Barking Up the Wrong Neighbor

CHAPTER TWO

June sank onto the edge of her couch, Killian squirming in her lap, yawning adorably. Boxes were stacked haphazardly all around her apartment, a chaotic mix of packing tape, blankets, and stray puppy toys.

She let out a long sigh. “Okay, Killian, let’s take a break,” she whispered, stroking the fluffy little Newfoundland. “You’ve already conquered the neighbor.”

The tiny puppy yipped in agreement, rolling onto his back and wriggling like a furry tornado.

Then came a knock at the door. Firm. Insistent. Her stomach twisted.

Oh no. Who is it?

Her heart began to race. Could it be… him? No. But what if… Panic tightened her chest. She glanced at the door, the boxes, the small haven she’d just started to make for herself.

June pressed herself against the wall, gripping Killian tightly, heart hammering. Could it be someone from my past? Someone looking for me?

Taking a shaky breath, she edged toward the door. “H-Hello?” she called timidly, voice barely above a whisper.

The door opened, and there he stood: Roman Ellis. Hands in his pockets, expression carefully neutral, posture perfect, radiating controlled distance.

June froze. Relief mixed with confusion. Not him. Not anyone from my past…

“Uh… hi,” Roman said, voice flat and distant, cold enough to send a shiver down her spine. His eyes scanned the scattered boxes, his face unreadable.

June whispered to herself, “Or check on me…”

Roman’s gaze snapped to her. He didn’t flinch, he didn’t smile, didn’t soften. His lips pressed into a thin line, jaw tight. “I’m here for the building,” he said, tone clipped and distant.

June’s chest tightened. Her jaw set, nerves sparking defensively. Why does he have to be like this?

She straightened, holding Killian even closer to her chest. “Look… if you’re just… here to check on the building or… whatever… you don’t have to help me. Seriously. I can manage on my own. You don’t need to… waste your time on me.”

Roman’s brow lifted slightly, expression unreadable.

June pressed on, voice shaky but kind. “I appreciate the thought, really. But if you’re not… genuinely helping, you can just… leave.”

There was a pause. Roman’s gaze lingered on her, cold and distant, but he finally nodded. “…Fine. I’ll help,” he said, tone clipped, still unreadable.

June blinked, a mix of relief and surprise washing over her. “Okay… thank you,” she said softly, letting her shoulders relax fractionally.

June guided him toward the first stack of boxes. “These are mostly books,” she said nervously, gesturing at the teetering pile. “I think. Maybe. Some of them are… just old notebooks. Be careful. They’re heavier than they look.”

Roman lifted the first box without a word, his movements precise, controlled, and annoyingly impressive. June bit back a smile. “Okay… you’re not terrible at this,” she said softly.

“I’m not… helping because I like it,” he said flatly.

June grinned faintly, shaking her head. “Sure. Of course not.”

As he carried the box toward her living room, Killian yipped and wriggled, trying to crawl toward Roman, his tiny paws scrambling against the floor. June scooped him up immediately, clinging to him, holding him tight against her chest like a shield.

“Not yet, little guy. He’s… intimidating,” she whispered nervously.

Roman’s head whipped around, eyes locking onto hers with a sharp, piercing glare that made June’s stomach twist. Killian squeaked in surprise, pawing at her chest.

June’s eyes widened. “I-I… it’s okay, Killian. He won’t—he can’t—uh…” She tightened her hold on the puppy instinctively.

Roman’s lips pressed into a thin line, jaw tight. “…He’s a puppy,” he said flatly, cold and distant.

“Yes,” she said quickly, clutching Killian closer. “I know… I just… didn’t… expect…”

Killian yipped again, wriggling happily, oblivious to Roman’s intensity. Roman exhaled, still distant, glancing down at the puppy. “…Harmless,” he muttered.

June nodded quickly, still clutching Killian. “Yes… mostly harmless.” She gave him a small, shaky smile, trying to calm both herself and the puppy.

Her chest heaved slightly. “I… I think I’m just going to… put off unpacking for now. Maybe… take a little nap.” She fidgeted with Killian, avoiding Roman’s gaze. “B-But… thank you for offering to help. I… I really do appreciate it.”

Roman studied her for a moment, his cold, distant gaze lingering longer than necessary. There was… something different about her. She seemed smaller somehow, cautious, tense, like she was holding herself back, yet still trying to be polite and kind.

Since when did she act like this? he thought, frowning slightly. He remembered clearly how she’d met him in the hallway the day before—bright, bubbly, confident, almost mischievous. This version of her… it was different.

Her nervous smile, the subtle tension in her shoulders… it was all wrong. Or maybe, wrong wasn’t the right word. Different. She’s… different. And I don’t understand why.

Roman’s jaw tightened as he stared at her, arms crossed again. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had shifted in her demeanor, but it nagged at him, an uncomfortable curiosity he didn’t like admitting.

He exhaled slowly, a hand brushing against the back of his neck. For all his composure, for all his cold, distant demeanor, he found himself wondering about her. About what had changed in the span of a single knock on a door.

And with that thought lingering in his mind, Roman stepped back, letting the small moment settle into silence, already anticipating that this neighbor—this oddly shaken, warm, chaotic little neighbor—would be far more complicated than he’d expected.

Roman, meanwhile, couldn’t stop thinking about her—the nervous gestures, the way she clutched the puppy, the faint tremor in her movements. Something had changed, and he didn’t understand why. But he knew, instinctively, that this neighbor—the strangely shaken, warm, chaotic little neighbor—was far more complicated than he’d expected as he was just standing right outside of her apartment door.

As Roman stepped back toward his own apartment, June sank onto the couch, clutching Killian tightly. Her chest felt tight, breaths coming faster than she wanted. Her hands shook slightly as memories of the past—the fear, the feeling of being trapped, the panic that had once nearly destroyed her—surfaced.

She hugged Killian closer, his warm weight grounding her, trying to calm the sudden surge of panic. Her pulse raced, and a trembling sigh escaped her lips. It’s okay. He’s gone. You’re safe. You’re safe now.

Her legs trembled as she leaned forward, burying her face in the puppy’s fur. Killian yipped softly, nudging her, and she let herself relax just slightly, though the echo of fear still lingered. She wasn’t ready to unpack yet, wasn’t ready to face the world outside the safety of her little apartment.

Her voice came out in quiet, shaky whispers, barely audible. “It’s not him… it’s not him… it’s not him…” Her words repeated over and over, breath coming in fast, uneven gasps. She clutched Killian tighter, rocking slightly, trying to ground herself. “It’s okay… it’s okay… you’re safe… it’s not him…”

Outside her door, Roman paused mid-step. He had started to retreat back into his apartment, but the soft, panicked whispers carried clearly through the thin walls. He froze, brow furrowing. The sound of her hyperventilating, the fear in her voice, and the repeated insistence that “it’s not him” pierced through his careful composure.

He pressed a hand against the doorframe, silent, listening. Roman’s eyes darkened slightly, a mix of concern and confusion flickering across his otherwise unreadable expression. Why is she… like this? he thought, his instincts warning him not to interfere, but something deep in his chest tightened.

He exhaled slowly, stepping back from the door, uncertain if he should leave her in her moment of fear or… something else. Roman Ellis, cold and distant, was caught off guard—curiosity, and maybe something else, pulling at him as he realized this neighbor, this strangely shaken, warm, chaotic little neighbor, was far more complicated than he had expected.

And with that, he let himself retreat to his apartment, though his thoughts lingered on her whispered words and rapid breaths, echoing in his mind long after he’d stepped inside.