The Men Next Door

Ch 5 - Campbell

Boredom would've been a welcome feeling on Wednesday evening, when an Everest-sized mountain of housework was staring me in the face. This was the best rental company I'd ever worked with, but I'd be damned if I trusted them to give my space a proper clean before I fully settled in, so I begrudgingly turned on some music and dug into my chores.

While I was dancing around, dust rag in hand, I realized the only person I'd seen face-to-face all week was Jenkins. I brought him my best brew of dark roast every morning for three days straight to make up for not fulfilling my end of the bribe right away, and he couldn't stop singing its praises. Told me I'd have to open my own coffee shop one of these days, as if the money for a storefront was what was falling off the trees outside.

The cheery old doorman was great company, but I had to admit that I already missed my neighbors. Luca and Brooks had both made my move-in day much more bearable, and I was thankful to know that the people right next door were so kind and welcoming.

Not to mention they were both hot as fuck, the little voice in my head reminded me. I shook her off and returned to the task at hand.

Three soft knocks interrupted my personal karaoke-and-cleaning night about an hour later, and I clicked pause on my phone and crept silently toward the sound. I was hoping I could peer through the peephole undetected — as if that would really save me from a masked murderer on the other side of the door —  but thankfully, the mini window to the hallway revealed one of my neighbors.

Brooks gazed down at me with a playful smirk after I unlatched the lock. "Karma is a cat, huh?" he asked, referring to the Taylor Swift lyrics I was blasting a few moments earlier.

I grinned up at him sheepishly. "What can I say? I'm a Swiftie. But sorry, I didn't think it was that loud. Could you hear it through the wall? I can turn it down or put on headphones."

"No, don't worry about it. I only heard it once I got up to the door. I just realized I hadn't seen you since Saturday, so I came to check if you need any help settling in."

"Oh!" I said in surprise. "Don't feel like you have to, but if you're offering..." I trailed off, stepping to the side and gesturing for him to come in, "...I can definitely put you to work."

He stepped through the door, looking around at the open cardboard boxes and scattered cleaning supplies. "I don't feel like I have to — I want to. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be, Cam."

"I'm honored," I said with a smile, moving my hair out from behind my ears to hide the blush I could feel forming. I was grateful I dimmed the lights for a calming ambiance earlier.

"So, what do you need help with?" Brooks asked. The change of topic was more than welcome.

"Hm..." I started, tapping my pursed lips in thought. "You look handy enough. Can I trust you to hang some picture frames in the bedroom? I already marked the spots with painter's tape; I just need you to put the nails in."

"I think I can manage," he grinned. "Where are the nails and hammer?"

"They should be on my bedside table. The apartment layout is the same as yours — feel free to go on back. I'm going to keep cleaning out here."

I watched Brooks disappear into my bedroom — now that was a sight I could get used to — then picked up my duster. But no sooner than I had closed my hand around the plastic handle, I heard a sharp gasp, followed by a fit of coughs.

What the hell? Did he already smash his finger with the hammer?

"Are you okay?" I yelled, jogging back to the room. When I entered, my eyes were immediately drawn to something bright pink on my bedside table.