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"Bye, Reed," I say a nod

"Wait a minute," he says as he pulls his phone out of one of his pockets "Give me your number"

"For what?" I ask as I blink at him stupidly

"I' to be out of town for a few days and would love for you to keep an eye on my place Maybe pick up my mail"

"Why do you need my number for that?" I blurt out

"In case there's an e," he says with an eye roll "It's what neighbors do for each other"

"Fine," I s it into his phone and then shoots me a wink

"Thanks, neighbor," he drawls "Let me know if I can return the favor"

"Sure," I mumble in response as I turn away

That was all kinds of aard and weird but also highly entertaining Reed and his antics will at least keep me entertained this summer

Chapter 3

Reed

I watch through the blinds as Josie parallel parks her little econoas-guzzling Tahoe I'd been out on an earlyfor work at 6 AM We chatted for a fewtwelve-hour shifts for the next three days

I noted that night that she didn't get home until 8:30, and I assuht on the dot if they're in theIt's a quarter to nine now and the pizza was delivered just ten o, so it's still warm

As she jogs up her front steps, which is iot to be exhausted, I pull up my phone and type out a quick text to her

Co for you

I turn away from theand head into my kitchen Before I can pull out two plates from the cabinet, she responds Who is this?

Reed, I quickly type

She's just as fast in her response I just got home and I'm exhausted I need a shower

Forget the shower, I text Just coht now I just need a few minutes of your time

She doesn't respond, but within a rin and call out, "Come on in"

Josie opens the door and peeks her head inside first Her eyes lock withroo "Hey"

"Hey," she says back hesitantly, then slides in, shutting the door softly behind her

Her scrubs are the typicalon her tiny frame loosely I' curly hair is tied back and she has no h she doesn't need it None of these particular thoughts surprises hts abo

ut her does I've been thinking about her a lot since our encounter at the pool just three days ago

"I've got dinner ready," I tell her nonchalantly as I put the plates on the counter next to the pizza box

Josie doesn't step away from the door, but just blinks at me

"Well come on," I say with a wave of ry"

"You want me to eat pizza with you?" she asks dumbly

"Yes," I drawl slowly "I bought pizza Come eat"

"I don't understand," she says, and I forceup

"Josie," I say firot hory Just come eat, okay?"

I turn back to the cabinet behind lasses, and when I turn back around, she's standing on the other side of my kitchen counter that separates the kitchen fro area

"What do you want to drink?" I ask her as I hold the glasses up

"Umwater," she says, as if she's still confused as hell

"Coe for the pitcher of filtered water I keep in there Facing her again, I see with satisfaction she has a piece of pizza on a plate

I slide the glass of water across the counter to her and put three slices onrooht"