The Neighbor Favor(19)

She did this every time she saw him, mumbled nonsensical replies. She was still looking at him now as he leaned back against the elevator wall, his posture indicating a slight aloofness about him. His limbs were long and muscular. Sometimes when she was lucky, she ran into him as he was leaving the gym on the ground floor of their building, and his skin would be damp and glistening with sweat. Her dignity was the only thing that kept her from drooling. She swallowed thickly at the thought now and glanced away. His presence always left her senses prickling with awareness. She felt like maybe they’d met before in passing but she couldn’t remember when or where. He’d definitely popped up in her dreams a few times, dressed as an old-school, sexy elevator operator with a double-breasted jacket and matching hat.

Her confusing infatuation with him was low-key embarrassing because, in reality, they’d never exchanged more than polite greetings.

The elevator door closed, and they were alone. Lily’s thoughts clambered over one another as she tried to think of something to say.

“Nutri-Grain,” Fine as Hell Neighbor said, pointing at the bar in Lily’s hand that she’d forgotten existed. “I love those. I hate when the crumbs get everywhere, though.”

She struggled to form a response and look at him at the same time. She glanced down, and that was when she noticed he was carrying a thick paperback. Fine as Hell Neighbor always had a book or a notebook when she saw him. Once, he’d been holding a copy of The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin, and Lily had been too tongue-tied to mention that it was one of her favorite books. She angled her head slightly, trying to get a better glimpse at the book he held now, when the elevator abruptly stopped on the seventh floor. An East Asian man, who looked to be in his fifties, stepped inside, carrying a tray of cupcakes. He sighed in visible relief at the sight of Fine as Hell Neighbor.

“You’re just the person I wanted to see,” the man said, hurrying to her neighbor’s side. “I need your advice. It’s a big night for me.”

“What’s up, Henry?” Fine as Hell Neighbor eyed the cupcakes. “Did you make these yourself? Can I have one?” He reached for the tray and Henry slapped his hand away. Lily laughed, and her neighbor’s gaze shot to her. His lips spread into an embarrassed grin, and Lily’s brain short-circuited.

“No, these aren’t for you,” Henry said. “They’re for Yolanda. Today is her half birthday. I made these for her to celebrate. And because I am going to ask her out to dinner.”

“For real? That’s what’s up, Henry!” Fine as Hell Neighbor patted the older man on the back. “It’s about time. She’s been giving you hints for a while.”

Henry shook his head and pulled nervously at the collar of his shirt. “What if she says no? What if she hates the cupcakes? She said cupcakes were her favorite dessert, so I found this recipe on Google. I don’t like sweets, so I didn’t try the cupcakes myself. Remind me what to say. I forgot everything you told me. I’m not a ladies’ man like you. You talk to women so easily.”

Fine as Hell Neighbor glanced at Lily and coughed, scratching the back of his neck. “I’m not—you know I’m not a ladies’ man, Henry.” He smiled softly and placed a reassuring hand on Henry’s shoulder. “Number one, you’ve gotta relax. You already know Yolanda likes you and she’s been waiting for you to make the first move. Just tell her the truth. You like her, and you want to take her out for a nice dinner. Be yourself. You got this. You’re the man. Come on, say it.”

“Say what?” Henry asked.

“That you’re the man.”

“I’m the man,” Henry said quietly.

“Nah, say it with feeling.”

“I’m the man,” Henry repeated, slightly louder this time.

“You’re the man!”

“I’m the man!”

Lily laughed, watching the two of them.

Henry glanced at her and his cheeks flushed bright red. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “I hope we aren’t disturbing you.”

Lily shook her head. “Not at all. Um, good luck with asking her out.”

Henry smiled, although he still looked nervous. “Thank you.”

The elevator finally stopped on the fourteenth floor. Lily’s floor. And her neighbor’s.

He turned to Henry one last time. “Remember, you’re the man.”

Henry nodded, waving at the two of them as they stepped into the hallway. The elevator doors closed.

Lily and Fine as Hell Neighbor weren’t walking together, necessarily. He was a couple feet behind her, but she felt as though he were only inches away.

That was really nice of you to help him out, she wanted to say. To be honest, I could use one of your pep talks. But her tongue felt leaden, covered in molasses. Why couldn’t she just be normal and talk to him?

She reached Violet’s apartment and pulled out her keys. Taking a deep breath, she turned to her neighbor to say something, she had no idea what. But he was already walking past her toward his apartment, exactly four doors down and across the hall.

“Have a good night,” he said, smiling politely.

“Me too,” Lily said. “Wait, I mean, you too.” She shook her head. God. She was the worst.

He nodded his head before slipping inside of his apartment. Annoyed with herself and her inability to say something dazzling or memorable, Lily groaned and entered Violet’s apartment, slumping against the door. One day soon.