Love next door

r cat, Muffin, nudging her arm for breakfast. But her thoug

yesterday didn't mean anything. But something about the way he'd looked at her, t

n-this time in a gray tank top, mowing his lawn. His arms flexed with every push of t

ous," she mutte

rt didn't s

erself pausing by the window far too often. That afternoon, wh

yes met

" he said with

enly aware of her messy

might want to hear that Nina

omach

ing not to sound too

on the floor of his living room surrounded by recor

lled the space,

much at first. Th

gs they didn't yet

ly, "So what's your

r small dreams, her failed engagemen

iste

y lis

he shared

llege. How being the only Black teacher in a mostly whit

ike threads of the same cloth

a record and brushed against Da

look

oked

r thic

he lea

t him

t. Tender. A question an

rt, Jane felt dizzy-

I'm in troubl

ned. "P

t erase the weight between

eek, the whi

ered behind coffee mugs. Her mother called, aski

ended not

mien n

er porch, he said, "Are you

er fingers wrapped a

with words. He

at was

now.