Plans to Make & Hearts to Break

"Damn it!" I groaned, hitting the palm of my hand against the walnut-brown front door. "I am such an idiot!"

I leaned away from the front door to look in the large living room window and couldn't help but let out another groan. I could see, resting on the arm of the couch - my cell phone; and on top of the phone, the small keychain that held the keys that would let me enter my house.

I'd planned on putting them on the lanyard with my car keys, but obviously, totally forgotten. Of course. What else could have happened? I didn't think anything of it when I went to the grocery store without my phone and now, here I was, standing on the porch like an idiot with no way into my house and no way to contact the landlord to actually get back into the house.

And the ice cream in the trunk of my car was totally gonna melt. Shit.

Over the next few minutes, I racked my brain for any solution to the problem. It's not like I could call my parents to bring me a key, as they lived in Washington. Danny was in Georgia. And I was screwed.

I opened my purse again and frantically dug through the mess of papers and candy and makeup hoping that maybe I did have a spare key that I forgot about. Of course, I didn't, but I couldn't just sit there.

A small rectangle of white card stock caught my eye, though. I grinned widely when I read the name Maxwell Clements across the top and the phone number in small type in the corner - at least I could contact my landlord if I somehow got to use a phone in the next century. Maybe I'd just have to permanently camp in my backyard - not that there was much of one. I still lived close enough to the city that land ownership was prime - having a big yard did not take priority when the lot could barely fit a house and driveway.

After pacing said walkway a few times I finally took a deep breath and decided to follow through with what I knew all along was the last resort for this situation. I went to the Ranger and pulled the bag holding a quart of ice cream and half-gallon of milk from the backseat and trudged across my yard and into the neighbor's. I slowly walked up his porch steps and eventually sounded three timid knocks on the front door.

There was no response for a few long minutes. I looked around - the car the man had left in the other day was parked in the driveway, and I couldn't help but take that as a sign that he was home. With a long sigh, I knocked again - much louder this time. Might as well get this embarrassment over with.

A grin spread across my face when I heard the sounds of someone fumbling with the lock on the doorknob. After a moment the door slowly pulled open.

...A shirtless, brunette angel man stood in the doorway, using a hand to block his eyes from the sun. "What time is it?" He grumbled.

"Just after... noon?" I replied. "Did I wake you up? Shit. I'm sorry." I bit my lip, nervous that I somehow had messed up his schedule.

"No. I mean, yeah, but you're good. I'm just lazy," He smirked. Slowly he looked down towards the grocery bag in my hand. "You brought me ice cream? You're the one that just moved in, I don't think I should be getting housewarming gifts." He grinned. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. And melt at the combination of the summer heat and his perfect smile. Get it together, Nicole. He's probably married and live here with his wife and two kids. Besides, you've got Danny. Of course."But really, are you alright? You can come in if you want, it's too damn bright out there for my hungover brain to handle." He pushed his arm out to hold the screen door open for me, and I nodded and walked inside.

I couldn't help but look around for a moment - the house was kinda messy. Not terrible, just... lived in. An end table held an open record player, and the TV cabinet's shelves were lined with a combination of CDs and records larger than I'd ever seen outside of a store. This definitely wasn't the house of a family man. The sound of the sink running in the attached kitchen brought me back to earth. "I was actually just wondering if I could use your phone. And maybe your fridge? I've gotta call my landlord... I definitely locked myself out of my house with my first time out. I swear, I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached."

Did I really just say that? Am I a living, breathing, cliche?

Yes.

He let out a pity laugh. "Of course. We're neighbors now! My casa is your casa or however that saying goes. It's too early for Spanish." As he spoke he pulled his phone from the pocket of his pajama pants. After hitting a few buttons on the screen he pointed it in my direction. "Go ahead and call, I'm gonna go... put clothes on." He looked down at himself in the middle of the sentence, eyes widening like he'd just realized he was half-dressed.

You don't have to, Stop it, Nicole. "Alright," I laughed. "I'll be here. It's not like I know anywhere else to go."

We both let out another small laugh before walking down the hall and leaving me on my own. Business card in hand, I dialed my landlord's number and put the phone to my ear. While the phone rang, I put my cold groceries into his fridge and freezer before they had a chance to get any warmer.

"This is Maxwell Clements, Realtor. How can I help you?"

"Hey, Max," I grinned. "This is Nicole."

"Oh, hey! I must have your number wrong. You settling in okay?"

"I'm just not calling from my phone," I said with a small laugh. "And yeah, everything's coming along well, I just have a small problem..."

"What's up? I'm not in town, but I'll try to help you out with it."

"Well..." I sighed, "I locked myself out and I don't have a spare key yet. Is there any way you can unlock my door? I swear this isn't going to be a recurring thing."

"Oh, shit," He laughed. Max was pretty young, he couldn't be older than thirty. Usually he kept a very professional demeanor, but he let it slip just often enough that he waI'llsn't intimidating. "I'm at an open house and I've got a meeting downtown right when it's closed. Is there any way you can wait for a while? I should be done around... six? I am so sorry.."

"Don't worry, I can wait," I replied halfheartedly. "Don't rush around, I'll be alright for a while. This is totally my fault anyways."

