My phone buzzes on the couch beside me, vibrating loudly against the silence. I groan, burying my head deeper under the blanket. It's Riya.
"Hey! Where the hell have you been!?" her text reads, the concerned tone practically jumping off the screen. Guilt immediately settles in my chest. I'd been avoiding her—and everyone else—for a week now.
I hesitate, my fingers hovering over the keyboard as I stare at her message. "I've been busy," I type back, keeping it short and vague before turning off my phone and curling back onto the couch. It wasn't a total lie—I had been busy... spiraling.
But I should've known better than to think Riya would let me off so easily. She is nothing if not persistent. Minutes later, my doorbell rang, followed by sharp, impatient knocks that made my heart race.
"I'm coming in!" she declares loudly, and before I can even respond, the door swings open with a gust of fresh air. There she is—Riya in all her determined glory—standing in my living room with her arms crossed and a look of concern etched across her face.
"You're alive!" she exclaims dramatically as she walks to the end of the couch. "You've been a hermit! What's going on with you?"
I peek out from under the blanket, sighing heavily. "You know... garden stuff."
"Garden stuff?" she repeats incredulously, raising an eyebrow. "Your garden looks like it's begging for help out there." She plops down beside me, crossing her legs as she scrutinizes me. "What's going on, Daisy?"
I sit up reluctantly, adjusting myself on the couch to face her. "I... I finally met the guy next door," I mumble, feeling my cheeks heat up at just the thought of Keenan.
Her eyes widen with interest as she leans forward eagerly. "And? Did you jump his bones? Or was he an ass?" Her tone shifts from playful curiosity to protective seriousness in an instant.
"No!" I shake my head quickly, knowing there was no escaping this conversation. "I mean... it's complicated."
So I tell her everything—the awkwardness of our first meeting, being caught watching him through my window, how he teased me into bringing him coffee regularly, helping him with his bike, the joyride that left me breathless, and finally... them.
The two men who had shown up on his porch like storm clouds rolling in. The tension between them and Keenan still lingered in my mind—the way they looked at me like I didn't belong, the way Keenan tried to shield me but couldn't fully explain what was happening.
By the time I finish recounting it all, Riya lets out a long sigh and shakes her head. "Okay, I get it," she states firmly. "But you can't hide in here forever. You've got a garden to tend to—that's your livelihood!" She stands up abruptly, placing her hands on her hips as she stares down at me like an exasperated mother.
"I can't risk a run-in with him," I reply weakly, shaking my head.
"Daisy," she says gently but firmly, "just come outside with me and check on your garden. Maybe it'll help clear your mind."
Reluctantly, I nod. Together we step into my front yard—a space that used to feel like my sanctuary but now feels foreign and neglected. My small patch of paradise, usually vibrant with blooms and fragrant herbs, looked wilted and sad. Just like it did a week ago.
It mirrored how I felt inside.
As we work side by side—pulling weeds and trimming branches—Riya chats about everything and nothing at all. Her voice is steady and comforting against my swirling thoughts. Slowly but surely, the familiar scent of rosemary mixed with freshly turned soil begins to ease some of my tension.
But then I catch movement out of the corner of my eye.
Keenan is standing on his porch, leaning casually against the wooden railing with his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze is locked on me—not judging or harsh but pensive and unreadable. The familiarity of his eyes sent shivers down my spine.
I quickly turn back to my work, pretending not to notice him.
"Damn," Riya whispers loudly as she leans closer to me. "You were right—he is hot as hell."
"Stop being so obvious," I hiss under my breath, nudging her arm as heat creeps up my neck.
"I mean... he's the one being obvious," she whispers in a quieter tone this time. "It's like he's undressing you with his eyes."
My pulse quickens at her words as anxiety bubbles back to the surface alongside something else—something warmer and far more confusing. I risk another glance toward him just as he steps off his porch and starts walking toward us.
"Riya," I whisper urgently, panic rising in my chest. "He's coming over here!"
Her eyes widen slightly before narrowing with intrigue. "He's just a guy," she says nonchalantly—but there was an unmistakable glint of excitement in her voice.
"Hey there!" Keenan calls out as he approaches the fence separating our yards. His voice was strong but carried an edge of uncertainty that caught me off guard.
Riya shoots me a supportive glance before turning toward him with a raised eyebrow. "Hi," I stammer awkwardly before clearing my throat. "Uh... what's up?"
"I saw you two working hard over here," he says casually, gesturing toward our laboring hands. "Need an extra pair of hands? I can help."
"Or you could get back to watching from your porch," Riya quips without missing a beat as she places a hand on her hip.
"Riya!" I hiss again in embarrassment—but Keenan only chuckles like he'd expect that response.
"Hi. I'm Keenan... this little flower's neighbor." He flashes her a charming smile before looking directly at me again—his gaze softer this time but no less intense.
"Oh he's smooth," Riya mutters under her breath as she sizes him up with narrowed eyes before introducing herself properly: "I'm Riya—her best friend and practically sister."
"Nice to meet you," Keenan replies kindly before turning his attention back to me. "Honestly though—I don't mind getting my hands dirty." His lips curve slightly into a teasing smile as he adds, "Daisy knows that already."
Before I can respond—or melt into a puddle from embarrassment—Riya nudges me gently with her elbow. "He wants to talk," she whispers encouragingly.
Taking a deep breath for courage, I nod hesitantly and manage to squeak out: "Okay."
With that simple invitation, Keenan steps closer until he is kneeling beside me in the dirt. His presence feels overwhelming yet comforting all at once as we work side by side in silence for a moment—our hands occasionally brushing against each other in ways that sent sparks skittering up my arm.
Finally breaking the quiet between us, Keenan speaks softly: "Listen... I'm sorry about what happened last week." His voice carries an earnestness that makes my chest tighten faintly. "Those guys can be... intense sometimes."
"Why were they like that?" I question quietly after hesitating for a moment.
Keenan sighs deeply before answering carefully: "They look out for me... or at least Axel does." He pauses briefly before continuing: "Griffin. He's just focused on keeping things safe for the MC."
"The MC?" I echo curiously—but he doesn't elaborate further except to add: "It's complicated—but none of it is your fault." His gaze softens further as he adds quietly: "You're... different—a breath of fresh air in all that chaos."
An ember of warmth ignites deep inside me at his words—but before either of us could say more Riya chimes in suddenly: "Just promise me you'll keep her safe."
Keenan turns toward her with surprising sincerity etched across his face—and then back toward me as he simply responds: "I promise."