Page 7 of At Your Door

Shit.

I was wearing my uniform then. The realization washes over me, and I squeeze my eyes shut, but it’s too late—her laugh is already ringing in my ears.

“Yeah, I don’t know if I would’ve cussed out someone in my work uniform, but I guess it doesn't matter if we’re neighbors now, huh?” When my eyes open again, Griffon’s head is tilted, one eyebrow raised.

I do another quick scan of the empty café and clear my throat before finally speaking. “Look, I’m sorry for banging on your door and yelling at you. I swear I’m not normally like that—it just kind of blew up on you.”

When I finish, I can feel her eyes on me, but mine stay glued to the countertop between us.

“I’m just teasing you, I promise. I actually came down here to apologize. I was hoping I didn’t scare you off with all the—uhh… noise. I haven’t seen you in a few days, so I thought I’d stop by,” Griffon explains, her hand reaching to scratch the back of her neck.

I raise my eyebrows in shock.Apologize?That’s the last thing I expected to hear from her.

“Besides,” she continues, “I’m the building’s new handywoman, so you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.” Her smile doesn’t change a bit when my eyes bulge and my mouth gapes open. There’s so much to unpack here that I don’t even know where to begin.

“I’m sorry. What did you just say?” I blurt out.

“Oh, I was hired to work on maintenance. That’s actually why I moved in. It was a great deal and the perfect opportunityfor me to work and live in the same place.” Her smile doesn’t falter, and while I know she’s not talking fast, her words jumble together in my head. I must be going insane because there’s no way this woman—with bright orange hair, blue eyes, and strikingly loud confidence (not to mention the music)—just said she’s working maintenance in the building I live in.

She’s already headed for the exit before I can muster a response. Now I can finally see her full outfit, including the khakis that fit her perfectly. She stops before she’s out the door and looks over her shoulder. The sunlight creates natural highlights in her ginger hair as her sapphire eyes meet mine.

“Oh, and about that package!” Her finger shoots up as if she just remembered.

I can feel the color rush to my cheeks as my eyes disconnect from hers. I knew this was coming, but I would’ve never imagined it would blow up at my job. For a minute, I actually thought El was right and that she forgot all about it.

“Keep it, as a gift from me,” Griffon says, winking before walking out the door, letting the café bell’s chime sound one last time.

***

The air I didn't know I was holding finally escaped from my chest when I locked my front door, closing El and me inside my apartment. Immediately, I drop everything and let my body sink into my couch. I already hear El making her way into my kitchen and probably grabbing us drinks.

I let out a loud groan just now realizing how hard my temples are pounding.

The air I didn’t know I was holding finally escapes from my chest as I lock the front door, closing El and me inside my apartment. Immediately, I drop everything and let my body sinkinto the couch. I can already hear El making her way into my kitchen, probably grabbing us drinks.

`I let out a loud groan, just now realizing how hard my temples are pounding.

“I mean, I don't really see what the issue is, Mia. Isn’t it a good thing that your place finally has someone doing maintenance? Isn’t your garbage disposal still broken? And doesn’t your toilet still make that screeching noise every time you fl—”

I cut her off before she can continue to remind me of all the issues I’ve piled up.

“That’s exactly why this isn’t good, El! That means I’d have to see her more often!” My arms are flailing as I stand up from the couch and begin to pace.

She stares at me blankly, completely confused.

“You don’t get it, El. This girl is something else. If you could’ve seen how she was talking to me today, it’s like she’s… she’s—”

I can’t seem to find the right word to describe Griffon, but the sound of multiple people laughing next door makes me forget what we were even talking about. Both of our heads snap to my front door when the sound of Griffon’s front door opening echoes through the hallway.

In a matter of seconds, El and I make eye contact from across the room before we both begin racing each other to my front door. I should’ve known she would win, though.

From her position in my small kitchen, it took her less than five steps before her face was squished flat against my door, looking out the peephole.

“She’s hot!” Eleanor exclaims, as I finally make it to the door.

“Oh my God, El. Be quiet!” I whisper back. “I wouldn’t say she’shot.”

That makes her pull herself away from the door. “Are you insane? She looks like a fucking model—her and her friends.” She moves back to the peephole before I push in front of her.

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