New neighbors Andi and Hayden don't get off to the best start - and neither do their dogs. When the hostility between their pets, Bart and Rosie, leads to noisy barking, Andi and Hayden must solve their pet's tension or risk eviction from their apar...
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"Can I ask you something?" Hayden says.
He and I have walked in silence for four minutes. The lively night sounds and our clattering footsteps have been the only noises drifting through the air. Hayden said to take the walk to relax and zero into nature. Little did he know that I'm a master at that, and since I applied bug spray before I got here (lesson learned from last time), I don't have the distraction of mosquitos. I also brought a pair of foldable sunglasses so I don't need to squint as we walk against the sun.
"Well, that depends," I reply. "What's something?"
Hayden, with his own sunglasses over his eyes, one hand in the pockets of his shorts, and the other around the strap of my bag, says, "Is there a reason you won't let me help with your project? I do have ideas that—"
"No!" I interrupt, immediately wincing at my yell. "That's—I'm sorry. I appreciate the thought. I know you just want to help, but I really do need to come up with something on my own."
"Well, that's my question. You just don't like help?"
"No. It's not about 'help.'" I point to my bag. "I'm letting you help with that. Help is good. We all need it. The help just needs to be with things I could do on my own. If I'm only getting by with the skills of others, it creates reliance. Being at the whims of other people is what I don't like."
Hayden gently nods as he hikes my tote higher on his shoulder. "My guess is we're not talking about the bag anymore."
"No." I shake my head. "My job. This project, the fun one, is the last big project before my boss retires. I need to be lead on it. He picks his replacement, and I can't let someone else's idea get chosen and have them show off right before he decides."
Hayden scratches the back of his neck. "Andi, aren't you, like, a little young for a position like that? What are you, 26?"
"25. 26 soon, but I've worked there three years and am arguably the best."
I'm ready for the next steps of my life plan. Those steps include my first "big girl" apartment and this promotion. Since not one, but both of those things are on the rocks, it's safe to say I'm not doing too well.
"Uh-huh." Hayden hums. "But you can't, I don't know, wait?"
"When I chose to work and live here, multiple things went into that. The company is a reputable one, small but stable with room for growth; it's located in a beautiful town that has each season—"
"Bitter winters were a selling point?" Hayden interrupts.
"They're bitter, but the snow and ice are beautiful. Different seasons give you different views. Keeps it interesting."
Hayden raises his brows. "I actually agree with that," he says, almost surprised. "But summer and spring are the best."
"Obviously. Just because it's pretty doesn't make it any less freezing." I smile, but when I realize I am, I shake off the expression to resume my explanation. "So, uh, what I was saying, long story short, is that I chose this job for reasons, and one of those was because the boss was old. It can take decades for a spot like his to open at other well-established places, so this was a sure way to ensure I had a chance to move up. And soon. Just had to wait him out."
