“Morning,” I wave toward a guy running past me.
He stops and pivots, jogging backwards to keep beside me.
My heart plunges to my stomach inside my already pounding chest.Why did I say anything?I’m not ready for a conversation yet. Not ready to people.
I chance a glance sideways, nearly tripping as everything inside of me freezes while my feet keep moving. My mind turns to ice, then does a few summersaults.
His blond hair catches the early morning light. His thick biceps bulge with every light step beneath his light-green pullover. Even with my shades on, I can tell his shirt matches his pale eyes. The only thing that’s different about him since the last time I saw him is the freshly shaved, square jaw beckoning me to run my tongue across it in place of the stubble from a few afternoons ago. My new neighbor.
The asshole from next door. The loud, inconsiderate jerk-face who’s been keeping me up when I’m trying to sleep.
He smiles at me as my own expression changes to a grimace.Why didn’t I look at him first before I said anything?Despite my sudden two left feet, I speed up. He keeps pace with me.
“Good morning.”
I widen my grimace, unable to turn it into a smile as I nod and focus on the path in front of me.
“You live in the tan and black house, right? I just moved in beside you.”
Oh, god. He’s mental and just keeps talking like I’ve never met him before.
“I’m Breckin, by the way.” He reaches his hand out.
I stop, jogging in place as I stare at his outstretched arm. This is some joke. It has to be. Still, if he’s actually stepping up, extending the olive branch and all, I should at least do my neighborly part. “Asra.” I draw out each sound as I keep staring at his hand until he runs it through his golden locks and retracts it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Asra.” He glances up at the cloudy, still gray sky, then back at me. “So, what’s with the shades?” When I don’t respond he keeps talking. “You hiding from the paparazzi or something?”
“Yeah, um . . . Something like that . . . Enjoy your run.” Before he can add anything else to this already far too awkward conversation, I shake my head and dart off.
By the time I reach my house, my head is still spinning. I kick my shoes off and stomp through the living room. My stomach tightens, then all my muscles flare in a spasm as I head toward the shower. I tried. I did. I made it one run. One run before the ass-canoe had to mention that I’m not normal. I’m just a mutated anomaly. I’ll never fit in.
Chapter 6
Breckin
Setting my laptop down, I drum my fingers on the handle of my lawn chair. No matter what I try, my mind cannot seem to focus today.
I glance next door, to the tan, ranch style cottage with black trim. Yeah, that’s the only thing my mind wants to focus on. Well, the woman hiding inside said house. But, I haven’t seen a glimpse of her since my run this morning. And that didn’t go near as well as I had hoped.
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why she was wearing sunglasses early this morning. The sun was barely up in the cloudy sky. Maybe she didn’t want anyone spotting her. Or maybe she was hiding from someone. My gut turns in a sour circle considering either possibility. It shouldn’t matter. People do weird shit all the time. I’ve seen just about everything living in downtown Seattle for seven years. Yet, somehow, Asra in sunglasses, has captivated me even more. She’s a puzzle. An enigma. An eclipsed sun, and I am Icarus, bound to burn.
Running my hands through my hair I resist growling and stand up. I need to stop obsessing over her, find my Zen and some inspiration for my next bridge. But there’s too much commotion to even think about focusing. From the back deck with the door closed, I can hear the construction going on at the front of the house. I know she can hear it, too.That’s got to be why she seemed less than pleased to meet me this morning. Huffing, I head inside.
I can’t tell the plumber to stop, it’d never get done. All I can do is help complete the renovation a little faster. I already convinced Brendan we needed help and hired the guy yesterday.That should at least help us get a decent chunk of work done while he’s at his job during the day.