customers get twitchy or when August’s grumpy and doesn’t want to do his blood sugar tests, a warm smile and cheerful attitude can be infectious.

Ian seems to be immune. His scowl is a sweetness-repelling shield. He’s giving off strongKeep Out, No Trespassingvibes. Which is a little awkward, considering we’ll be sharing a duplex for the foreseeable future.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ian.” I use my customer service,This is the best day ever!voice. I get crickets in return.

“Mister, can I pet your dog?” August’s squirming at my side, but instead of the potty dance, he’s doing theI need to meet a new dogdance.

Ian drops his gaze to my son. Something inside me goes hard with the fear his unfriendliness will spill over onto August. The quickest way to kill my good nature is to be rude to my child. All my people-pleasing instincts evaporate, and Mama Bear takes over.

But by some miracle, Ian nods. August carefully holds out a hand for the dog to sniff. Once he gets the lick of approval, he moves on to gentle pets. He’s had a lot of practice meeting dogs at Sunshine’s parks.

“I don’t have much time today.” Amy holds out a Delish diner keychain to me. “Here are your keys. Trash and recycling pick up is on Wednesdays. If you have trouble with anything, you know where to find me.”

She steps off the porch and toward her sedan, but turns back, pointing at her nephew. “Ian, why don’t you help Tess and August carry their things inside? That’d be neighborly of you.”

She winks at him, hops into her car, and drives away. Leaving me here with the least-neighborly guy I can imagine.

See, this is where my optimism and positivity sometimes bite me in the butt. When Amy offered me this apartment, I’d been too focused on the steeply discounted rent to ask much about the solitary nephew she’d mentioned. I’d only clarified that her request I try to befriend him didn’t have any romantic notions behind it. Now, I’ve got nothing but questions.

Like,Does he ever smile?

Is he trying to zap me into oblivion with his ice-blue eyes?

How long does he plan to give us the silent treatment?

“Come on, August.” I can’t spend all day on the porch working up anxiety about my neighbor. “Help bring your things inside.”

I unlock the front door and push it wide. It’s a simple, two-bedroom apartment filled with modern furniture with clean lines. We’re lucky to get it. I won’t let anything ruin this chance for us—including the man next door.

“Your bedroom’s the blue one,” I tell August. “Go take a look and then come help.”

I head out to my wagon, his “This is so cool!” echoing through the apartment. I open the hatch, and my heart jumps straight into my throat when Ian appears at my side like a lumbering bear.

I donotscream, but it’s hard to spin the awkward sound I make into a friendly greeting.

“Amy said I should help.” His voice is deep and gravelly, like he doesn’t use it often.

---