The Men Next Door

Ch 3 - Campbell

After an early night and some much needed rest, a blaring siren jolted me awake. I wasn't sure what was more intense: the slowly fading sound or the harsh rays of sunlight streaking through the shoddy, pre-installed blinds in my bedroom.

I turned my head and sighed. Assuming my bedside clock hadn't lost its mind on the way up from Florida, it was already going on 11:00 a.m. My morning was practically gone, and my afternoon was going to be derailed by a headache if I didn't get some caffeine in my system, so I groggily rubbed my eyes and threw the crinkled duvet off of my legs.

Following a brief glance at the maze of taped up boxes in my living room, one of which held my espresso machine, I pursed my lips and made a beeline for my quarter-full closet. It was slim pickings, but who was I kidding? The lack of humidity was a treat after living in Florida. For someone who had always had palm trees in my backyard, I loved fall fashion, and I would've worn the same cozy sweater whether my entire wardrobe was unpacked or not.

I pulled the knockoff cashmere over my head, then zoomed through the rest of my morning routine before taking the stairs down to the lobby. The doorman gave me a cheerful smile as soon as he spotted me by the front desk.

"Morning, Jenkins," I greeted, taking in the strikingly familiar sight of the old man. His rosy cheeks and white hair reminded me of my grandpa back home in California, as did the signature pinstriped handkerchief he had tucked in his pocket. I already had a hunch he'd become one of my favorite people in the city.

"Good morning, Miss Kramer."

"You're good with names, aren't you?"

"All part of the job." He chuckled. "Where are you off to?"

"Coffee, brunch, avoiding moving chores..." I shrugged. "We'll see where the day takes me."

His head tilted thoughtfully. "I don't suppose you're a Folgers fan?"

My nose wrinkled up. He really was like Grandpa Jones. "No. More of a latte kind of girl. Cold brew, occasionally."

He answered with a knowing nod. "I get free drip coffee in the staff kitchen. Share it with the residents when I can, since I know what a one bedroom goes for around here." He looked at the elevators and his bushy eyebrows lifted like he was remembering something important. "I saw you walking out with Brooks and Luca yesterday—good kids, those two. Good friends, too. Luca won't ever take any coffee, even when he's running out the door to the office, but Brooks will sip a cup with me occasionally. You're welcome to join us any time."

I quickly blinked away a mental image of Brooks peering at me over the rim of a steaming mug, hands flexing around the ceramic just like they'd gripped the steering wheel the day before. Now that I'd caught up on sleep, I couldn't quite believe the weird, flirty tango that he, Luca, and I had been dancing around the dining table on my first day in New York. And seeing as they were my neighbors, it was probably only the beginning of a dangerous pas de trois.

It was way too soon to be thinking about any of that, though, so I gave Jenkins a polite smile before my thoughts could take flight. "I'll have to keep that in mind."

The doorman and I made small talk for a few more minutes before I stepped out onto the bustling street. It didn't take long to find a coffee shop in my neighborhood, and with a smooth maple latte in hand, I breathed in the crisp, cool air while the warmth of the sun kissed my cheeks. The beautiful weather inspired me to do some exploring on my last work-free day.

Without a destination in mind, I wound through the city blocks, from Chelsea to West Village and beyond. The hours passed quickly thanks to all the new sights and sounds, and by the time I checked my map to find my way home, refueling was an absolute must. My nose led me to a charming little cafe a few blocks back in the right direction.