The Enemy Lives Next Door (bxb)

Part Seventeen - Part One

Part Seventeen - Part One

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I drive to Adam's house, practically vibrating with excitement. My grin stretches so wide it feels like my face might split in two. The thought of tackling him and showering him with kisses fills me with a giddy thrill. If only I had the courage to actually do it.

I park in the driveway and hop out of the car, my nerves making my hands sweat. I wipe them on my shorts before reaching for the doorbell. Just as I'm about to press it, the door swings open. Standing there is a girl with dirty blonde hair, her piercing blue eyes—so much like Adam's—scrutinizing me. She's around fourteen, and her stance is defiant, her hands on her hips.

She tosses her hair over her shoulder and says, "sorry, but the nanny application is closed. Come back next year when I'll be needing a new one."

I chuckle, crouching down to her level. "I'm not here for a nanny job. I'm here for your brother. Is he home?"

She peers past me into the house, which seems oddly quiet. She taps her chin, contemplating. "This is weird..." she trails off, then adds, "are you his boyfriend or just a friend who happens to be a boy?"

Her question makes me wish it were true. If only she knew how deeply I'm in love with her brother. I laugh, shaking my head. "I'm just the friend who's a boy."

"Well then," she says, flashing a grin that reveals a missing front tooth, "he's taking me to Disneyland, and I can't be late. You can come with us if you want since you're a friend of my brother's."

I nod, and she jumps up and down with excitement, twirling in her pink dress. "How do you like my dress? It's pretty, right?" She pauses, then adds, "no need to say anything. I know it is. I'm Emily, by the way."

I extend my hand for a shake. She raises an eyebrow but shakes it anyway. "I'm Dale. It's an absolute pleasure to meet you, little princess."

Emily's face lights up. "The pleasure is all mine! We can do so many fun things together! Mickey will be there! And the Ferris wheel!"

She bounces up and down, and I grin as she grabs my hand and pulls me into the house. She cups her hands around her mouth and yells, "Adam, your boyfriend is here! Get down here or we're gonna be late!"

I nearly choke on my breath and look down at her. She shrugs and smiles. Just then, Adam jogs down the stairs, his laughter warm and inviting. "Alright, alright," he says, chuckling. "Can you stop shouting like a damn lunatic?"

He's wearing tight blue jeans with ripped knees, a black button-up shirt, and black sneakers. His eyes are even bluer today, and his dirty blonde hair is disheveled in a way that's somehow effortlessly attractive.

I'm breathlessly astonished at how someone can look this good.

Our eyes lock, and he grins at me. "Hey, Dale, how's it going?" he asks, coming up to give me a bro-hug. "Thanks for making time for this. As you can see, she's very talkative and very busy."

I wave my hand dismissively. "No problem. I didn't have anything else to do, besides stalking you."

The moment the words leave my mouth, I want to disappear. Adam laughs, shaking his head. "You're so funny," he says, though it feels more like a polite dismissal. "We should probably leave before Emily throws a tantrum."