Cory: OMG Brooke! What did your hot neighbour say to you last night??

I roll my eyes and chuckle while eating my cereals. For someone who loves eating, I sure am a shitty cook. 

Me: Ask me rather what I said to him ...

Cory: ???

I still can not believe I actually said that to him. Did your girlfriend change her hair colour? The nerve! I had no right to say something like that to him. For God's sake, we weren't even past only a greeting when we see each other. That's too personal. 

You proposed to him when you saw him for the first time, Brooke.

I really hate my common sense. 

Me: I asked if his girlfriend changed her hair colour

Sam: BROOKE! 

Sam: What was his answer to that?

I see Sam is up early this morning. I see that none of them is hungover. I'm more than happy for that I am not either since I have work today. 

Cory sends me a shocked smiley. 

Me: He was confused. Braden saved me before I could say anything else, though

Amy: Thank God for your brother - and I mean that in more ways than one ;)

I cough, the cereals stuck in my throat. I have tears in my eyes and it takes me some minutes to calm myself down enough to reply to that disturbing text. I hate my friends sometimes. And my brother. 

Me: FOR GOD'S SAKE AMY. I almost died because of you right now! 

Amy: Sorry, B <3 

I roll my eyes. They're hopeless. I think they all had their crush on my brother for years. Probably since the first time they saw him. And someone would think I would get used to them talking about him, but, believe me, there are some things that you just can't get used to. And this is definitely one of them. 

Amy: But, died? Don't be overdramatic. It's too early for this 

She adds a smiley that's rolling his eyes. 

Me: Not being overdramatic (for once). I choked on my cereals

All three of them send me smileys that are crying from laughter. I scowl down at the phone screen and choose to ignore them. Some best friends I have! 

I don't have time to wash the dishes, so I put them in the sink to wash them later and hurry down the stairs. Today's weather is a bit colder than yesterday's, so I'm wearing elegant black high waisted pants with a rose blouse tucked in them and my black low heels that go well with the outfit.

I hurry down the stairs. I'm putting my phone and wallet into my purse, so I'm not looking where I'm going. I almost crash into a couple that has a heavy make out session against the wall.

I stop in my tracks. This is getting ridiculous! 

It's Damien. I can clearly recognise the back of his head now. He's dressed in sports clothes yet again, probably going running. Or he came back from it? 

The woman he's kissing is blonde, but she's not the same from the club yesterday. 

''Jesus!'' I mumble and try to hurry past them, but they hear me and they both stop, turning their heads in my direction.

I have the decency to blush. I haven't blushed for I don't know how long, but this is a situation that I just can't keep it together. It's getting a bit funny. 

''Oh, Brooke. Hi.'' Damien gives me a one-sided grin that looks a bit apologetic. He lets the blonde slowly slide down the wall and against his body. She's wearing an elegant dress and high heels. Her make-up is still on point, although a bit smudged. She must've stayed the night with Damien, I presume.

Of course she did, you fool. 

''Good morning. Don't let me interrupt ...'' I wave my hand around, ''you,'' I finish lastly. ''I'm just going to work.'' 

I feel Damien's eyes follow me as I walk to my car. I still feel flushed. What is that man? He was with a woman two nights ago, he was being cosy with some other yesterday night, but this morning, he's kissing a different one again. This is confusing. But the signs are all there.

He's clearly a man who doesn't want only one woman. He wants them all and none at the same time. 

That's the kind of man I should stay clear of. But that's also the kind of man that attracts me the most. Apparently. 

◊

Me: I saw him with yet another woman this morning. They were making out against the wall.

Cory: NO WAY

Amy: ... fuckboy

Sam: Ohhh that's so hot

  I roll my eyes at Sam's response. Of course she'd find this hot.   

Me: Guess I need to set my eyes on someone else now. Sigh.

Cory and Amy both send me a thumbs up and Sam replies with: Absolutely!

I'm watching my TV after my nap. I was in a terrible need of a sleep when I came home. My friends didn't accuse me of acting like a baby for nothing. 

I'm chilling with my popcorn on my couch when there's a knock on my door. I groan. ''Come in!'' I call out, not bothering to stand up at all. The girls should know by now they have to just come in. Or maybe it's Braden, he thinks he has to be polite enough to knock. Newsflash, buddy, you'd be polite if you didn't make me stand up to open the door for your so-called-polite ass.

''How many  times do I have to tell you not to knock anymore and just come in?'' I mumble.

''I'll remember that for the next time,'' comes an amused voice that definitely belongs to a man, but it's not my brother's.

I sit up so hastily, the popcorn flies out of my hands and spills down on the floor. ''Shit,'' I curse, looking at the mess I've made. ''You scared the crap out of me,'' I tell him.

Damien stands in my living room like he was made to be here - with his hands in his pockets, dominating the big space. He's wearing jeans and a tight grey shirt. All the muscles are visible through it and I seem to have a hard time looking anywhere but right at his chest. 

''I've noticed. I'm sorry, that was not really my intention.'' When I finally do look at his face, his eyebrows are furrowed like he's thinking about something.

''It's fine. I just thought you were ... never mind.'' I wave my hand in the air. 

''Boyfriend?'' Damien raises his eyebrows suddenly, looking expectant. 

''What? No.'' I frown. ''He'd sure know not to knock.'' I laugh uncomfortably. Why do I feel so awkward? Oh, maybe because I've seen him with three different women in the past two days. Which brings me to question, ''Why are you here, though? I mean ... that sounded rude, sorry.'' I shake my head. 

What the hell, Brooke. It's not like you're talking to a hot man for the first time. Get yourself together! 

Damien chuckles. ''I wanted to come ask you if you're free tonight. You know, for a drink or something.'' He shrugs.

