The young blonde moved in next door all day that Saturday and part of Sunday. Her family was there to help for the weekend, but eventually had to go back to their own lives in Oklahoma. He noticed how sad she was when they left. There were a few tears shed as her family pulled out of the driveway, and Mike noticed that there was no one there to comfort her. It saddened him to see a beautiful girl like that be as upset as what she was.
He wanted to find an excuse to go over there, just to see if she was okay. Maybe he could act concerned about something going on in the neighborhood, but maybe that would freak her out. Or maybe he could do the neighborly thing and introduce himself, but maybe that would be weird.
Mike brushed off the thought of meeting his new neighbor and continued on living out his life. He had to get ready for his season. There was no time to waste in the off season. He woke up a few days later early and decided to go on a morning run around his neighborhood which he did at least three times a week, weather permitting of course.
He was about two miles into his jog, and he couldn't help but notice his new neighbor on the sidewalk ahead of him, standing there looking very lost.
"Can I help you?" he asked, panting from running so hard, approaching the blonde.
"Um..." she said still looking around at her surroundings. "Actually, yes. I just moved here and I know this may be embarrassing, but I don't think I know my way back home."
Mike didn't want to sound creepy about knowing where she lived, so he decided to play it casually. "What street do you live on?"
"Oak," she answered.
"Oh, really?" his eyes widened. "That's where I live. I'm headed back there so I can just walk you back."
"Awesome, thank you," she smiled, her eyes glowing into his. "I'm Carrie, by the way."
"Mike," he smiled back. "So where did you live before?"
"I'm from Checotah, Oklahoma," she answered. "Small town that you have probably never heard of. I've lived in an apartment in Nashville for about a year and a half now, but I'm just now getting my own place."
"That's awesome," he replied. "I'm from Peterborough, Canada. I moved here a year ago to play hockey for the Preds."
"No way," Carrie remarked. "That's really cool. I'll be honest with you though, I hardly know anything about hockey."
"Seriously?" Mike questioned.
"Yeah," Carrie giggled. "The only sports we really had where I come from were football, basketball, baseball, and softball."
"So why did you decide to come here?" he asked nicely.
"I'm a singer, actually," she answered. She was happy with the fact that he didn't know who she was. She loved being treated like a normal human being.
"Really?" he acted surprised. "What's your full name? Carrie-"
"Underwood," she laughed.
"Ah," he nodded. "You sing Jesus Take the Wheel, right?"
"Yes," she smiled.
"Sorry, I don't know much of your music," he apologized. "I listen to Christian radio a lot. Although living here in Nashville has made me listen to country a little more."
"Yeah, definitely," Carrie agreed.
"Well, this is my house," Mike said, stopping in his tracks.
"You live here?" Carrie questioned receiving a nod from the handsome man. "I live right next door."
"I guess we'll be seeing each other around then," Mike smiled.
"Definitely," she grinned.
"Listen, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to come over and ask," he told her.
"Thank you," she replied. "It was really great meeting you, Mike."
"Yeah, I'll see you around," he waved before heading up his driveway as she made her way up her's.
He was thankful that he ran into Carrie the way he did. She was so sweet and so innocent. He wanted to be with a girl like Carrie, he just didn't know how exactly. But he reminded himself that they were neighbors, and that things were going to be a lot easier than they seemed...or more complicated.
