“But she’s not my dog,” I say, throwing a hand in the air.
“She?”
“Harley. That’s what her tag says, at least I think it’s a she, but see? I don’t even know the dog’s true gender.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t care.”
“I do. I don’t pay vet bills. Therefore, not mine.”
“Well, you don’t want to pay for her special ‘treasures’ to be picked up, do you?”
I fight the urge to scratch my head when he says this. Also, lest we forget, he just called a dog’s number two a treasure. “Is there really a service for that?”
Austin rolls his eyes. Part of me thinks he’s enjoying this. “Can you stand up?”
“Yes,” I snap, planting my hands on the ground. I firmly push myself upward, only to wince in pain and fall to the ground again. “Well, I’ll be able to soon-ish.”
Austin points to my ankle. “May I take a look?”
My eyes almost roll into the back of my head. “Now you’re a doctor?”
“I’ve had enough physical therapy and time on the field to know about an injury.”
He has a point.
“Fine.”
Oh-so-gingerly, Austin gently rolls up my pant leg, scrunching up the fabric to the top of my calf so he can look closer at my foot. He slowly begins pressing it, moving it in a circle, giving the blood a chance to flow again.
His touch is surprisingly warm and careful. As his fingers graze my skin, I feel a jolt of something unexpected—a strange mix of relief and surprise. It’s as if his touch has a direct line to my nerves, sending a wave of comfort through me that I didn’t anticipate.
He presses and prods with the expertise of someone who’s had his share of injuries, but his touch is softer than I expected. Each movement is slow and deliberate, like he’s trying to be as gentle as possible, and it’s strangely soothing. For a moment, I forget about the pain in my ankle and focus on the warmth of his hand, the way his fingers are precise but tender.
“You know,” I say, trying to mask my surprise with sarcasm, “if you start offering foot massages, you might just make a fortune.”
He glances up at me, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “I’ll add it to my list of side hustles.”
I catch his gaze and, for the first time, I notice how close we’re sitting, how his hand is still resting on my ankle. There’s an unexpected intimacy in the way he’s caring for me, and it’s disorienting. I wasn’t prepared to feel this way—touched and cared for by someone who’s clearly more than just a grumpy neighbor.
“Thanks,” I say, my voice softer than I intended. “I didn’t realize you were so... considerate.”
Austin’s eyes meet mine, and there’s a flicker of something—maybe surprise, maybe amusement. “Well, don’t go spreading it around,” he replies, his tone light but sincere. “I’ve got a reputation to uphold.” He looks back down at my foot. “There’s no swelling, but you’ll probably have a bruise and me saying I’m sorry to you for the rest of your life.”
Before I can respond, he extends his hands toward me, his palms open and waiting. “Come on, let’s get you up.”
I blink, momentarily stunned by the gesture. It’s not just the offer of help—it’s the way his hands are reaching out, as if he genuinely wants to make sure I’m okay. For a second, I hesitate, caught off guard by the unexpected kindness.
“Well, look at you, all chivalrous and stuff,” I say, trying to mask my surprise with a wry smile. “Next thing you know, you’ll be rescuing cats from trees.”
Austin chuckles, clearly amused by my reaction. “Considering I slammed your foot in the door, it’s the least I can do.”
I grasp his hands, and as he helps me up, I’m struck by how firm yet gentle his grip is. There’s a strange comfort in his touch, a solidity that I didn’t expect from someone who’s been more of a grumpy neighbor than a knight in shining armor. He pulls me to my feet with surprising ease, and I find myself standing a little closer to him than I anticipated.
“Thanks,” I mutter, still feeling the warmth of his hands on mine. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Austin shrugs, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Neither did I.”
Rolling my eyes, I let my weight drop to my injured foot, surprised by how much better it’s starting to feel.
