At least the house was nice.

The modern two story porch-wrapped house sported a nice large lot that had a car port and overlooked the sea. The interior was the kind that suited my cosmopolitan taste with it’s high ceiling, tasteful leather furniture and a kitched with designer cabinets and quartz counters. The soft cream and burgundy colors created an ambience of serenity and I loved the wooden floors, real fireplace and walk in closet.

I didn’t feel particularly comfortable knowing Officer Asshole was my neighbor, but thanked God the house was to my liking, and wasn’t designed in such a way that we were right next to each other.

There was a space of about fifty feet between us, and my back garden mostly had a view of the sea.

I was, however, very envious of his place since he had a boardwalk that went right up to the harbor. It looked like most of that land was his.

“Brooke, are you going to move from that window any time soon?” Noah asked, coming into the living room.

I turned toward him and frowned. He’d just brought in my suitcase, and I could already see the water had gotten to the contents inside.

“I can’t believe the crap from this day.” I shook my head then rested my hand on my forehead. My laptop was in that suitcase. I had a lot of things stored on my Google Drive and my Dropbox, but there was some stuff that wasn’t.

“Just be glad you’re safe.” He raised a brow and stared at me with his piercing blue eyes. He had a tan that made his blond hair look lighter.

He set the case down and opened it. Just as I’d thought, the water had gotten to the inside.

“Shit. Everything’s ruined.” I huffed. It was soaked, through and through. All the stuff I’d put together before moving across the country…everything.

“The other bags are the same. This was the one I thought would be okay.” He offered a look of sympathy.

“Great, so I have nothing but the clothes on my back.”

“Looks that way. I can run out and get some stuff for you in a little while. There may be a few shops open late.”

Normally I would have declined, but today I felt I needed the help. It was nearly eight and I was tired. I’d been traveling since six in the morning.

“I think I’d love that.” I nodded, bringing my hands together. “I’m glad you came.” Who knows what I would have had to put up with if I hadn’t had him by my side. I was certain Officer Asshole would have taken me down to the station and all but ordered an internal examination on me.

“You know I’ll always come if you need me.” He smirked as if the idea of him not being there when I needed him was completely far-fetched.

I was inclined to agree. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” I nodded.

If there was ever an image to show what a best friend looked like, he would be it. He was truly always there for me, and I knew he would do anything for me, like the time I lost my passport in Paris and he flew over to help me and sorted everything out. After that, I knew he would do absolutely anything for me.

The best thing he’d ever done for me, though, was give me an exclusive interview. Sure, he was my best friend, but Noah hated interviews.

That interview had landed me the junior features editorial position at People Magazine, and that was when my career really took off. I would say it was one of the stepping stones that got me my current assignment here in Wilmington, too.

It might have been an awful day, but I had to remember why I was here: for the highly coveted position I’d worked so damn hard for.

Out of the five seriously qualified competitors I had back in LA, Perry had chosen me to do the yearly special. All the people who had ever been featured in People had been amazing, but this year’s subject wasn’t just any old special.

This year the issue would be on professional marathon runner Sally Weinstein. The extent of her greatness blew me away. I’d followed her career for years because she was my role model. I loved her and all she stood for. She was the kind of person who’d been a great example to me in my life.

Sally had been voted the most influential woman of the year by People Magazine, and I was going to write the exclusive.

That was going to be the epitome of my career.

Remembering that made me feel good. I would feel better later when the effects of the crazy day passed, a crazy day that definitely could have been avoided.

“Brooke, you need to do something about Wade.” Noah frowned as he sat down on the soft leather sofa. I joined him, but I sat on the arm and lifted my legs onto the seat.

“All I can do is complain.” I would have loved to do more, but he’d just set me up for another disastrous day. In truth, it was the car company who was to blame. They should never have given me a faulty car.

“You could have had a serious accident. Thank God you weren’t in the car when it went in the water.”

Yes, thank God indeed, because I couldn’t swim. “I know. I sent Perry a message. At least I don’t have to see Wade for eight months.” Eight blissful months in Wilmington. I loved living in LA, loved frolicking around the stores and indulging in the latest beauty treatments, but there was something about being in a place that had a slower pace that appealed to me.

“And, you don’t have to hear how Craig is either.” Noah added rolling his eyes. “Your asshole of an ex can be history for eight months.”

My stomach squeezed and I pressed my lips together. Sure, he was right.

“Yup, I don’t have to hear about Craig.”

I wouldn’t have to hear how Craig was, or what he was doing from the tight circle of friend we shared. Friends we went to college with.

He one guy who’d singlehandly managed to make me fall for him and break my heart all at once.

He got married two weeks ago and hearing all about it from our friends stirred up hurtful memories for me. I couldn’t even pretend I wasn’t affected by the news.

The hard exterior I showed the world crumbled when I heard he was engaged and my heart broke just a little more as my friends talked non stop about the supposed wedding of the year. Craig and his beautiful bride who apparently looked like a goddess.

How was nice for the asshole.

Craig was my first love, we met in our senior year of college when he transferred from Penslyvania. While he did Law, like me he did a minor in English for the same reason as me. Our love for books. I’d never met a guy who ever admitted to anything like that. He was a notable criminal defence lawyer now and we were together for a total of five years before he decided he didn’t want to be with me anymore.

I was such a pity he couldn’t have come to that conclusion and ended things with me before I found out he was sleeping with his secretary. I found out in thw worse way too. I found messages they shared on his phone when I borrowed it after losing mine. A message came through from her asking if she should meet him in the morning for a blow job.

