Page 45 of Check Mate

I inhale a deep calming breath. “No one has seen me like this, because I never date. Because, obviously, I’m horrible at it.”

Drew chuckles and takes a seat on my leather sofa, gesturing for me to do the same. “If I figured it out, so can you.”

Taking a seat at the opposite end of my couch, I scoff at him. “Oh please. You’re like a dark-haired Hercules with a doctorate. It’s a miracle you stayed single for thirty-six years.”

“Well, you have a point.” He flexes his bicep, and pretends like he’s going to kiss it. “Soph has told me I look like a Greek God.”

My face twists into a cringe. “Ew, stop.”

He throws his head back and laughs. “Alright, I want to hear more about your trip. You already told me about you and your neighbor sharing saliva—which honestly doesn’t really surprise me—but how did you like camping?”

“What do you mean, it doesn’t surprise you? It was certainly a shock to me.”

He leans forward and rests his forearms on his knees. “Chemistry, David. You two have it. Simple as that.”

“And you could see that from the few minutes we interacted at my birthday party?”

His lips curve up into a sly smile and he nods. “Soph and I talked about it on the way home that day.”

I stare at him, feeling befuddled that others could clearly notice what I didn’t. Drew cracks his knuckles then leans back into the sofa again.

“Did you enjoy the trip?”

Drew’s calm demeanor eases my nerves, and I sink into the couch and relax a little. I’m glad he stopped by, even if it’s just to distract me from the situation with Isa.

“I did, actually. It was… remarkable.” I smile thinking of my days hiking with Gerald and Austin, the free-roaming llamas, and the delicious local coffee. “The experience definitely made me want to travel more.” I chuckle. “And also start exercising regularly.”

Drew pumps his fist into the air. “Yes! We begin training tomorrow.”

I put my hands up, motioning for him to slow down. “Whoa there, I just got home. Give me a few days of R and R.”

He reluctantly concedes. “Alright. But next week, you’re coming over to work out with me.”

Drew stays for over an hour while I show him the photos I took on my phone during my trip. I try my best to recount the details of the hike and what it was like to see Machu Picchu. I wish Isa had the post up on her website already; she’d probably be much better at giving the details people want to hear.

When I hear car doors closing outside, I nearly jump out of my seat. Drew stands and walks to the large window in my living room that has a clear view of my front yard and neighborhood.

He looks at me over his shoulder, his mouth spreading slowly into a wide grin. “Well, that’s my cue to head home. Glad you’re back.”

We say our goodbyes and I walk him to the front door. After he leaves, I go back to the window so I can see Isa’s house. It’s dark outside now, but I can see the headlights of her car in her driveway. I release a deep breath, relieved she made it home safely.

My phone pings from where I left it on the sofa, causing me to jump. “Damn it, what’s gotten into me? I’ve never been so jumpy in my life,” I mutter to myself.

I walk over and grab my phone, smiling when I see it’s a text from my neighbor.

Isa: Can’t believe you took pictures of me when I was asleep. You’re such a creep.

My heart plummets inside my chest for a moment, thinking she might be serious, until a photo comes through. It’s a picture of me asleep with my shirt off, one arm slung over my eyes, and my mouth is open so you can see my mouth guard.

Drew was right and I was panicking over nothing. I laugh in spite of how ridiculous I look in the photo and text her back.

David: Never realized I looked so irresistible whilst asleep. No wonder Lizzy was so into me.

Isa: *gif of a llama blowing kisses*

The next morning, my alarm goes off as normal and I start my morning routine. Coffee in the French press, reading the paper, sneaking treats to Mo without anyone seeing… and glancing out the window at Isa’s house.

Her yard obviously hasn’t been mowed or maintained while she was in Peru. My yard guy came a few days ago, so my grass is freshly trimmed. There’s even still a few of the chicken cages from last week strewn about on her front porch. But I’m partially to blame for that.