The Matchmaker's Error

Delia watched her sister, Stella, from their two-bedroom apartment window.

What the hell was that girl up to now?

The chocolate-brown-haired girl was plastered against the streetlamp, half her face peering around the pole to stare at something. Delia pressed her face against the glass for a better view, but all she saw was a large box moving toward the building. She rolled her eyes when she caught sight of black-and-blue sneakers and jean-clad legs.

It was a guy. Of course, it was a guy.

Delia turned her attention back to her sister, who had now moved to stand at the apartment gate. Her eyes narrowed.

What was she doing?

Stella was moving back and forth, her hands clutched together as she muttered whatever monologue she was preparing for her inevitable confrontation with the guy. He must be good-looking. Delia sighed and started to turn away from the window. A movement in the corner of her eye sent her rushing back to the window, suppressing a giggle.

The bushes next to the gate rustled furiously. Delia sprinted from the apartment almost as fast as Stella had dived into the bushes. She dashed down the stairs, opting not to wait for the elevator, and missed the man emerging from the elevator onto their floor a few seconds later.

*

Stella groaned as her sister pulled her from the bush. “Careful!”

“What the hell were you thinking?” Delia asked, plucking leaves from Stella’s long hair.

“D-did-did you see him?”

“Who? And can you stand still, please?”

Stella shuffled nervously on her feet. “The guy who went inside our building.”

“No, I didn’t.” Delia shook her head. Her sister’s behavior was uncharacteristically out of the ordinary.

Stella stared at the building’s front door. “You remember I told you about that guy I saw at a coffee shop?”

“Yeah, the one you went on about for weeks?”

“That was him.” Stella turned back to face her sister, eyes wide. “Do you think he is our new neighbor?”

“Uh,” Delia blinked, and her heart sank. Just what she needed, another distraction her sister would undoubtedly jump into.

*

The elevator ride up four floors felt excessively long, settling troubled thoughts deep between Delia’s brows. Stella’s annoying shuffle-dance was already aggravating the sudden onset of a headache.

The heavy metal doors slid open, and both sisters froze. The little gasp that had escaped Stella’s lips bounced off the stuffy air, smacking into the chest of the biggest—Oh, fuck, here comes trouble!!

*

Delia drummed her fingers on the kitchen counter as she reviewed their encounter with their new neighbor. Stella had broken the ten-second stare-off by yanking her sister’s arm and dragging her into the hallway. A mumbled greeting had been flung in a general direction before they retreated into their apartment.

She had to admit, Stella had not been exaggerating when she said the coffee shop guy was handsome. Even the glasses he wore were superhero-worthy.

Stella emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered.

“Please, for the love of my sanity, give this guy at least a month before you try to jump him. Please?” Delia said, wiping the dreamy smile from Stella’s face.

The last thing she needed was for her sister to be too neighborly and scare off the guy before he had even unpacked a box. Delia loved her sister, but Stella did not understand the word boundaries.

“I have no intention of jumping him,” Stella huffed, flopping down onto the living room couch. The disbelief carved on Delia’s face was picture-perfect, and Stella blushed.

“Please, Stella. He is our neighbor, and your little-whatever that was earlier does not bode well for me.”

“I won’t. I promise. Besides, I don’t think he is interested in girls anyway.”

Delia raised her brows. “You think he is gay? Well, I won’t say that would be a blessing.”

“Just saying. He hardly noticed me at the coffee shop.”

“You saw him for what, five seconds? Not all guys will fall over their feet every time they see you, you know. Besides, perhaps he has a girlfriend or boyfriend or whatever. You drove me crazy when you couldn’t shut up about him for weeks! I don’t want a repeat, thank you very much.”

“He is pretty, isn’t he?”

Delia opened her mouth but then refrained from responding. He was not pretty. He was beautiful.

Wait, what? What is she thinking? No, regardless of whether he is gay or not, she is not getting involved. Neighbors who keep to themselves are the best.

***

It had not been 24 hours, and here she was, knocking on the new neighbor’s door. Delia rapped again, a little louder this time, and the music from within went silent. A few seconds later, the door swung open.

Delia blinked, taking in the ruffled, bedridden dark hair, the chiseled, bare chest, and blue sleeping shorts that complemented the long, muscular legs.

“Hello?”

Her gaze snapped up, and she stepped back, colliding with the smoky blue eyes frowning at her.

“Uh, hi. I’m sorry to bother you this late.” Delia tugged on the sweatshirt she had flung on over her sleep shirt. “But your music is a bit loud.”

“It is?”

“Yeah, I’m right next door and would really like to get some sleep.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I’ll turn it down.”

“Thanks.” Delia turned on her heel.

“I’m Jake, by the way. I just moved in.”

Delia paused and looked over her shoulder. “Delia and the googly-eyed girl I was with earlier are my sister, Stella.” She quickly rushed back and dove into her apartment. She leaned back against the closed door, a hand over her wildly beating heart. She should have scolded him for not wearing a shirt. She stifled a giggle.

Whew, she was just glad it had been her, not Stella, who saw him like that.

She tiptoed back to her bedroom and climbed into bed, her ears straining for any sound next door. The music stayed silent, and she closed her eyes.

Jake. Nice name. Fits him. He looked good without glasses, too. Very nice.

The last thought in her muddled mind before she finally drifted to sleep. Neighbors who keep to themselves are the best.

Wonder if he needs some sugar...

***