Page 7 of Up All Night

Your Harmonious Neighbor,

Halle

I ripped the note off the door and stomped inside, only to find that Cannon sat at the table eating a plate full of potstickers. Between Halle cooking them upstairs and now having the stinky food in our apartment, the smell was stronger than ever.

I clenched my jaw. That woman had some nerve. She acted as if I had been the one to start this feud with my escapade this morning, but she had started it way before then. I had only been trying to show her how frustrating it could be to have a loud neighbor when you were trying to sleep.

“Why do you have a plate of potstickers?” I asked in a clipped tone.

Cannon lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Halle dropped it off, saying something about a peace offering.”

“A peace offering,” I mumbled to myself. “That is no peace offering.” I shoved the note in his face.

Taking the note from me, he took a few seconds to read it.

Cannon had already changed out of his suit, having left work an hour before me. Although he worked hard, he didn’t have anything to prove. He wasn’t a Vanderhall, and my dad treated him more like an equal than he did me. I didn’t begrudge Cannon for it, though. It wasn’t his fault that my dad had what felt like unreachable expectations for me.

He laughed. “She’s clever. I have to say that I’m on her side on this one, seeing that you woke me up, too.” He glared, but there was no real threat in his eyes. “But I am glad I get to benefit from your broomstick dance party this morning.” He smiled before popping another dumpling in his mouth.

“At least one of us is happy about this situation.” My nose scrunched at the strong scent. “How can the smell not bother you?”

He shrugged again. “Yeah, it’s a funky smell, but it tastes delicious.” He ate another one. “Are you sure you don’t want some?” he asked around a mouthful.

“No, thanks. They’re all yours,” I said, heading toward my room to get changed.

“You’re missing out,” he called out after me.

I closed my door, hoping I could keep most of the offensive smell out. I loosened my tie, taking it off and placing it back on the tie rack with the rest of the blue ties, keeping them all color coordinated.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, Halle had gotten me good. She knew how much I hated the smell of potstickers. In one of our earlier confrontations, I’d complained about her cooking and had even mentioned potstickers specifically.

I must have just missed her dropping off the smelly food, and I couldn’t decide if I was grateful or disappointed. Grateful that I hadn’t had to see her smug expression, but also disappointed that I hadn’t gotten to see her.

Not because Iwantedto see her, but because I wanted to see that what I’d done this morning had actually bugged her enough to get her to go out of her way to make a specific dinner. She had to have been thinking about me the whole time she made it. Picturing her frustrated as she cooked had me feeling an immense amount of joy.

Now she knew what it was like to have such an annoying neighbor. One who drove you crazy. I hoped she was wishing I would move as much as I was wishing she would.

Oh, how the tables had turned.

I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips.

Let the games begin.

4

West

Pulling into a parking space at the gym, I put my car in park. The sign above the building read Fitness First in blue lights. Bright white lights glowed from the floor to ceiling windows in the dark early hours.

I had been busy working through the weekend and had forgotten about Ben going out of town. Now as I stared up at the building, I wondered who my new trainer would be, and I could only hope I wouldn’t dread coming to work out for the next three weeks.

As I walked into the gym, a blast of cold air hit me. Music played through the speakers and the clanging of weights sounded through the large room. No trainer was there to greet me like Ben did, so I headed to the reception desk.

A petite blonde sat behind the counter and smiled at me. “Hello, Mr. Vanderhall.”

“Hello,” I said politely. “I’m here for my six a.m. session. Ben said he set up a trainer to fill in for him while he was out of town.”

“Yes, of course,” she said, still smiling as she stood. “Let me go grab her for you. She’s just in the back folding some towels.”

---