Chapter Four

Cause if I want you, I want you, love 

I won't back down, I won't ask for space 

Cause space is just a word 

Invented by someone who was afraid to get too 

Close - Nick Jonas 

(...) 

Ella 

 How can one person be so annoying and hot at the same time? I don't know the answer to this question, but if I were to describe my neighbor, it would be exactly like this. And mind you, since I started raving about him, we have only exchanged a few words twice. Once last night and once today. 

 - And you still insist on liking him, don't you, Tom? - I talk to my cat, as if he were going to answer me, while I put on my pajamas after the shower. 

 He meows.  

 - What do you want? Are you hungry? Go ask him for some food, I doubt he has anything as good as the food I give you, you little rascal. - Tom meows again, this time rubbing my leg. 

 Even though I want to get upset with him, it would be impossible, I am in love with this fur ball that does nothing but eat, poop, pee, and beg for food. In fact, I must admit that he has already rid me of a few rats and cockroaches, although they rarely appear here. 

 - Let's go eat. - I call out to him and glance out the window, I see Justin on his back, but naked.  

 I salivate and feel my legs weaken. 

 This man must see that I admire him through this window, that's why he walks around the house naked. 

 I shake my head, ridding myself of these thoughts. I fill Tom's pot with dog food and he looks at me as if to thank me, this gesture makes my heart warm. Then I go to prepare something to eat, I need a good home-cooked meal. 

 I open the refrigerator and take out a container where I always keep cheese and ham. I also take a shredded chicken that I left in the freezer - since I have a busy life, I need to make my daily routine easier - and put it in the microwave to defrost so I can use it. 

 Meanwhile I prepare the chicken seasoning and a tomato sauce. 

 After a few minutes the microwave beeps, I go to it, remove the chicken, season it with the sauce I prepared, and assemble a lasagna with pre-cooked pasta. I put it in the oven, leave it there and go to find something to watch. 

I sit with my legs folded on the couch, because if I lie down, I will surely go to sleep. I press the N*****x button on the TV remote and scroll the screen until I find something that interests me. That is, nothing, because I am too boring to be interested in a movie or series easily.

My cell phone rings, notifying me that a message has just arrived on w******p. I tap on the notification and it goes straight to my friends' group.

 Alexia: Hey cats! Let's get busy?  

 I laugh at the message from the funniest of them all. 

 Oliver: It's a deal with me. I don't even have to think about it, I really have to pick up a few magic boys. 

 Barbara: Don't get too excited, because in a few minutes the party pooper announces herself, ruining our scheme. 

 I spend a few minutes just observing their conversation. 

 Oliver: Honey, don't even pretend you didn't see it, because w******p is smarter than the four of us put together.

 I let out a laugh, tilting my head back, I know he is talking to me. 

 Me: Hello, loves of my life! I missed you guys, how are you? 

 Alexia: Here you go, you don't have to, Ella. Only call us after reading the previous messages. Thanks, you're welcome. Kisses of light.  

 Barbara: It's no use, Lexi. Ella always screws up our friendship... 

 Oliver: Stop badmouthing my queen, the only person who can do that is me. Ella, angel, if you don't answer this shit, I'll be at your apartment in ten minutes and don't ask me how I'm going to do it. 

 Me: I'm tired and I just put a lasagna in the oven...  

 Alexia: Lasagna? Really, Ella? Have a heart, beloved. You need to stuff your face and move that skeleton. Oh, I forgot to mention the most important thing, to get laid. 

 Me: I promise to take you out next weekend, I swear. You can take me anywhere you want.  

 Oliver: No next weekend, we'll forgive you today because we're tired too, this week has been a God help us, but tomorrow you can't escape, we'll pick you up at eight. Not a minute more and no excuses, darling.  

 I snort, rolling my eyes because I know that nothing I say will convince them. 

 Me: Okay, okay. All right, you win, now let me rest, for God's sake. 

 I try to get rid of them, already knowing what the next subject will be.

I go to the kitchen to look at the lasagna, and noticing that it is already good, I turn off the oven. I take a glass and fill it with water to drink. 

 Oliver: Have you seen the hot neighbor? By the way, when you can, take a picture of him, preferably naked, so we can evaluate the quality of the material. 

 As I read this message, I laugh, spitting out all the water, wetting the floor and some of my pajamas. 

 - Damn it, Oliver! - I put my hand on my stomach, controlling my laughter. 

 Oliver: Ella? Don't run away, we want to know about your future boy magic. 

 Me: There's nothing to know. 

 Alexia: You fuck us, you know that? You're the only one who gets to see the hot guy and you don't even tell us about him.  

 Barbara: Girlfriend, have you ever thought of having sex with him, it must be spectacular, those arms holding you tight. Wow! I could feel the tension between my legs here. 

 Me: Stop being so hot! I'll talk to you tomorrow, I'm going to eat and sleep. Beijoooos!!! 

 I don't even wait for their response, I block my cell phone and rest on the American kitchen counter. 

