Page 67 of Tight Spot

Our bell rang, and Grace scooted off to chat with what looked like a mom and daughter pair and Isaac strolled in. “Hey, neighbor,” I sang to him.

He gave me his standard cocky grin and held Peanut Butter closer to his chest. “Where’s Jelly the Cat?”

“She didn’t feel like a walk today.”

“Ah.” That made sense. “Cats and their temperaments, right?”

He made some sound of acknowledgment. Isaac didn’t like to be teased about his cats, much. Odd little duck was he. “You’re dating Dawson Butler?”

“What?”

“Sorry, didn’t mean it to sound bad or anything, just heard from some guys on my team you were dating him.”

I was thrown. A team? What in the hell did Isaac do?

“Um. Yeah, I mean, we’re dating. What team are you talking about?”

Because oh my god…did he play on the Steel too? If so, what were the odds…and how had I not known?

“No, Hailey.” He was chuckling, a soft quiet laugh. “I play for the Avengers. Tuevo’s team? I thought you knew.”

“Why would I know that?”

“Because Meredith was the one who told you I needed a place to live?”

Oh…well, sure. Damn. I might really need to start paying attention to sports and things going on in my life. He’d been living here for well over a year. “I must have forgotten,” I mumbled, cheeks burning.

“He’s a good guy from what I hear. But after Darrick, you know…are you sure he’s good for you?”

I’d now gotten that from my brothers and my sister. After the day my dad showed up, I’d had to call back my sister and my brothers. I should have scheduled a family Zoom call for as much as I’d had to repeat myself that day.

Hearing it from Isaac, who was more tenant than friend, didn’t really want me to repeat myself again.

“It’s fine. We’re having some fun, is all.” Maybe the more I repeated it the more I’d believe it.

“All right. Just make sure you take care of you first, right?”

I hadn’t had to take care of myself since Dawson showed up in my life. I figured Isaac and I were thinking different things.

“Will do, Isaac. And thanks, I guess, for your concern.”

“Wouldn’t be a good neighbor if I didn’t let you know.”

He turned to leave, and Jelly let out a little meow so I scratched the top of his head before Isaac left.

“Take care, Isaac.”

“Have a good night, landlord!”

He stopped the door from closing, and Sloane swooped in under his arm. “Thanks, Isaac! Sorry about you guys missing the playoffs.”

He mumbled something and Sloane lifted two white bags of food.

Good grief. Did everyone know more about my tenant, and sports, than I did?

I really needed to start learning.

CHAPTER19

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