Love At First Fight: My Next Door Neighbour

e's

wear to dinner with the neighbor you've been fighting with for months, who turns out to be

to go over – I didn't want to seem eager. Too late to cancel without being ru

r made me jump. "

vintage polka dot dress and cat-eye glasses that somehow worked perf

said imm

nto my apartment. "And that oversized sweater, w

I protested weakly.

oney, when a chef personally cooks for you and

rifying, yo

to reveal a simple but elegant dark green

ou even kn

w change. We have exactly thirteen minutes

gossip, her latest blog post, Tommy's new job at Marcus's restaura

convinced me to let my hair down from its usual messy bun, and the

tated. "Sarah st

lled on my ha

stured vaguely at the wall separating my apa

t do you

bout the way Maria's kids drew pictures for the 'kind food m

"Oh honey, that's not

official. Ruby's eyes widened as I opened the door to find Sarah stan

t are you d

e said stiffly. "By

t my-wai

unofficial social coordinator for this building. You're just in time – shall we?

my tongue. He was wearing dark jeans and a fitted black button-down instead of h

erything else faded away. Then Sa

back to let us in. "Glad you could make it

erfully. "Tommy's setting

ah and I asked

twinkled.

errified me. Instead,

transformed with string lights and mismatched tablecloths. Potted herbs lined th

clean hoodie and what appeared to be new sneakers.

d from the stairs, carrying a covered dish. Her silver hair was

ly, taking the dish. "I

with a knowing smile. "So this is your wri

ropped the di

"I'm Elena, mi amor. I taught this one everything

bottle of wine, various faces I recognized from the supper club

with an expression

with two glasses of wine.

the way everyone moved around each other with easy f

like sunrise.

music," I

rted singing something in Spanish, low and sweet. Other voi

Zane said, holdi

ntained my safe distance. Instead, I t

tching us," he mur

ck, surprising myself. "I

ly to look at me, his

deep in conversation with Elena. "Be

ed against mine. "Definitely. Fair warning though

he family,

ntly. "I may have stress-cooke

ress-coo

y waist. "You make me n

ice made my heart stutter. "

and then he was leaning down, and

ommy called, maki

for a moment, both of us laughin

art racing. "To

he gave me a small nod – not quite approval, but understanding. On

first time in years, the noise of the crowd around me did

lour, and I settled in to listen, still holding his hand.

me risks were