It's now my turn to raise my eyebrows at him. ''You couldn't find any other willing woman for tonight?''

Oh, look. Turns out I really am an idiot! 

''Sorry, what?'' he asks, confused, but I see a hint of a smile on his face. 

''Not my place to say anything, but I know the type of a man you are and that's not the type I go out on drinks with.'' 

''The type of a man I am, Brooke? What type is that?'' He's standing with his feet wide apart, dressed to impress, while I'm here on the couch with my old sweatpants and sweater with popcorn everywhere around me. 

I must be a sight to behold in this moment. 

''Forget about it. I'm overstepping my boundaries.'' I say apologetically. I know I shouldn't judge him this soon and that maybe I've got it all wrong ... But I've seen him. And I know what I saw. It's still not my place. I don't even know this man. 

Damien comes even closer. ''No, I want to hear it. Or at least what type of men are you willing to go out with?'' 

I get uncomfortable under his deep stare. How did it happen that we started talking about this? Oh, yeah. You started it. I shake my head. ''I don't know enough to say anything, I'm just presuming from what I saw.''

Damien grins. ''I was actually wondering if you would come with me as a friend. A neighbour inviting his new neighbour out for a drink. No harm,'' he muses. He trails his thumb over his bottom lip, unsuccessfully trying to hide a smile. 

Nice. I made a fool out of myself in front of him yet again. I'm pathetic. Honestly. ''Oh,'' I say. ''That could be arranged.'' I shrug casually, not letting him see that I'm dying from embarrassment - me! A person who basically never gets embarrassed. 

Of course he wasn't asking me out on a date. Why would he? He's probably busy with other women every night. 

''Can you give me a moment? I'll just get changed.'' I frown at the popcorn on the floor. ''Make yourself at home. Want anything to drink or eat?'' 

''I'm good, Brooke.'' 

Why does it sound so erotic whenever he says my name? 

I stand from the couch and Damien comes forward, standing by it. It's not enough space for me to go around the couch to my room because he's standing in my way. Did he do that on purpose? 

I look at him under my lashes and see how dangerously his eyes are shining. Two can play this game, babe. 

Without any further words, I put my hand on his chest and go past him, brushing my whole body against his. I feel him exhale, his breath hitting my neck, that's how close we are. But I don't let it confuse me. 

I pat his chest and then walk to my room, feeling his eyes on me the whole way and I make sure I add a little sway to my hips. Let the game begin.

''Where are we going?'' I call out from the bathroom where I'm brushing my hair. 

''Where do you want to go?'' 

My head snaps in the direction of his voice - a voice that's too close to be coming from my living room. He's standing in my bedroom, leaning against the doorframe. This man should really come with a sign ... 

''Can we get something to eat?'' I look back at the mirror now, calming down my racing heart. It's beating so fast because he scared me, I try to tell myself. 

''Of course,'' I can hear the laughter in his voice and when I look at him, I notice he's grinning. 

''Nothing fancy, though. Please.'' I sigh. If I have to go anywhere fancy again, I'll go crazy. 

''Nothing fancy,'' Damien repeats. ''That can be arranged,'' he repeats my words from before. 

I come back to the bedroom and grab my jacket from my closet.

''You look nice,'' Damien compliments me. 

I grin at him through the mirror on my closed closet now. I put my leather jacket on and lift my hair out of it so it falls down my back. ''Thanks.'' 

''Ready to go?'' he asks. 

I nod. ''Sure.'' I grab my phone and my purse. Damien lets me go through the door first. I wonder if it's again so I can brush against him because he's clearly not giving me much space. Such a gentleman he's trying to be! 

I quickly type a message to the girls, careful that Damien doesn't see it. 

Me: D invited me out!! We're going to dinner :D

I don't add that we're only going as friends. Let them wonder for a bit because I know they'll be curious. I put the phone on silent before I lock it. 

Damien throws his car keys in the air and catches them, taking us to his sports black BMW. Nice. Really nice. He opens the door for me with a smile. I'm not expecting the seat to be so low and I make a really big deal of sitting down. Can God throw me any more embarrassments? 

Damien, thankfully, doesn't comment on it and just goes to his side. ''Any particular place you want to dine at?'' he asks when he closes the door. 

''Anything will do.'' I grin and he shakes his head. 

He takes us to Wendy's, God bless him. ''Not fancy enough for you?'' Damien asks in amusement when he parks in front of it.

''You couldn't choose a more perfect place.'' And I mean that with every fibre in my body. Because I'm so fed up with all these fancy restaurants my brother likes to eat in. And, usually, you get such small portions that I almost always go home still hungry. 

So, this is perfect. ''Come on. Let's go have this friendly, completely neighbourly dinner.'' 

I purse my lips as I walk out of the car and go after him. ''I'm sorry for implying you were asking me out on a date,'' I mutter, still embarrassed from that. 

Damien chuckles. ''Jesus, Brooke. Are you always this straight forward?'' 

I shrug my shoulders. ''More or less.''

He puts his hands in his pockets again, walking beside me. ''It's alright. That was my plan B, though.''

I turn my head to look at him, but then the wind blows and throws my hair in my face so I don't see anything. ''Damn it,'' I mutter when I try to remove it from my face. ''What was your plan B?'' 

''This.'' Damien nods at me and then at the building in front of us. 

''I don't understand?'' I say.

Damien winks at me and looks forward. I catch a small, playful smile on his lips.

I look at the building in front of me, too. I wonder if his plan A was to go out with some other woman and it didn't work out, so he made a plan B - take the poor, single, clumsy neighbour out. And chose me as a second option. 

I'm without my computer and it sucks 😒

Anyway, if you want to read ahead, go to radish where you can find more chapters.

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