Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 10

"That was really nice," I say to Shawn on the drive back to Toronto.

And I mean it. His family made me feel welcome and warm. It was just what I needed after losing Nana.

Shawn smiles and glances over at me, "I promise our second date will be more traditional."

Hold the phone. Date. Date? This was a date? I am literally shocked into silence.

"Did I say something wrong?" Shawn asks.

"What? No. I just didn't realize this was a date."

"Most guys don't take a girl home to meet the parents on a first date, so I get your confusion. But I thought you knew this was a date. I asked you to do something alone with me and you accepted."

"I can be kind of dense," I murmur. "I had no idea."

The ride is silent for the remaining 30 minutes of the drive. In fact, we don't speak until we're at our doors.

Shawn clears his throat. "So no second date, I guess?"

He looks uncomfortable; he looks really human. He's just a guy who is unsure about a girl and not a famous musician.

"What did you have in mind?" I ask.

There's a look of relief before he answers. "I am leaving for L.A. tomorrow. We're still recording my fourth album. I get back a week from Friday. Could you do dinner that night?"

I nod. "I'd like that. Thanks again. For everything. You've been so good to me."

I walk towards him and give him a hug. He gives me a soft kiss on the top of my head.

I go in and call my mom. I'd texted her that I'd made it back, but I wanted to talk to her. I filled her in on my day.

"So how are you going to break it to Elsie that you are dating the man she intends to marry?" my mom asks.

"I told you, we're not dating. I didn't even know it was a date!"

"Still, I think you should think about telling her you are friends with Shawn Mendes."

It turns out I didn't have to tell her. Later that night, Shawn likes a couple of my pics on IG and within minutes I have half a dozen texts from my sis.

Elsie: Jess!

Elsie: Jessica!!!

Elsie: why did Shawn Mendes like your photo of  you and Nana from this summer?

Elsie: OMG HE IS FOLLOWING YOU

Elsie: I hate you so much. what is going on.

Elsie: do you know him?

Instead of texting back, I call her. Leaving out how we met, and keeping it all very simplified, I explain that we're neighbors and that we are friends. I think she passed out at one point from the shock. She was livid that I had kept his condo proximity a secret from her for months, but giddy over the possibility of meeting him.

The next two weeks fly by. I throw myself into work, partly because I am a bit behind from taking time off and partly because I'm still grieving. Anything that takes my mind off things is welcome.

Work actually provides a distraction from something else. I've been spending way too much time thinking about Shawn and wondering exactly what is going on with us. It seems impossible that he likes me. Maybe he is just taking pity on me. That thought depresses me.

I'm not sure how I feel, either. Am I attracted to him? Yes. Very much. Do I look forward to seeing him? Yes. Do I see us together? No. He's a celebrity and I am a statistics nerd. Crazy.