𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬

thirty-two. | after/twenty-two.

after
twenty-two

"You better not be expecting me to be handy!"

Anaca looks at me with equal confusion and annoyance as I walk past him to the stairs.

I find her standing in the center of the living room.

Big dark sunglasses over her eyes, her short hair pulled back in a spiky ponytail and a pair of cut-offs. She has a coffee in her hand and a bag of what I hope is pastries.

"Holy shit, he really gutted your entire house," she notes, pulling her glasses from her eyes.

"Are those donuts?"

Dua snickers. "You bet."

She hands the bag to me as we migrate to the kitchen.

"Is he here?"

I nod, plucking a glazed donut hole from the bunch.

"And the girlfriend?" Dua lowers her tone a bit.

"No," I say before popping the donut in my mouth.

Dua wiggles her brows at bit, while I roll my eyes.

She grabs a donut herself when we heard his footsteps coming down the stairs.

Like the shameless gal she is, Dua turns around waiting for him and making it clear she is doing just that.

Anaca lifts a brow in our direction but continues on to grab another box of flooring.

Dua lifts her sunglasses, putting them on the top of her head. "Damn, the last few years were real good to you, neighbor boy."

He pauses, staring me down as I eat another donut.

His eyes narrow.

"He doesn't remember me," Dua laughs. "That's fair."

"I remember you," Anaca mutters, sharply. "You were the stoner."

"Am," she corrects him. "I am a stoner, but since it's legal now, I don't think that's really a thing anymore."

"It's still a thing."

Dua shrugs. "I know a guy if you need something," she baits.

"I don't."

"Quit teasing," I tell Dua.

She winks at me.

"I'll be up in a minute," I wave Anaca off.

"Take your time," he drums with a gruff, heading back upstairs.

Dua's mouth falls wide with a giggle. "Was he always that grumpy?"

"Depends."

"Grumpy hot is way hotter than sunshine hot."

"He has a girlfriend."

"And he led you on."

"It's complicated."

"Is it?" Dua hums, reaching for another donut.

"Do you know anything about an Officer Casey being outside Dark Room?"

A mischievous leer forms on the corner of her mouth. "I know Casey, what do you know about him?"

"He gave me a ride home last night."

"Was that all he gave you?" she taunts.

"I gave him something."

Dua's eyes twinkle.

"My number."

"I bet you did," she says. "Casey is real nice to look at, but something tells me you're still trying to earn that scarlet S."