Chapter 3: The Flustered Neighbor

Ethan wasn’t prepared for this.

He had barely gotten over the mortifying interaction with Sienna that morning, yet here he was, standing awkwardly in the hallway with his grocery bag clutched against his chest like a makeshift shield.

She was leaning against her doorframe again, dressed in nothing but a loose crop top and the shortest pair of shorts he had ever seen. Her long legs stretched out lazily, crossed at the ankles, while a mischievous smirk played on her lips.

“Oh, look who’s back,” she mused, tilting her head as if examining something fascinating. “Survived your first night?”

Ethan swallowed hard. His fingers gripped the paper bag tighter, the weight of the milk jug and cereal box inside grounding him to reality. He wanted to respond—something smooth, something normal—but words refused to cooperate.

“I—yeah,” he mumbled, his voice betraying him by cracking slightly.

Her smirk deepened. “That’s a relief. I thought maybe the… ambient sounds might have been too much for you.”

Ethan’s face went scarlet.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

His thoughts crashed into each other, each one more embarrassing than the last. The memories of last night—the laughter, the teasing moans—flashed in his head like a cruel highlight reel.

“Uh—I didn’t really hear much,” he lied, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

Sienna chuckled, and the sound sent a strange warmth through his chest. “Sure, newbie. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

He wanted the floor to swallow him whole.

With an amused sigh, she stepped closer, plucking a single apple from the top of his bag before he could react. She turned it in her hand, inspecting it as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. “Healthy choices. Didn’t peg you for a fruit guy.”

“I—uh—” He blinked, utterly lost. “I like apples.”

Sienna grinned, bringing the fruit to her lips but not biting into it—just letting her teeth graze the smooth skin. Ethan’s brain short-circuited.

She was enjoying this. His awkwardness, his stammering—it was entertainment for her.

With a slow, deliberate movement, she tossed the apple back into his bag and stepped even closer, close enough that he could smell her perfume—a mix of vanilla and something deeper, warmer. His pulse hammered against his ribs.

“You’re kinda cute when you blush,” she murmured, tilting her head. “Tell me, Ethan, are you always this easy to fluster?”

His name on her lips sent a shiver down his spine. He opened his mouth, grasping for something—anything—that didn’t make him sound like a complete idiot.

“I—uh, no?”

Sienna’s laughter was rich, genuine. She nudged his arm lightly before stepping back. “Relax, newbie. I’m just messing with you.”

Ethan let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He could still feel the heat of her presence, the way her teasing laced through every word. He knew he was an easy target, and somehow, that only made him more flustered.

She turned toward her door, her fingers lingering on the doorknob for a moment. “Hey,” she called over her shoulder, her tone slightly softer this time.

Ethan glanced up, surprised at the change in her voice.

“Hope you like the neighborhood. It gets… interesting.”

Before he could ask what she meant, she winked and disappeared inside, the door clicking shut behind her.

Ethan stood frozen for a few more seconds, heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his ears. He exhaled sharply, his breath shaky. He had thought moving here would be the start of something quiet, something peaceful.

Instead, he had landed right next to a walking temptation.

He shook his head, muttering to himself as he trudged into his apartment and shut the door behind him. This was going to be a problem.