Dirty Little Secret

SPENCER

Spencer was seething. His cousin Vince had somehow managed to lose his moving truck, along with everything inside it, and Spencer was due to start work the next day.

He could have worked from home if only he had his laptop. He exhaled a cloud of smoke in a deserted alley; he preferred not to smoke around others, especially children.

Spencer was also well aware that his towering figure seemed even more intimidating due to his simmering anger. His tattoos only added to the effect.

He took a deep breath, inhaling deeply as he leaned against the side of his new apartment building.

It would do him no good to attract attention. That wasn’t who he was anymore. It was October, and the Halloween decorations haunted the various balconies stretching into the sky.

He heaved a sigh and zipped his jacket up. Maybe Vince wouldn’t take long. He’d give it at least until he finished his cigarette. Then he’d go sit in his empty apartment and stew.

It’d at least be warmer inside.

The sun was falling, setting the sky ablaze. He admired it.

A scrawny man brushed past him and shuffled into the lobby. Spencer followed him to the front of the apartment building and peered into the glass doors as the scrawny man got in the elevator.

The hairs on the back of Spencer’s neck stood up. Something about that guy was…off.

Still, it wasn’t exactly his business. Spencer leaned back against the pillar and closed his eyes. This was a nicer place than what he was used to. Maybe he was up in arms about nothing.

He took another drag of his cigarette. His thoughts flitted back to that woman—the pretty, short one from the café.

There’d been a moment. He had looked up, and she was already watching him. Their eyes had met. His lips turned up around the cigarette.

She’d looked away quickly, though. How cute. The image of her danced through his mind. Something about her had stuck with him.

He dubbed her Sunshine in place of her name. She seemed…bright.

She seemed interesting. He wondered what her name was and what she did for work. What she thought of him. Was she afraid of him? Was that why she was watching him? He’d been cursing—loud and angry; it would have made sense.

But that wasn’t the look in her eyes. Those eyes…

Spencer shook his head wildly. “This is stupid,” he murmured to himself. Now was not the time to get distracted.

He had work to do. As soon as he got his laptop back, he had work to do. Tedious, repetitive work.

Okay, maybe it was a good thing Vince had “misplaced” his truck.

Spencer heaved a sigh, dropping his head as he stubbed out his cigarette. There was no way that idiot Vince would be here at any reasonable time.

Better to just give up than keep pissing himself off. As Spencer looked up, the woman he’d been thinking about walked past him.

His eyes snagged on her, trying to determine if she was real. He thought she was beautiful, but this was a bit much.

He blinked, mindlessly following her from a distance. She looked different. Gone was that playful, mischievous grin and that cute, nervous demeanor.

A pall hung over her. She got into the elevator, not even noticing him as she chose her floor. Did they live in the same building? Or was she visiting someone?

He shook his head. It was none of his business. He didn’t even know her.

But he walked inside, his eyes drawn to the elevator screen displaying the floor she’d gotten off on. His feet flew up the stairs faster than he thought possible.

It just seemed right. Following his instincts had never let him down before.

He stopped at the fifth floor, slowing his pace as he entered the hallway. The sound of arguing filled the hall, a man and a woman. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the woman.

It was her. Her voice was nice, but it was clear she was tired—deflated almost. The guy seemed somewhat familiar too. The scrawny one from before. He called her Hailey.

Spencer felt his body tense in that familiar way, his hands flexing at his side. She was trying to get him to leave—this Eric—and it seemed he wasn’t getting the point.

Spencer stepped behind Eric, trying to catch her eyes and warn her of his approach. Her eyes shifted to his, widening.

He offered her a small smile, trying to put her at ease.

“Is there a problem?”

Eric shook his head, stammering out a no. Spencer narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms, his fists tucked tightly at his sides.

“Leaving?” Spencer spat out, prompting him. “It sounded like you were just leaving.”

He ran around Spencer, ducking into the hallway. Spencer smiled, trying to relax.

She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering. They were beautiful. She was beautiful. Sunshine was a good choice. It was in her eyes.

She lives across the hall from my new place. How lucky is that?

Spencer thrust his hand out, entranced. “Spencer. I live across the hall from you. What’s your name?”

She took it and smiled. “Bailey. Thanks for the…” She motioned to where the loser had been.

Considering the scrawny man wasn’t even calling her by the right name, Spencer guessed she was newly single.

With a small smile, he brushed the back of his head and mussed his hair.

“What a piece of shit. If he comes back, just knock on my door.”

Bailey grinned, and her face lit up. “I will.”