 I don't blame them for thinking that way about my neighbor, if even I am going crazy and climbing the walls just imagining what it would be like to have that man in my bed. 

 I take the baking dish out of the oven, put a slice of lasagna on my plate and get some orange juice to go with it. I sit down on the stool behind the counter and enjoy the taste of my food. Since I don't always manage to eat right, due to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 

 When I finish eating, I miss something, but I can't figure out what it is. Until I realize that I haven't heard the sound of Tom's meow for some time. 

 - Where has this rascal gone? He must have gone on a date. Even my cat is dating and I'm not.  

 Suddenly I hear a constant meowing sound, follow the sound and stop at the living room window. Still I can't find him. But he meows again, making me look to the side where there is a tree. There he is. 

 - How did you get there, creature? Crazy cat. - he continues meowing, making despair threaten to overtake me. 

 I don't know what to do to get him out of there. I call him, but he doesn't come, he just keeps meowing, calling my attention. I run to the bedroom, grab a coat and leave the apartment. I have no idea what I am going to do, but I have to do something. 

 Once outside the building, I call for my cat again, making noises with my mouth, but even this doesn't make him risk jumping out of there, he just keeps meowing desperately to me.

I try to climb the tree, however, when I am at a certain height from the ground, fear stops me from climbing any further and I start screaming for help. 

 - Help me! Will somebody help me?  

 I could even try to come down, but at the height I am, I run the risk of hurting myself.  

 - Help me!  

 - Ella! - Justin's voice makes me look down, even though I'm trembling with fear. 

 - Help me, please! - I beg. 

 - Relax, you can let go of the tree and I'll catch you. Just trust me. 

 I close my eyes, scared to death to do what you asked. 

 - Ella, come on, you'll fall. You can trust me.  

 I take a deep breath, without overthinking it, and let go, jumping up. Justin actually managed to catch me, but due to the height I was at, I lost my balance and we fell to the ground. I didn't get hurt because he was under me. 

 My heart is racing.  

 Being a little calmer, our gazes meet, his hard chest making me imagine certain things that I shouldn't, at this moment. His vision shifts to my lips and, involuntarily, I do the same. Until the meowing of my cat wakes us up, reminding me of the reason I climbed that blessed tree. 

 Without grace, I rest my hand on his chest, which is exposed, and stand up, but a slight stab on my heel stops me. 

 - Ouch, damn it!  

 - What happened? Did it hurt?  

 - I think so. - I try to put my foot down again, but I can't. 

 - Stay there, I'll find a way to get him. - I nod my head in agreement, because even if I wanted to do something, I could not.  

 I sit on the floor while he goes over. I don't know how, but Justin looked more like Tarzan, climbing that tree and managed to catch Tom.  

 I wonder if there is anything this beauty doesn't know how to do. 

 He puts my hairball on the ground, the tom rubs against his leg, making me notice that he is wearing only a shorts made of sweatshirt type fabric, leaving his bulge in the middle of his legs, apparent. 

 I swallow hard, just imagining the size from the bulge in his clothes. 

 - Come on, I'll help you get home. - He helps me up and takes me in his arms. 

 - No need, Justin. I can walk. 

 - Just relax and enjoy the ride. - He winks at me, smiling.

He climbed the stairs, going to the fifth floor - where my apartment is - as if he were holding a feather. I believe that because of his concern for me, he preferred not to wait for the elevator. 

 We arrived at my apartment, Justin left me on the sofa, sat down and pulled my foot. 

 - Let me see how it is. I will touch it and you tell me where it hurts, ok? - I nod my head in affirmation. 

 He touches my toes gently, then presses my toes in the middle and I feel nothing. He touches and presses my heel and I let out a scream. 

 - Oh, son of a bitch! - he gives a nasal laugh. 

 - How bad does it hurt? - he splits his gaze between my face and his foot. 

 - Only when you squeeze it, like you just did. 

 - Apparently you didn't break anything, just a slight sprain. Put an ice pack on it and it will be brand new. - I analyze it. 

 - You are a...  

 - Yes, I am a doctor. Orthopedist. - He doesn't let me complete the question. 

 - You have neither the face nor the manner of a doctor. - I sneer. 

 - Since when does a professional have to look like the profession he or she practices? With that loose tongue, you don't look like a lawyer either. - she shrugs. 

I laugh. 

 - I deserved that. I'll get the ice. - I mention to get up, but he stops me. 

 - Hold still there.  

 Justin rests my foot on the couch, goes to the kitchen, and soon returns, holding a cloth with what I believe is ice. 

 - He sits down, bends his leg, and presses the ice on his heel for half an hour. He will do this twice a day, for at least three days, until the pain is completely gone. If you need me, my window is just ahead. - I smile and end up returning the smile. 

 We stare at each other intensely for a few seconds, then he stands up, kisses my cheek, right at the corner of my mouth, and heads for the door. 

 - Justin," he looks back, "thank you.  

 He doesn't say anything, just walks away smiling sexily and closes the door behind him.