Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 24

It's New Year's Eve. 2019 has been a pretty good year. I graduated from college, got a sweet internship, and moved to Toronto.

Oh yeah, and I met this guy named Shawn.

I'm hoping 2020 is just as good for me. Grad school starts at the end of August, and even though that seems far away, it is on my mind a lot. I really can't wait. As much as I've loved interning, I am eager to get back to school. I know I could probably get a good job right now, but I want to learn more.

As for the guy, it's hard to say where 2020 will take us.

Speaking of...Shawn decided at the very last minute (as in the day before) that he wants to have people over to his place tonight. He invited the friends I'd already met a couple months ago, plus a couple others. He asked me to get Jules and Liz to come, which wasn't hard to do. Neither had plans that couldn't be changed.

I try to sleep late, knowing it will be a late night tonight, but am awakened by the vibration of getting texts. I always forget to turn vibrate off.

I grab my phone and see a bunch of texts from Elsie.

Elsie: here you go

Elsie: now you can have pics of you and your not-boyfriend on your phone

What follows are four incredible pictures she sneakily took of us.

The first two are at my place when we were sitting on the couch. In one, I am talking and Shawn is looking at me. The look. Oh my god. It's hard to describe. It's like I am the center of his world and he's just so happy for that. I'm not looking at him, so I am unaware of the adoration in his expression. Until now.

The next picture is a similar pose, but this time we're looking at each other. He has a serious, or rather sexy, look on his face, and I look a little embarrassed or shy. There were several times in front of his family or mine when we'd make eye contact and it would be intense. We would not say a word but something unspoken definitely passed between us.

The third and fourth pics were taken at Shawn's. The lighting is not great, unfortunately, but that gives them a very soft almost romantic look. We're on the couch again in one and he's talking while absentmindedly playing with my fingers as he holds my hand in both of his. The other was in the kitchen and we're laughing about something.

Looking at these, I suddenly regret not having more pictures of the two of us. Maybe we can remedy that tonight.

I text Elsie back.

Me: You made my day.

Elsie: you have no idea how badly I want to post one of these

Me: No

Elsie: shut up I know

Elsie: but if you ever go public as a couple, you have to let me

Me: Deal.

Shawn texts me later that afternoon, right after I've showered and thrown on some comfy clothes. He's managed to get all the food and booze delivered for tonight, but wants me to come over early to help him set up.

"Do you think this is enough food?" he asks, looking over the huge spread of chips, veggies, dips, cheese, crackers, and cookies on the dining room table.

"No one is even coming over until 8:00. I'm pretty sure they will all eat dinner first. This is more than enough."

He nods.

I look at the bar he's set up in the kitchen island. There are fewer than 12 people coming over but there's enough booze for 25.

"Just how drunk are you planning on getting tonight?" I ask.