Page 55 of Let's Be Forever

“I want us back. I want…” he roughs out. “You. I need you, Anna.” His words pierce through my skin and brand my bones. His lips are so close, his breath caresses my mouth. “Meu bem, I can’t let go. I can’t move on. I can’t. I won’t.”

“You need to,” I whisper, letting his lips stroke mine.

I shudder, hating and loving the way my body feels high and weak all at once for him.

I almost give in, but then I hear Rosie’s dog barking and a loud knock on the door, and the trance I’d been stuck in shatters, slapping me back to reality.

I’m up and speeding over to the door. I immediately regret not looking through the peephole because I open it to find our loud upstairs neighbor, Joel.

“Anna, just the girl I wanted to see.” A sly smile curves his mouth as his leering eyes sweep over me.

“I’m actually glad you’re here.”

“Are you now?” He perks up, leaning against the doorframe.

I back away, glowering at him. “Yes, I need you to stop being so loud. I can’t sleep, and you’re waking up my daughter.”

“I’m not that loud,” Joel replies, dismissing me.

“You are,” I say, aggravated by his nonchalance. “I’m going to report you again if you don’t?—”

“You live in an apartment complex. The walls are thin. What did you expect?”

I grind my teeth, my frustration doubling. “Look, I don’t care what you do. Just stop being so loud.”

“Speaking of late-night activities, I came to ask if you wanted to join.” His suggestion is so blunt it leaves me speechless. “I know it’s forward, but fuck it. Life’s too short to?—”

“The answer is no.” Sylas stands behind me, so close that anyone witnessing would assume he’s my boyfriend.

My neighbor’s eyes go round bouncing between me and Sylas. “Holy shit.” He gapes in disbelief and wonderment. “Y-you-you’re Sylas Lenoir! Holy shit, dude, I—oh my gosh. You’re Sylas Lenoir.”

“Yes, and you’re the reason she’s not getting enough sleep.” There’s nothing friendly about his voice, but Joel still stares at him, starstruck. “Stop being so fucking loud.”

“Right, yeah, of course, no worries.” He nods vigorously and almost bounces on his heels from excitement. “I’ll be quiet. Hey, man, do you think you could sign my?—”

“No, and stay the fuck away from Anna.” He tugs me back and slams the door in his face.

“Sylas, what the hell?”

He’s locking the door, shrugging. “How long has this been happening?”

I roll my eyes. “This is the first time he’s ever come over to ask?—”

“The noise.” He pierces an angry stare at the door as if he’s contemplating opening it back up and punching Joel in the face. “How long has that been going on?” he asks again.

“I don’t know…I guess since I moved in. It is an apartment complex, so the walls aren’t necessarily soundproof.”

He shakes his head, breathing out harshly. “No, you can’t live like this. This is not okay.”

“I’m planning to move out eventually. It’s not a big deal.” I walk around him and head to the living room. Rosie is still playing with her dog, bobbing her head to the music on the TV.

He scoffs. “Not a big deal? Anything that affects you and Rosie is a big deal to me.”

I flop down on the couch. “It doesn’t happen all the time. It’s?—”

“It’s funny you think I’m going to argue with you about this.” He doesn’t sit. Instead, he folds his arms against his chest, his stance screamingI’m not letting this go.

“It’s funny you think I’m going to listen to anything you have to say.”