When I confronted him about it his answer was, he cheated because he didn’t see us having a future together. That was it. His excuse and it crushed me. I took it hard because I’d given my heart and soul to him.

That was over a year ago and it changed me. It made me wiser and more aware on my outlook on life.

I’d felt like a fool though because I’d already gotten the heads up that love could be cruel from the combo of my parents disasterous marriage and Mom walking out on our family when I was ten. When I met Craig I thought that if I tried to be the best girlfriend it would work out. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It wasn’t as simple as being the best and like Dad I gave my heart to someone who would never love me.

“Hey, stop thinking.” Noah chided. His voice cut into my thoughts. “You’re okay right?”

“Of course.” I was just annoyed at myself because I allowed it to get to me,

but I would be fine.

I was fine, and I was here in a new town to have a brand new adventure. This place had a lacadasical feel about it that appealed to the writer in me. I wanted to harness that and enjoy the opputunity for what it was.

I just wished I had a better neighbor.

“Good. So looks like you swapped Wade for Officer Asshole.” Noah laughed. I knew that was a purposeful subject change. “The names you give people are crazy, Brooke.”

“He was an asshole.” A normal person wouldn’t have behaved the way he had.

“And he’s your neighbor. I’m going to love watching this play out. Fuck, that’s some irony—or maybe karma.” He gave me a quizzical stare with a lopsided grin.

I knew exactly why he was looking at me like that, and unfortunately I also knew the direction our conversation was about to take.

“It’s irony. Why would it be karma? I haven’t done anything wrong.” I folded my arms and narrowed my eyes at him.

He straightened up and stared me down. “Really? You don’t think you did anything wrong? Nothing at all?”

“Nope.” I shrugged and pouted.

That silly grin I’d grown used to for the last twenty-five years returned to his face. That was how long we’d been friends: twenty-five long years. We were what people called life friends.The kind that may as well be related.

“So avoiding meeting Vanessa is a nothing?”

I attempted to stifle a grona but I failed. It came out sounding like a growl. He laughed at me and shook his head.

Vanessa was the new girlfriend. He’d said things were looking good for them and he wanted me to meet her. I just found an excuse not to meet everytime an arrangement was made because I’d had the worst experience with all his previous girlfriends.

They hated me.

There wasn’t one among them that didn’t think I secretly wanted him for myself and nothing was further from the truth.

“Noah, it’s your relationship. It’s nothing to do with me. I don’t introduce you to every guy I’m with.”

“That’s because since you and that asshole broke up you’ve been on a speed dating spree.”

“Ughh. I have not.” I scowled.

“Yes you have.” He said with more insistence.

Maybe he was right, but it wasn’t like how he was saying it.

I simply wasn’t relationship girl anymore. I was Miss Fun. That was me. After that whole debacle with Craig I decided I’d never allow myself to go through feeling that disappointment and rejection again.

Dating for fun was a lot more exciting than dating with anything long term in mind. And, it went in line with the focus I needed to take my career to the next level.

“I’m happy. It works for me.”

“How long for?” he asked with a crooked smile that annoyed me because it was like he was just waiting for me to realize I couldn’t live this way forever.

“As long as I want.” I gave him a firm nod.

“Okay, whatever, back to me. You’re in Wilmington. We’re going to be seeing a lot of each other, just like old times.”

“We see each other anyway.”

We usually saw each other a few times a month, twice at minimum. He’d either see me when he was visiting family in LA or I’d go to see him in Charlotte, where he’d moved for his job.

“But it will be more, and I’ll be with Vanessa. Brooke, come on. I’m a guy who has a very beautiful girl for his best friend. I admit my previous girlfriends were a pain, but she’s nice.”

“Nice like Tiffany who called me a fucking bitch and badmouthed me to your mom?” I was told she was nice too.

I hated when people called me a bitch. I couldn’t help that I had a strong personality. Just because a woman knew how to stand her ground and be comfortable in her mind and body, that didn’t mean she was a bitch.

“No. Brooke please. It feels good. It’s been nearly six months. I like her and I just want you to meet her. It’s important to me that you meet her and like her.”

God. I didn’t need this right now.

“Fine.” I got up and walked back to the window.

Moving back the curtain, I grimaced when I saw Officer Asshole standing on his front porch.

He was in my direct line of sight. The amber glow from the porch lights beamed down on him, making him stand out against the oncoming night.

Wearing a white tank top and ripped jeans, he looked nothing like the man who’d terrorized me earlier in his suit. He looked out at the street like he was either waiting for someone or looking out for something. His jaw was set, eyes focused ahead even when he reached into his back pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes.

I watched him light up. It looked sexy. The way he did it looked sexy, though it was a crazy thought to have considering our previous encounter.

“What are you looking at?” Noah suddenly came up to me, purposefully startling me.

“Nothing.” I rolled my eyes.

He looked outside to where Officer Asshole stood then back to me. “Checking out the nemesis?” he teased.

“He thought I was on drugs.”

“Sometimes I think that too.” Noah laughed.

I smacked him playfully.

“It’s not funny.” I looked back out the window.

Maybe it was the light or the movement we made, but Officer Asshole was now looking our way. He stared right at me and blew out a ring of smoke, looking even sexier.

Noah was saying something about Vanessa, but I didn’t hear him. I was deep in thought, too busy looking at my gorgeous neighbor who thought I was on drugs.

What the hell was his deal? It had been so clear that the incident with the car wasn’t my fault.

I got the feeling my stay here was going to be very interesting.

Very interesting indeed.