I blushed at the statement, thanked him and closed the door, taking a deep breath of the savory aroma. My stomach growled in anticipation.
"Okay, Tom, I'm back. Where were we?"
"We were talking about your cozy nest. So, what's the plan for tomorrow?"
"I'm going to explore the area, maybe check out some local shops. And I need to find a new job, obviously."
I smiled, feeling the warmth of his support wash over me. "Thanks, Tom. I think this was the right move." Though my mind still wandered back to the life I’d left behind—the husband I’d lost, the future that had slipped through my fingers like sand. But I couldn’t dwell on that. Not now.
We chatted for a bit longer, his lighthearted teasing pulling me out of my heavy thoughts, until finally, he said, "Get some rest, Kendra. You’ve had a long day."
“I will. Love you, bro.” And, say hi to Lucinda and the kids for me." His wife was a gem, and so were the kids. They were the biggest reason I was able to survive my loss… I missed them already.
After devouring half the pizza, I decided to tidy up the living room. I threw on some music and tackled the dusty shelves, but as I worked, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Before I knew it, I was stretched out on the couch, fast asleep.
When I woke, it was dark outside. My stomach rumbled again, so I decided on a quick dinner—mac and cheese. I tossed some macaroni into a pot and switched on the stove before turning on the TV.Love Islandwas calling my name, and I couldn’t resist.
I got so engrossed in the drama that I didn’t notice the burning smell until the fire alarm went off. My heart dropped.
Rushing to the kitchen, I saw flames licking the bottom of the pot.No, no, no!
Panicking, I grabbed the pot—only to burn my hand. “Crap!” I muttered, finally pulling on oven mitts to get it off the stove. Smoke filled the room, and I couldn’t find the fire alarm to turn it off.
Just then, there was pounding on the door.
I flung it open to see Antonio standing there, his expression thunderous. “Everything okay here?” he barked.
I nodded, trying to appear calm. “Yeah, just a little kitchen mishap.”
Without waiting for an invitation, he barged in, turned off the fire alarm, and spun on his heel to leave. But before he could, he turned back and glared at me. “You really need to be more careful. You almost burned down the building.”
I bit back my anger.I don’t need this right now.
As the door clicked shut behind him, I slumped against the counter, feeling a mix of frustration and humiliation.
Could this day get any worse?
Chapter Two
Antonio
I was already having the worst day possible. The last thing I needed was to deal with an obnoxious woman who believed the world revolved around her.
This little studio apartment was supposed to be my escape from everything—the responsibilities, the constant noise of the mansion where my father, stepmother, and half-brother lived. That place suffocated me. So, when I needed to breathe, to be alone, I came here.
My father had tried countless times to figure out where I disappeared to, but I'd made sure to pay off everyone who knew about this place.
This was my sanctuary. So why, in heaven’s name, was this woman hell-bent on destroying the peace and quiet I had paid a fortune for?
I’d hoped that a good night’s sleep, coupled with the meal I just had, would lift me out of this haze of grief. Just earlier, I received word that one of our major distributors had died in a car accident.
The news hit hard, not just because of the business implications, but because we were friends. Exhausted, I had finally managed to drift off to sleep when the blaring fire alarm startled me awake. That had been my one chance at a decent moment in an otherwise dreadful day.
And rather than thank me for stepping in, or apologize for the chaos she caused, she had the audacity to slam the door in my face.
I stood there, seething, my fists clenched at my sides. I could feel the anger simmering beneath the surface, but I forced myself to breathe. In and out. Control it. Once I had calmed down enough to think clearly, I knocked on her door, perhaps a little harder than necessary.
She opened almost immediately, defiance glinting in her eyes. “What?!” she barked, her voice sharp enough to slice through the tension in the hallway.
