I was tired and cranky. I had just got off from working a double shift as a waitress at a local eatery and all I wanted to do is sleep, or so I thought.
I peeled off my shorts and collapsed on to my bed. Then, I heard a disturbing rumble coming from the apartment below mine. I was incredulous. It was ten at night and not the time I wanted to hear the deep rumbling and insistent “thump-thump-thump” of rap music. I climbed out of bed and stomped on the floor. Nothing happened. I stomped again. Still nothing.
I made my way down the stairs. I was not a happy neighbor. I banged on the apartment door below mine. I was ready to unload of my neighbor, whom I had never taken the time to meet, when the door opened and “Mr. McDreamy” peered back at me.
The first words out of his mouth were, “I’m sorry, I didn't know how late it was.”
He was in his mid-thirties and had a square jaw line, a little facial stubble, jet black hair and steely blue eyes. GQ Quarterly lived under me and I didn’t even know it.
Almost simultaneously, I became extremely aware of how God-awfully unkempt I must have appeared, with my hair a mess, my make-up clearly smudged and wearing nothing but a pull-over t-shirt and my panties.
“I’m sorry,” I replied, “It’s just that I am tired.”
He said he understood and before I knew it, he had closed the door. I trudged back up to my apartment and back to my bed. As I lay there, I couldn’t get the image of my down stairs neighbor out of my mind. I wondered if he was single, or perhaps had a girl-friend. Surely, I thought to myself, a guy like that is attached to someone. Then I thought, maybe he is gay. Oh no, I I thought, I hope he is not gay.
I was startled back to reality as the music re-started. “OK,” I thought to myself, “Is he deaf or stupid?”
I made my way back down the stairs to his apartment. I rapped on his door, but he didn’t answer. So I banged a little harder. He cracked the door open and peered out.
“Is it too loud?” he asked.
With my hand on my hip, and biting my tongue, I sarcastically replied, “What do you think?”
He opened the door and slipped a door block in front of it with his foot. I watched as he walked into his living room to adjust the sound on the music console. He had on tight blue jeans and was shirtless and barefoot.
Damn. He had a body to match the face. I ran my hand through my hair, unsure of what to say or do, as he made his way back to the open door. He handed me a folded-up piece of paper.
“This is my number,” he said, “So if I am a bit loud, just call me, unless of course you want to just come and knock on my door.”
I lingered, trying to figure out what to say, not because I was at a loss for words. I can speak my mind when I need to. I undertook a quick glance for a wedding band on his left hand. Not seeing one, I pressed on.
“I just got off work,” I replied. Before I could finish my statement, he interrupted to ask me where I worked.
“Delaney’s,” I replied.
“I’ve been there before,” he said. “Coo place. How long have you worked there?
“Just started a few days ago,” I replied.
“I may have to come in and check you out,” he said, proffering a smile and a wink. Wait a sec. Did he just wink at me?
“You don’t need to go in to check me out,” I replied, “I’m right here.”
Oh my God. I couldn’t believe the words just fell out of my mouth like that. He smiled.
“So, come on in,” he offered, taking a step back and offering the open space in front of me. Now normally, I would not walk into a guy’s apartment unless I knew him very, very well. I am just not that type of gal. But, this was my neighbor and I figured if he was up to anything bad, he wouldn’t dare try anything, since I lived over him.
At the time, I was happily single. I had dated a few guys, but none of them were serious boyfriends. I was twenty-one and had lived on my own since leaving home at 18. My parents were consistently fighting and arguing and I needed a break.
The apartment was sparsely decorated. A half-eaten apple lay on the pass through between the dining area and the kitchen. A stack of papers lay cluttered on the dining room table. I quickly surmised he didn't have a wife or a girlfriend, because no self-respecting woman would allow such an unkempt appearance.
I plopped down on the couch and immediately sprang back to my feet. I looked behind me and saw a fork on the seat cushion.
My neighbor quickly apologized and removed the fork from the couch. He quickly asked if I wanted something to drink and I took a seat and crossed my legs in front of myself.
“A beer will do,” I replied. I really wasn’t in a drinking mood, but spying a half empty beer bottle on the coffee table, made me think I might as well join him if for no other reason than I might find a friend rather than an obtuse downstairs neighbor. Besides, he was rather good looking and very muscular.
“Stan,” he said, introducing himself as he extended his hand with a cold beer bottle in it.
I took a quick swig from the bottle and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, as he took up a seat next to me, leaving a small space between us. He quickly apologized again about the loud music. He went on to say he had never lived in a multi-story apartment before, having always lived in flats or houses.
Oh my gosh. He had such a smooth and mellow sounding voice. His blue eyes were piercing. I tried desperately to push aside carnal desires and thoughts, but it wasn’t working very well.
He shifted on the seat beside me and stretched out his legs.
“So, do you have a boyfriend?” he brazenly asked.
“No,” I replied, “I’m happily on the market.”
“So what are you looking for in a guy?” he asked.
I had to bite my tongue. “Off the wall wild and crazy sex.” I thought to myself.
“A guy who will treat me like a lady and is responsible,” I replied.
He smiled. Oh my gosh- that smile.
“I’ve been employed as an architect for ten years,” Stan replied. “I’m still working on the first part.”
“Well,” I replied, “A lady can overlook a few indiscretions from time to time.”
I didn't want to sound desperate, but this guy was jump-into-bed sexy. I could feel a tingling developing in my private parts and although I wanted to push back that feeling, the more I tried to suppress it, the stronger the feelings became.