Michael never paid much attention to his neighbours. They were just people who lived nearby, and he was too caught up in his own world to care. But her? She was different. The girl across the hall. He noticed her the moment she moved in—attractive, sure, but there was something else. Something intriguing. She wasn’t the type to get involved in his chaotic life, but every time they passed each other in the hallway, he caught himself checking her out. He kept it cool, though. He wasn’t the type to stare.

Tonight, however, it wasn’t the hallway that mattered. It was the party. His friends had shown up, and the place was alive with noise. Music blaring, laughter echoing, everyone talking over each other. Michael was right in the middle of it, the usual cocky grin plastered on his face, soaking in the attention. The night was his.

Then came the knock.

It was loud, cutting through the chaos. He frowned, pulling himself away from the crowd and heading toward the door. As he opened it, there she was—his neighbour, looking sleep-rumpled and irritated. Her eyes were narrowed in annoyance, and her messy hair framed her face in a way that somehow made her even more attractive. She wasn’t dressed for company, wearing pajamas and standing there, clearly not impressed by the noise.

Without missing a beat, Michael leaned against the doorframe, flashing his trademark grin. “Yeah, sorry about that. It’s a party, you know?”

Her glare didn’t fade.

But then, instead of apologizing, Michael threw out the first thing that came to mind. “Say... I’ve got some pipes being fixed tomorrow, and, uh, I need a shower. Think I could use yours in the morning?”

The words left his mouth before he could stop them, and for a moment, he just stood there, waiting for her response.