Page 10 of The Neighbor's Son

I bite down on my bottom lip, snared in his stare. His eyes drop to my mouth and his cheeks turn a lovely pink. Mine are probably just as red.

Being around Brayden Foss is dangerous to my sanity.

He chases away the cloud of depression that’s been hanging over me, filling my chest with warmth.

An inexperienced young man and a heartbroken older woman is a recipe for disaster. It’s a perfect storm for two people, who have no business being together, to fall in love.

It’ll only end in catastrophe.

Someone needs to be the adult around here and end it before it begins.

“You should take Mo home now,” I murmur, voice raspy, barely audible over Mo’s purring. “I’m sure Maggie is worried.”

Brayden lingers, eyes still hyper focused on my lips. “But you’ll be sad if we go.”

And if you stay, it’ll make me happy.

The last thing I need is another man to fill the place of the one I lost.

It’s unfair and cruel to the both of us.

“Bye, Brayden.”

He gives me a soft smile. “See you around, Casey.”

I really hope I do.

Brayden

Last night was…charged.

When Casey kissed the cat, I’d hoped she would kiss me next. But then, she sent me away, almost as if it pained her to do so.

It’s been killing me ever since.

I’m not crazy. Casey, for some reason, is attracted to me.

Why does Savvy have to work so much? I could really use someone to talk to. That person can’t be Dad, either. He’ll tell me it’s a mistake to crush over our neighbor and I’m sure he’ll have a multitude of reasons why.

She’s much older than me.

Her heart is freshly broken.

The woman is clearly going through some things.

But none of that bothers me. In fact, I want to talk to her about the things that have hurt her in the past. I’m a good listener and I think Casey just needs to talk.

So how do I get her to open up to me?

Meow.

Mo stands at the door at Gordon’s old unit, swishing his tail. I grin at the silly cat and abandon my trim work. Once outside, I scoop him into my arms.

“Want to go see our girl?” I ask him.

He purrs loudly, giving me my answer.

I close the door, and we set out on a discreet path to Casey’s, avoiding any areas that Maggie might see me with her cat. Once I reach Casey’s back door, I angle myself to keep Mo hidden.

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