"I'll call when I'm heading your way then, I guess,"

"My phone's locked in the house with the keys," I chuckled. "Just show up. I don't have anywhere to go."

"Alright. I gotta run though. See ya."

"Thanks, Max," I replied. "I'll see ya."

The call ended and I set the phone on the counter next to a half-full fifth of whiskey. Definitely not a family home. I looked around the kitchen and living room for another moment before shouting a quick "Thanks, William!" down the hall and walking back outside. Just standing around his house felt a little too awkward for me to deal with right now.

---

The next few hours passed slowly. I actually walked around the block a few times, scanned my house for any unlocked windows, and stared at my shoes while sitting on the porch for a while until I decided to sit in my car for a few minutes out of the heat. Eventually, I even leaned the seat back a bit and tried to doze off - only to be startled awake by someone knocking on the window.

I sprang awake and the first thing I did was look at the clock - 2:45. Ugh. Why hadn't I just drive to Max to get the key? I looked out the window now at who'd woken me up - William, the neighbor. Now fully clothed and looking much less hungover. His face was plastered with a goofy grin and he held up two bowls, both of which were very full of ice cream.

I furrowed my brows and pushed Ranger's door open. "Is that my ice cream?"

"Actually, it's your housewarming present."

"My housewarming present is ice cream that I bought for myself?"

He grinned again. "And then put in my freezer before you ran out of my house."

"I did no such thing!" I laughed. "I called my landlord. I yelled thank you. And then I ran out of your house."

"And now you're sitting outside, still obviously locked out of your house, with no ice cream. So I thought I'd change that." He pushed one of the bowls towards me, close enough that the handle of the spoon touched my shirt.

"Thank you... I think?" I laughed, putting a spoonful of the wonderful, strawberry deliciousness into my mouth.

I pulled the keys from the ignition of the Ranger before climbing out and closing the door. I walked past William and sat on my porch, feet resting down on the steps, and patted my hand on the area next to me signaling that my neighbor should join me.

He sat down and ate a spoonful of ice cream before he spoke. "I swear I'm only eating this to prove a point. You bought the worst part of Neapolitan ice cream."

My eyes widened and I turned so I was facing him. "I don't think you can be my neighbor. You might have to move."

"What?! Because I don't like strawberry ice cream?" He shook his head. "Besides, I was here first. You just got unpacked. You might as well just head back to... wherever. Some place where strawberry ice cream is somehow an acceptable dessert choice."

I squinted my eyes, giving him a fake glare. "You didn't have to steal my ice cream and eat it," I replied. "Besides, I only lived a little further downtown before. I've been in or near Chicago my entire life. And loved strawberry ice cream for just as long. So you're obviously the one that's at fault here."

"You've never lived out of Chicago? For how many years?"

"You know it isn't polite to ask a lady her age, Mister.... William-whose-last-name-I-don't-know." I teased. "Twenty-six years."

"Beckett," He informed me. "But, I guess I get it. I've lived a few other places for a while, but still wound up back here."

"Where else have you lived?" I asked. William Beckett seemed pretty interesting, what's the harm in getting to know him?

"I was in New York for a few months, and even Nashville for a while, but the only place I've stayed anywhere near as long as here was L.A." He explained simply, like he hadn't just told me he cycled through living in the celebrity capitals of the country.

Was I living next to a movie star and absolutely oblivious? "What did you... do? I mean, how'd you end up there? Working?"

"Yeah, I guess. It didn't really feel like it," He chuckled. "I was in a band for years, so we basically lived out there when we were recording, and toured a lot."

"Well, shit." I said out loud, almost in awe. "So it was like... a good band? What happened?"

"I guess so?" He laughed. "We toured with KISS. It was awesome. But we all basically outgrew it. We didn't end up like, arguing and breaking up." He shrugged.

"Would I know this band? What was it called?" I finally asked.

"The Academy Is..." He said simply. He waited a moment for a response.

I thought for a few moments before giving him an impressed nod, "I actually have heard some of their stuff... er, your stuff. I guess. That's actually really awesome."

He grinned. "I've been doing a lot of solo stuff now. It's nice to do something that never feels like work."

"Oh, I know," A huge smile spread across my face. "I write for a few magazines, and I'm working on fiction stuff, too. Working from home and it being a hobby anyways is pretty great. The only time I have to go into the office is meetings twice a month."

"Which obviously means I can bug you as much as I want since you'll be home all the time." William teased.

"I mean, I guess?" I laughed. Somehow I knew already that I wouldn't mind him bugging me. "But, back to you. That's why I saw you walking outside with a guitar yesterday, right?"

"Yeah," He smiled. "I play at some bars downtown once in a while. They're the places I grew up listening to music, so it's cool to be on the stage."

"When do you play again?" I asked.

He didn't respond for a few moments, thinking. "Tomorrow night, actually."

Without hesitation, I held out my hand. "Let me see your phone."

He did as requested, giving me a strange look. "Why?"

I was too busy tapping through to his contacts to respond. After a minute, I looked towards him. "Because you're gonna text me and tell me where you're playing, and the time. And seeing as we obviously hit it off here, even though you have horrible taste in ice cream," I laughed, raising my chin to look as pompous as I could muster, (which was very obviously not pompous at all...) "So I'll honor your show with my presence."