Page 18 of A Very Grumpy Neighbor

I can’t believe she was going to ditch me.

I smile. Well, maybe I can. Jade is tough, way stronger than she looks. I love that she doesn’t take any of my shit. I miss having someone who teases me and puts me in my place when necessary. The Marines gave me that with my brothers. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I sat across from Jade last night and she made fun of me.

I need that in my life. I need her.

But I need to make sure I’m what she needs, too.

Jade is smart and funny. She could have anyone she wanted, so I know I need to up my game—or figure out how to get a game in the first place.

I toss the rake aside and roll out my shoulders.

I should knock on her door and ask her out.

A door creaks open, and my head whips up as Jade comes out, juggling her purse, work bag, and water bottle in her arms.

“Here, let me help,” I say, jogging over to her side.

“Oh, thanks.”

“No problem.”

She unlocks her car and tosses her bag and purse in the passenger seat.

“You’re up early,” she comments.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“Your shoulder?” she asks in concern.

I hesitate. Do I tell her that a different part of me is hurting? Do I tell her how I can’t stop thinking about kissing her again and how I’ve held back from marching to her house and kissing her again?

She takes my silence as an answer. “Let me give you a massage tonight. It might help. You should take it easy, too. Take a rest day.”

“Yeah, good idea.”

“I’m running errands and then headed to work, but I should be back at five.”

“I wanted to ask if you’d let me take you out again sometime,” I blurt as she turns back to the car.

“A second date?”

“Yeah.”

“All right.”

“Tonight?”

“How about you buy me lunch right now? I need to run to the post office and the hardware store first.”

I nod. “Okay. Want me to drive?”

“No, I have to head to work after and do a few things, so I’ll have to leave after lunch.”

“I could go with you.”

“To work?”

“Yeah.”

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