Chapter 2 · Stalk to Love

"Um... I..." I was totally blanking on a way to say no.

"You don't like it?" Evan's eyes went dim, and he suddenly looked like a kicked puppy. "My bad. I was probably being too pushy."

He looked down, his long lashes casting a shadow over his eyes. He looked as if he'd been seriously wronged.

I was such a sucker for that look.

So I couldn't bring myself to shut him down.

"No, I'm starving. Thanks." I took the plate. It felt perfectly warm in my hands.

"Go for it before it gets cold," Evan said, giving me a soft smile that put his dimples on full display. "I'll take back the plate tomorrow."

I took the ravioli back to my room. That weird feeling crept up on me again.

Right then, Amari called.

"Susan, I was scrolling through Instagram and saw that jerk Charlie throwing shade at you again," she blurted out.

"Oh, I see," I mumbled, taking a bite.

"Are you seriously not gonna do anything? If you keep letting him slide, he's gonna think you're a total doormat." Amari sounded like she was about to explode.

"Let him," I replied, feeling drained. "As long as he doesn't show up at my door, I don't care."

"You're unbelievable," Amari sputtered.

While she kept ranting, I tuned her out and finished the ravioli.

I also slurped up the sauce until the plate was bone dry.

*****

The next day, I went to give Evan his clean plate back.

Standing outside his door, I noticed his doormat was from the same set as mine, but it was a different color.

Was this a matching couple's set? It must be a coincidence.

"How was the ravioli? Evan asked, taking the plate. Our fingers brushed for a split second.

His were cool; mine were warm.

I pulled back like I'd been zapped.

"Y-Yeah, it was very nice," I stammered.

"Glad you liked it," he said, his eyes crinkling as he gave me a soft smile. "I've been working on my cooking lately, so if I made something good, I'd bring you some."

Free food? This was the pampered life I'd always dreamed of.

My heart started to waver.

It seemed nice to have a handsome neighbor who could cook for me free of charge.

Over the next few days, Evan totally spoiled me. He kept bringing over new dishes, never repeating a single one.

He gave me aesthetic breakfast sandwiches, healthy bento boxes for lunch, and cozy midnight desserts.

I hadn't opened UberEats in days.

Amari was losing her mind over it.

Amari: [Are you getting sugar daddy'd or something?]

Me: [Basically. It's like a charity project for the broke and hungry.]

Amari: [That's so sus. No one is that nice for no reason. He's either a creep or a scammer. What's his angle?]

Me: [Maybe he's into my lazy energy and the fact I haven't washed my hair in several days?]

Amari: [Susan, get it together. Nothing in life is free. It's a trap.]

I stared at the strawberry mille-feuille Evan had dropped off and went into deep thought.

If this were a strawberry-flavored trap, I'd be okay with it.

*****

That weekend, it was pouring outside.

I was rotting in bed, listening to the rain, feeling like I'd reached a higher plane of relaxation.

This kind of weather was a total win for a slacker like me.

Then, my phone buzzed. There was a message from Amari.

Amari: [Susan, SOS! My blind date brought a friend, and we're missing a fourth. Get over here and save me, please. We're at the café right by your apartment.]

Me: [Hard pass.]

Amari: [Please! Be my wingman. I'll pay for a whole week of beef stew.]

A whole week of beef stew was so alluring.

I replied almost without hesitation.

Me: [Send me the address.]

For beef stew, I was willing to toss my principles out the window.

*****

I threw on some clothes, grabbed my umbrella, and marched toward the door like I was heading into battle.

But the second I stepped out, there was Evan.

He was holding a black umbrella. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off his slender wrists.

"Heading out?" he asked.

"Yeah, meeting a friend," I answered.

"It's dumping out there. Let me walk you," he offered, stepping over to hold his huge umbrella over my head.

My tiny laced umbrella looked absolutely pathetic next to his.

We were standing so close I could catch his scent, that familiar woodsy vibe mixed with the crisp smell of rain.

Was this an intimate experience? No. It was merely sharing an umbrella.

My heart suddenly did a weird little flip.

