Page 34 of A Very Grumpy Neighbor

“I got into a fight with my neighbor.”

“Property line shit?”

“We were together…kind of. She was the blind date you set me up on.”

“Really?” he asks in surprise.

“You didn’t know who you set me up with? You know it was only supposed to be a blind date forme, right?”

“Smartass.” He laughs. “I didn’t set up the date. I was going to find you someone, but Lymric came home from girls’ night and said she’d found you a date, so I let her set you up.”

“Oh.”

“So, the date went well? Or no?”

“The date went well, and the next one. It was…” I trail off because I’m not even sure how to finish that sentence.

Do I say it was me? An argument? Do I tell him anything at all? Maybe he can help me with her. He and his girl Lymric seem happy together after all.

“It was me. I messed things up.”

“Yeah, I figured as much. What did you do?”

“I was…myself.”

“Oh, yeah, that would’ve done it.”

“Fuck you.”

He laughs. “I’m teasing. What did you do for real? Tell me, and I’ll help you fix it.”

“I didn’t tell her stuff.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“Anything.”

“Okay, interesting choice. Can I ask what exactly that means and why you did it?”

“I’m not used to talking. I’m not good at it.”

“I’m aware.”

“I didn’t answer her questions the way she wanted me to.”

“And she got mad about it?”

“Yeah. Said it felt like she was pulling teeth or nagging me to tell her things.”

“Okay.”

“And she’s probably right.”

“Probably?” He arches an eyebrow.

I sigh. “She’s right. I just…Dammit, I’m not used to any of this.”

“I know it can be a steep learning curve. I almost messed things up with Lymric when we met, but she’s important to me, and I was willing to do whatever it took to make it work with her.”

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