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☆ 彡 ̥🍦 ̖́
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐂𝐀𝐑 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐇𝐔𝐓 𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐃 through the quiet suburban street, reverberating against the neatly spaced houses as the late afternoon sun beat down relentlessly.
The middle-class neighborhood, with its manicured lawns and picket fences, looked picturesque, but Danny could feel the heat pressing down on him, a suffocating blanket of humidity.
Sweat dripped steadily down his face, his brown hair sticking to his forehead. He gripped the grocery bags tightly in his fists, the plastic cutting into his hands, as he made his way to the front door.
His white shirt clung uncomfortably to his back, now damp from the sweat pooling between his shoulder blades.
His eyes stung slightly, the salty perspiration trickling dangerously close.
With a practiced motion, Danny unlocked the front door using his phone, managing the task without dropping a single bag—a skill he had perfected after countless trips like this.
Stepping into the blessedly cool air of his home, Danny exhaled in relief. The air conditioning hit his overheated skin like a soothing balm, and he leaned against the wall for a moment, taking it in.
His brown eyes scanned the familiar interior—earthy tones, clean lines, a reflection of his calm, quiet personality.
Sometimes it still amazed him that this place was his.
He'd worked hard to earn it, and even though it wasn't flashy like the other homes in the neighborhood, it was exactly what he needed.
He kicked the door shut behind him and headed to the kitchen, setting the grocery bags down with a sigh. His muscles, glistening with sweat, flexed as he hunched over, catching his breath from the sweltering heat outside.
It was a workout just to carry the bags inside.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small notebook and pen, quickly checking off the groceries from his to-do list.
There was something deeply satisfying about completing tasks like this, no matter how mundane they seemed.
He made a mental note to text his brother back. Before he starts gossiping to Mom, Danny thought with a smirk. His brother, always eager to chat, had been pestering him lately about setting up some sort of visit, and Danny didn't want to be the subject of more family talk.
That, of course, was something he had in common with the residents of this town—gossip.
It was no secret that some of the women in the neighborhood had their eyes on Danny.
Since the moment he moved in, the local housewives—many married with kids—had taken it upon themselves to flirt shamelessly, no matter how little interest he showed.
They didn't seem to care.
And their curiosity about him had been relentless at first. Questions ranging from "Are you married?" to "Do you want kids?" were thrown at him within his first week.
Even his home, with its simple, natural décor, became a topic of conversation.
Bland, they'd called it, but Danny liked the calmness of it. It wasn't the gaudy, overdecorated kind of place many of them lived in, with bright colors and extravagant designs.
It suited him, and that was all that mattered.
Eventually, the women moved on to their usual topics—petty gossip about breakups, unfaithful spouses, and social media dramas. It was the way of life here.
Rarely did anyone in this town do more than hurt someone's reputation.
That's why the neighborhood felt peaceful to him. People were too cowardly to commit real crimes. Gossip was their weapon of choice.
After putting the groceries away, Danny made his way upstairs, his mind already on the hot shower he was about to take. But as soon as he reached the bathroom, he remembered—the new shampoo was still in the car.
With a light groan, he headed back down, reluctant to go back out into the heat. But better to get it now than later, he reasoned.
As he unlocked his car and grabbed the shampoo, Danny's eyes caught on something new—a car parked next door. So the new neighbors finally arrived, he thought.
He hadn't expected them to settle in so quickly.
This town could be a lot to handle for newcomers, especially with all the prying eyes.
Shrugging it off, Danny locked his car again, ready to retreat back inside when he suddenly felt the unmistakable sensation of being watched.
He looked up, his eyes meeting those of a brunette standing just a few feet away. She had a bright, polite smile plastered on her face, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.
With a wave, she called out in a cheery tone, "Hey, neighbor!"
Danny hesitated for a second but didn't want to be rude. "Hello," he called back, offering a small smile of his own. "Welcome to the neighborhood. I'm Danny."
The woman's smile widened as she adjusted the box in her arms. "Danny, hi! I'm Love. We just moved in a few days ago." She said his name like she was savoring it, letting it roll off her tongue. Danny didn't notice, or maybe he just wasn't paying enough attention.
His mind was already on the shower waiting for him inside.
Love's eyes flicked down over his body, noticing the way his damp shirt clung to his muscular frame, the sweat making his skin glisten in the sunlight.
He should've looked disheveled, but there was something about him that made it work.
As he closed the car door with his free hand, she stepped closer to the fence that separated their yards.
"Sherry mentioned you," Love said, her tone light, though Danny could sense something beneath it. "Said you were the handsome neighbor named Danny. I figured I'd come say hi."
Danny nearly rolled his eyes. Of course Sherry's already talking. Sherry was notorious for knowing everyone's business, and apparently, Love had already been caught in her web.
"Sorry about that," Danny replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"Sherry knows too much about everyone."
Love gave a small, understanding smile. "It's fine. My husband and I figured as much." She chuckled lightly, shifting the box in her arms.
"He's at the library right now, or I'd introduce you."
Danny nodded politely, though his attention was waning. "Well, it's nice meeting you, Love. I'm sure we'll talk again." He began to back away toward his front door, eager to escape the conversation.
Love's eyes stayed on him, watching his every move. "Yes, of course," she said sweetly. "Next time, you can meet my husband."
Her smile lingered as Danny finally turned and walked back into his house, glancing over his shoulder one last time before disappearing inside.
As the door closed behind him, Love stood there for a moment longer, her smile fading as her thoughts drifted.
She had a lot to worry about with this new move, but Danny... he was someone worth keeping an eye on.
She would need to tell Joe all about their new neighbor. And as for Sherry, well, she'd have to make sure the gossip didn't get out of hand.
