Love Thy Neighbor (Friend-Zoned)(5)

I quietly laugh and reassure her, “Sweetie, I was only kidding! It’s not a cupcake emergency day.”

She looks only slightly reassured and promises, “Tomorrow. Cupcakes.”

Toot toot! Yum!

I glance at the wall clock. 3:24pm. A few hours and I’ll be moved into my new place.

Wicked.

***

The moving truck has arrived, and we’re all working on getting the boxes inside my fabulous new apartment. The price was a little over my budget, but the security in this place is amazing! There’s a code to get through the front door and a different code to use the elevator. Each apartment has a security system, and the premises are monitored. I was happy to spend an extra fifty a month on rent to be secure in my little home.

The moving guys help put my furniture in as promised. Once all the heavy items are inside, the girls and I take over. Lola, Mimi and Tina are opening boxes and moving them in and out of rooms.

This is why you need girls to unpack a girl’s apartment. They all know where things should go!

With the four of us going at it, it only takes two hours, and I’m ecstatic when we finish.

Lola disappears for a minute then returns with some champagne. Not the cheap stuff but Dom Perignon.

Six hundred dollar champagne! I’m giddy!

This has to be thanks to Nik. God, I love that man.

I look over to Tina and grin. “I love your husband.” Tina smiles and shrugs.

Mimi pops open the bottle and we all whoop and cheer. She pours glasses for us, and we all drink with enthusiasm, apart from Tina who takes only a tiny sip because she’s breastfeeding Tats.

After we drink, they all hug and kiss me. I thank them for their help and wave them off. I shut the door and lean my head against it.

Alone at last.

I love my friends, but I seriously love my alone time too.

I turn my back to the door, scan my newly outfitted apartment and smile.

It looks awesome!

I didn’t add a lot of new things to it, but what I had, mixed with the new things I bought, makes the apartment look classy and chic. Tina gave me her old sofa, which is so damn comfortable I can’t risk sitting on it before going out, or I know I’ll change my mind and end up falling asleep in front of the TV. She also gave me some bits and pieces from our old place because Nik already has things to match his home.

The apartment isn’t large, but it’s open plan with only the bedroom and bathroom separate.

I love it.

The kitchen was only remodeled a year ago. It has a wicked marble-look breakfast bar and new wooden cabinets for my dishes and pans. The sink is double width and the faucets are shiny. The lounging area is a little cramped for such a huge TV. I bought a brand spanking new 60-inch TV which the movers kindly helped me put up on the wall. I love watching TV. Nothing makes me happier than curling up on the couch and watching a movie.

Okay, so call me antisocial.

Don’t get me wrong, I love going out. On weekends. If I have to work the next day, (which I do almost every day) there is no way I’m dragging my butt out of bed early. Tina calls me a zombie. My friend is not wrong. Once I’m asleep, it’s lights out. I don’t hear or see anything after that. Only if a person shakes me awake will I stir. Slightly. If anyone is stupid enough to wake me, that is.

I sigh then push myself off the door. I walk down the hall to my new bathroom which is also newly remodeled and immaculate, and turn on the shower. I undress, step in and let the hot water wash away any negativity that sticks to me.

Serenity now.

I scrub til my skin is almost raw. I turn off the water, step out and wrap my hair in a turban. I moisturize my face, walk naked to my room, get some silk panties on followed by my jammies, and I’m ready to watch TV.

My jammies are so damn comfortable. They’re pretty ratty, but comfort trumps everything when you’re not in a relationship. My black spaghetti strap tank comes just above my belly button, and my red Minnie Mouse pajama pants and my Minnie Mouse head slippers complete my ensemble.

But my panties are always silk and sexy. I like to splurge on myself when it comes to lingerie. Even if no one sees it, it makes me feel sexy.

I brush my hair out, take the Strawberry Cheesecake ice-cream out of the freezer, grab a spoon and sink into the sofa with a plop. I turn on the TV and get excited when I find an old eighties teen movie.

Score!

I love old eighties teen movies! So much angst and bitterness. Just like me!

Being a teenager was awesome. No problems, all you really had to worry about was who you were crushing on that week. And high school. And the latest fashions. And pimples. And hormones.

You know what, I take it back.

Being a teenager sucked ass.

I’m lost in the movie when I hear a loud thump followed by a female giggling. I blink then smirk.

My neighbor is getting lucky tonight.

Good for them.

Ten minutes passes and another loud thump hits the wall behind the TV. My TV jiggles and I’m suddenly worried that my two thousand dollar TV will fall off the wall and smash into pieces.

Another thump, then another hits the wall followed by a long female moan.

Oh, shit. Really?

Against my damn wall?

Let them go, they’re just having some fun.

And ruining my damn movie!

Another five minutes of thumps hitting my wall and I’ve had it. I turn off the TV and head to bed. I crawl in and let out a happy sigh.