𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℂ𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕟

ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕦𝕖

Julian sat in his car, waiting impatiently.

Owen had said he'd be back in ten minutes, but it had been exactly thirty-seven so far. Julian knew because he had been staring at the digital clock in his car the entire damn time.

Owen wasn't among the figures trickling out of Home Depot, and Julian couldn't spot him through the store's windows either. He also wasn't answering his phone, and Julian's patience was rapidly thinning, turning into a simmering irritation.

Owen Miller was his new neighbor, recently moved back in with his mom to care for her after her MS diagnosis. Julian didn't know much about multiple sclerosis, but he was learning fast—and it sucked. Mrs. Miller was now confined to a wheelchair, and it felt like she was slowly falling apart, one day at a time.

Julian's mom had practically guilted him into helping them out, so for the past few months, he had been spending two days a week making the Millers' house more wheelchair accessible.

They were supposed to swing by the store "real quick" because Owen had forgotten to pick up the materials for the ramps they planned to build today. Something about getting called in for a double shift at the hospital where he worked as a nursing assistant. Julian didn't exactly understand what a double shift entailed, but apparently, it meant working back-to-back shifts from morning to night. Owen had worked twelve straight hours yesterday, from ten in the morning to ten at night.

And Owen never complained. Julian found it strange because the idea of working a double shift sounded like a special level of hell. He couldn't imagine doing it, no matter how sick people were or how badly the hospital needed him. Maybe that's why he'd make a terrible nurse.

Julian, on the other hand, worked in cybersecurity as a junior analyst for a digital bank, spending half his week working from his bedroom at home. That career choice was very intentional—it was the perfect job for him. He loved it, and he was really fucking good at it.

So, that's why Julian made Owen go get all the materials himself while he waited in the car—partly because Owen should have already gotten them, and partly because Julian was, by his own admission, an asshole who was hopeless when it came to interacting with people.

Owen had been pestering him ever since they met a few months ago, always finding some excuse to come over next door.

Julian had never been friendly, inviting, sweet, open, or anything that would suggest he was someone worth spending time with.

He wasn't exaggerating—he really was an asshole. After the dramatic fallout with his ex, Ethan, and losing all his friends, all Julian wanted was to push everyone far away. He hoped that one day, Owen would get the message that Julian was a jerk and just leave him alone.

Why wouldn't Owen leave him the hell alone?

After five more minutes, Julian finally spotted Owen emerging through the automated double doors of the exit. He was pushing a cart loaded with the wood they needed for the wheelchair ramps, sipping a Mountain Dew with a big smile on his face.

Of course, he got distracted in there. Julian already knew that was why it had taken so long. He couldn't help but wonder what had caught Owen's attention this time—Owen was going to be the death of him.

"Ten minutes?" Julian asked, still sitting in the driver's seat with the window down as Owen approached, pushing the cart.

"It wasn't that much longer," Owen replied, unbothered. "Besides, you didn't come in to help me, so I struggled. I hope you're happy about that. I almost dropped the last piece of wood on my toe trying to get it onto this cart. It was impossible for one person to do safely. Some hot, tan, beefy dude in a tank top down the same aisle saw me struggling, and he totally laughed at me before walking away. Then the cashier rolled his eyes when I smiled and asked if he could help me wheel this out here—apparently, they're too understaffed today. I'm surrounded by helpful men. Men are wonderful. Men are so easy to love—"