Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

There was no response on the other end of the phone. There was just the sound of the call ending.

The door in front of me was still closed, but I knew I was right.

Moments later, the door opened to reveal Brandon in grey loungewear.

So, he was my new neighbor.

He hadn't stopped visiting me; he had moved in right across the hall.

He wasn't skipping night shifts; he had come early to stay here and protect me. But even though he lived right across from me, he hadn't told me.

Moreover, he must have planned to rent the apartment across from me when he helped fix my plumbing.

When I saw him, I understood everything.

"Come in," Brandon said calmly without a trace of embarrassment at being caught.

He hadn't done anything wrong by renting the apartment, so I was the one overreacting. Yet, I couldn't greet him calmly.

and stared at him. "Don't you think you owe me an

and I'll explain." Brandon stepped

lip and walked

he was probably here for me, I was

as soon as I saw his place. I had seen this place before, and I knew what it looked like. But

nothing but a couch. It was so empty it looked like it had been ransacked. It hardly

everything?" I asked

at me. "Have

answered questions with questions, and my irritation flared up again. I glared

to a nearby room. "I stored everything in

he needed in this place was a

coffee table or a small table, something to put a cup or a phone on. If he didn't like clutter, how come he didn't clear out my parents' room when he stayed there? I didn't ask that, but I did ask the obvious question. "Why did you rent the apartment across from

"The rent

true; the rent prices here

in this complex. Why rent the one directly across from me?" I thought back to hearing him take that

back, I realized how clueless I'd been. He must have thought

looked at me directly. "Because you're across