mothers used to call us the three musketeers because we were inseparable. We did everything together, and we were always there when the other one needed us. The twins were my rock, and no matter what exotic place their job took them to, we talked every day.
I opened my eyes and was startled by the music I heard, coming through the wall. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time; it was 3:00 a.m. I had been sleeping for about two hours, which had become the norm for me since I caught Hunter and Brynn together in the church. My mind’s on permanent rewind, and every time I closed my eyes, that scene played over and over again. I got up from the couch, grabbed my purse, and walked to the bathroom. I wanted to wash my face, but I forgot that all my towels and washcloths were packed away in one of the boxes that sat in the Explorer. I took the brush out of my purse and ran it through my long, blonde hair. I searched for a rubber band and pulled my hair into a high ponytail. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t help but notice the bags underneath my blue-gray eyes. I really needed a shower, so I put on my shoes, grabbed my keys, and headed towards the Explorer. As I stepped out into the hallway of my apartment, I stood there and stared at the door from which the blaring music was coming from. I shook my head, rolled my eyes, and headed to my SUV for the box that was labeled: BATHROOM.
I lifted the box out of the Explorer, and then carried it to the door of the apartment building. I set the box down for a minute while I opened the door with my key. As I was inserting the key, the door opened, and I stumbled back, nearly being knocked down.
“I’m sorry, miss, I didn’t see you there,” he apologized.
He looked at me and then at the box on the ground. “Are you moving in?” he asked as he looked at his watch.
“Yes, I just got here a few hours ago, and I haven’t had a chance to get the boxes from my truck,” I answered.
“It’s nice to meet you; I’m Sam,” he said as he held out his hand.
“Hi, I’m Lily. It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Let me grab that box for you,” he offered as he bent down to pick it up.
“No, that’s alright, I’ve got it,” I said as I put my hand in front of him.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Let me carry the box for you since I almost knocked you on your ass with the door.” He smiled.
It was the middle of the night, and I was arguing with a hot guy over a box. “Fine; my apartment’s right there,” I said as I pointed to my door.
Sam looked at me and smiled. “Well, look at that; looks like we’re neighbors.”
I opened the door for him as he stepped inside my apartment and set the box down on the floor. “So, you’re the one playing the loud music at 3:00 a.m.?” I asked.
“Sorry about that,” he said as shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll tell Lucky to keep it down.”
“I’d appreciate that. Thanks for the help with the box,” I said as I shut the door.
I spent the next hour unpacking the box and putting away the towels. I organized all my bathroom items and then took a hot, relaxing bubble bath. My hands began to wander as it had been a while since my battery operated boyfriend and I had a date. As soon as I was finished, I got out of the tub, wrapped a towel around me, and walked into the living room where my suitcases were. I opened one suitcase and pulled out a pair of jean shorts and a navy blue tank top. I grabbed my phone from the couch and looked at the time; it was 6:00 a.m. Giselle and Gretchen were coming over to help me unpack around 8:00 a.m., and the bedroom set was being delivered between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. I blow-dried my hair then put it back up in a high ponytail. I put on some light makeup and then decided to go for some coffee.
I stepped out of my apartment at the same time Sam did his. We both looked at each other, and he smiled. “Don’t you ever sleep?” he asked.
“I should be asking you the same thing.” I smiled back.
Sam was hot; there was no question about it. He stood around six feet tall with a great muscular body, sandy brown hair, and brown eyes. He definitely fit the Santa Monica image.
“Where are you off to so early in the morning?” he asked.
It really wasn’t any of his business, but he was being nice, so I felt the neighborly thing to do was to be nice in return.
“I’m off to find some much needed caffeine,” I replied as I stepped out of the building door, and he followed behind me.
“Me too,” he said. “I went to make some coffee, but the bag was empty. I hate it when Luke doesn’t tell me we’re out of coffee.”
“Luke?” I asked.
“Yeah, he’s my BF and roommate. Hey, would you like to go get some coffee together?” he asked with a smile.
I studied him. Sam seemed like a really nice guy, and he was gay, so I didn’t have to worry about him hitting on me.
“Sure, I’ll go with you, but we have to make it quick; my girlfriends are coming over to help me unpack.”
I hopped into his truck, and we drove down the road to a coffee house called ‘Brewsters.’ We walked inside, and Sam was instantly greeted by the girl behind the counter.
“Morning, Sam! Who’s your friend?” she asked as she was wiping down the counter.
“Morning, Jamie! This is Lily; she just moved in next door. Lily, this is my cousin, Jamie; she owns this lovely coffee house.”
Jamie wiped her hand dry and held it out to me as I gently shook it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lily. Are you new in town?”
“Yes, I just moved here from Portland last night,” I replied.
“Great, well welcome to Santa Monica and to Brewsters! What can I get you?” she asked.
“I’ll just have a large black coffee.” I smiled. I looked over at Sam and found him staring at me. “What?” I asked.
“That’s how Luke drinks his coffee. I don’t understand how you can drink it with no sugar or cream. We argue about it all the time.”
“Everyone has different coffee taste, Sam,” Jamie said.
“Let me pay for your coffee,” I said to Sam.
“It’s on the house.” Jamie smiled as she handed us our coffees. “Cheap-ass, Sam, over here never pays. Consider it a ‘welcome to Santa Monica gift.’”
“Thanks, Jamie!” Sam smiled as he grabbed a bag of coffee from the shelf. “I’m taking a bag home; I owe you!”
Jamie rolled her eyes. “He owes me every week.” She laughed.
“Thank you, Jamie. It was nice to meet you.” I smiled as I held up my coffee cup.
“It was to meet you too!”
I walked out of Brewsters and climbed into the truck. “Your cousin is really nice,” I said.
“Yeah, she’s more like my sister. She came to live with me and my family when she was eight years old. Her mom and dad were drug dealers who got caught, and they were sent to prison.”
“Are they still in prison?” I asked.
“Yeah, 20 years later, and they’re still there. She hasn’t seen them in all these years either.”
We arrived back at the apartment building, and I got out of the truck. I walked over to my Explorer and set my coffee cup on the hood. I took the keys from my purse and unlocked it. Sam followed me.
“Let me give you a hand with those boxes,” he offered.
“That’s alright, Sam. Go enjoy your coffee. I can handle this.”
He walked over to the back of the Explorer. “Nah, come on, Lily; just let me help. It’s the neighborly thing to do anyway.”
I sighed and unwillingly opened the hatch. Sam smiled, grabbed a box, and headed towards the apartment building. I stepped ahead of him so that I could hold open the door. Before I got up to the door, it swung open, and a guy stood there, staring at me.