Chapter 2

"Um... I..." I was totally blanking on a way to say no.

"You don't like it?" Evan's eyes went dim, and he suddenly looked like a kicked puppy. "My bad. I was probably being too pushy."

He looked down, his long lashes casting a shadow over his eyes. He looked as if he'd been seriously wronged.

I was such a sucker for that look.

So I couldn't bring myself to shut him down.

"No, I'm starving. Thanks." I took the plate. It felt perfectly warm in my hands.

"Go for it before it gets cold," Evan said, giving me a soft smile that put his dimples on full display. "I'll take back the plate tomorrow."

I took the ravioli back to my room. That weird feeling crept up on me again.

Right then, Amari called.

"Susan, I was scrolling through Instagram and saw that jerk Charlie throwing shade at you again," she blurted out.

"Oh, I see," I mumbled, taking a bite.

"Are you seriously not gonna do anything? If you keep letting him slide, he's gonna think you're a total doormat." Amari sounded like she was about to explode.

"Let him," I replied, feeling drained. "As long as he doesn't show up at my door, I don't care."

"You're unbelievable," Amari sputtered.

While she kept ranting, I tuned her out and finished the ravioli.

I also slurped up the sauce until the plate was bone dry.

*****

The next day, I went to give Evan his clean plate back.

Standing outside his door, I noticed his doormat was from the same set as mine, but it was a different color.

Was this a matching couple's set? It must be a coincidence.

"How was the ravioli? Evan asked, taking the plate. Our fingers brushed for a split second.

His were cool; mine were warm.

I pulled back like I'd been zapped.

"Y-Yeah, it was very nice," I stammered.

"Glad you liked it," he said, his eyes crinkling as he gave me a soft smile. "I've been working on my cooking lately, so if I made something good, I'd bring you some."

Free food? This was the pampered life I'd always dreamed of.

My heart started to waver.

It seemed nice to have a handsome neighbor who could cook for me free of charge.

Over the next few days, Evan totally spoiled me. He kept bringing over new dishes, never repeating a single one.

He gave me aesthetic breakfast sandwiches, healthy bento boxes for lunch, and cozy midnight desserts.

I hadn't opened UberEats in days.

Amari was losing her mind over it.

Amari: [Are you getting sugar daddy'd or something?]

Me: [Basically. It's like a charity project for the broke and hungry.]

Amari: [That's so sus. No one is that nice for no reason. He's either a creep or a scammer. What's his angle?]

Me: [Maybe he's into my lazy energy and the fact I haven't washed my hair in several days?]

Amari: [Susan, get it together. Nothing in life is free. It's a trap.]

I stared at the strawberry mille-feuille Evan had dropped off and went into deep thought.

If this were a strawberry-flavored trap, I'd be okay with it.

*****

That weekend, it was pouring outside.

I was rotting in bed, listening to the rain, feeling like I'd reached a higher plane of relaxation.

This kind of weather was a total win for a slacker like me.

Then, my phone buzzed. There was a message from Amari.

Amari: [Susan, SOS! My blind date brought a friend, and we're missing a fourth. Get over here and save me, please. We're at the café right by your apartment.]

Me: [Hard pass.]

Amari: [Please! Be my wingman. I'll pay for a whole week of beef stew.]

A whole week of beef stew was so alluring.

I replied almost without hesitation.

Me: [Send me the address.]

For beef stew, I was willing to toss my principles out the window.

*****

I threw on some clothes, grabbed my umbrella, and marched toward the door like I was heading into battle.

But the second I stepped out, there was Evan.

He was holding a black umbrella. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off his slender wrists.

"Heading out?" he asked.

"Yeah, meeting a friend," I answered.

"It's dumping out there. Let me walk you," he offered, stepping over to hold his huge umbrella over my head.

My tiny laced umbrella looked absolutely pathetic next to his.

We were standing so close I could catch his scent, that familiar woodsy vibe mixed with the crisp smell of rain.

Was this an intimate experience? No. It was merely sharing an umbrella.

My heart suddenly did a weird little flip.