Page 35 of Home Field Advantage
“I met my new neighbor.”
“Oh, that’s great!”
My head snaps forward, and I shoot Lily a glare.
“No. Not great.” She shakes her head, raising her hands to make an X. “Bad vibes.”
I groan. “Not the worst vibes, but not the best neighbor.”
“Loud music? Plays with car engines all day? A barking dog?” she teases.
“None of the above.”
“Well, spill.”
I sit up, resting my elbow on my thighs. “You know that guy I was talking to at the bar on your birthday?”
“The one you have yet to tell any of us about?”
I nod.
“The one we’ve been dying to know about but haven’t asked about because we’re, you know, respectful. But also really nosy.”
I roll my eyes.
“Blair,” Lily calls into the kitchen. “Poppy is here and ready to talk about the hot baseball coach!”
Blair bursts through the double doors. They swing and slam against the wall before she hops on the counter, ready to hear whatever I have to say. Her dramatic entrances never fail to amuse me.
“Tell me more,” she coos.
“Stop that.” I wave a hand. “You’re making it more than it is.”
Lily raises an eyebrow. “Are we?”
I sigh, sinking back into the seat, knowing I shouldn’t have brought this up with them.
Yet again, my head isn’t on straight this morning.
My morning routine was going perfect today, too. I woke up when my alarm went off, and my coffee pot didn’t break down. My plans for the students today were ready, and I was eager to do all the fun things with them. I even started a mini list of everything I want to accomplish to cross off throughout the day.
Although it was freezing outside, my yoga session was smooth and grounding.
Until I caught my neighbor watching me through my legs.
In nothing but sweatpants and a T-shirt that clung to his ridiculously built body. I want to put emphasis on the T-shirt, becausemy god, it hugged every curve of muscle on his body. Is the man immune to winter weather? It’s freezing in the mountains this time of year. His hair was a tousled mess, as if he had just rolled out of bed and done nothing but run his fingers through it.
And damn, if it didn’t throw me off balance.
Once I went back inside, I kept repeating to myself,you can’t control everything,because it’s true. I can’t. No matter how muchI wish I could, I just freakin’ can’t. I knew there was a chance that he would be moving next door to me, as it’s one of the rentals available. But when I didn’t see him his first few days here, sitting outside or moving boxes inside, I just assumed Nan set him up elsewhere.
“Well,” I mutter. “The guy you two think is hot? He’s my new neighbor.”
“It’s okay if you think he’s hot. I thought your brother was hot when I moved next door to him.” Blair shrugs.
“First, ew.” Lily grimaces at Blair before facing me again. “Second, I agree with the first part of that statement. It’s okay if you think he’s hot.”
I shake my head. “I don’t do relationships, nor do I want to get involved with someone Nan considers a celebrity.”
