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“I’ll grab it when I get home, okay?”

I’m fibbing. I let Autumn borrow it a couple years ago, and I think she lost it in her move.

I throw everything back into my bag, and pull it onto my shoulder.

It was so much for my neighbor’s good mood yesterday, because we had another unpleasant night with lots of crying. Dahlia officially doesn’t likethe lady with the music, and my heart hurts as I wish I could permanently protect her from thatlady. I tell my mom we’ll probably be back later, and I take my daughter to school.

My plans for the day consist of going to work, and trying not to snap at anyone.

It’s going to be quite the challenge when I get an unsurprising, but infuriating text message on my way there.

Destiny:Not going to make it in today.

I don’t even bother to respond. I can't keep covering for this girl.

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Let me know the next time you’re feeling feisty. I can work with it much better when I have the chance to get you into bed with me.

It’s embarrassing how much the note turns me on.

I pound on her door, and she answers within a couple seconds with a winning smile on her face. I’ve never seen her look so pleased to see me, I almost wonder if that suspected twin is here standing in her place.

“I–You–” I exhale, trying to let go of this frazzled state she already has me in. She doesn’t even need to try. “I need you to be careful with the notes you leave on my door. My daughter can read.”

Albeit, slowly, but there’s likely to be a day where I don’t beat her to it in time.

“Okay,” she says.

I freeze.

“Okay? That’s it? You don’t want to argue?”

“Oh, I always want to argue. Give me something worth arguing over,” she insists.

“Perfect, I’m in the mood today!” I say, raising my voice. “Cut the shit with the music. I have been way too nice about it, but I’m done.”

She pretends to look behind me, like someone should be there.

“What do you thinkyoucan do about it?”

“I have a running list of ideas,” I tell her.

“And you’ve waited this long to act because…”

It’s a great question, one I’ve been asking myself this entire time and still can’t really answer. My mouth opens to give her some explanation before I’ve even realized what’s going to come out of it.

“Because you’re some sort of siren or something, that opens your mouth and makes me forget how much I really don’t like you,” I spit out.

Again, admitting more than I should to her about how much power she has over me.

Saying it outright makes me all worked up. I think the only other person I’ve been this rude to would be Caleb, but my anger towards this woman right now is overriding every feeling I’ve ever had towards him.

It’s impressive.

“There you go again,” she sighs with impatience.

“What?”