“I won’t reveal my sources,” she says, still being uppity. “8 a.m. Ms. Brown.” She turns on her heels and walks out to the sidewalk. I step out on my porch to see Logan and Adam shirtless and smiling. They look awfully proud of themselves. Two can play that game. I am sick of them fucking with me. Occasionally, I will retaliate, but this time... this time I am taking it two steps further.
“Hey, Katherine,” I call out. She stops and turns.
“You should definitely measure their grass. It looks a bit rough too. I’d hate for me to mow just for their lawn to bring the area down too,” I say. She smiles and walks over to their lawn. Logan and Adam both frown at me. They didn’t expect me to fight back.
I see that I have a few minutes, so I stand with my push mower as I plot my revenge. Did you know in just a few short minutes you can sign someone up to be visited by Jehovah Witnesses and people from the Mormon church? I sign them both up to be visited by six Mormon churches and nearly a dozen Jehovah Witness groups. On top of that, I signed them up to get a sales pitch for some stupid expensive vacuum, solar panels, a company that does blinds that are built into the window, and even a few girl scout troops nearby. They want to wake me up at six in the morning for somebullshit, I’m going to make the next two weeks for them hell. You see, they both work from home as computer engineers who build and maintain security systems and firewalls for various businesses. I work from home as an architect, so I get to watch it all go down.
I work with one of the largest construction companies in the state. We do everything from one room remodels to full commercial buildings. I am working on drawing a concept design right now for a new thirty story hotel. They just did the demolition of the old building yesterday, so I have a few weeks before I have to present. I am technically my own boss, but I have people I answer to. I just do the design based on what the owners want. They give me their dream, and I draw it for them. It isn’t often that I draw something that someone hates. Usually, the changes are very simple and take less than a day to perfect.
My bosses and clients are insistent that I take nights and weekends off because I have been caught several times working on drawings for twenty hours straight. Fridays are the only day none of them bitch at me for working late. I only come into the office for big meetings with the clients, so I am at home about seventy percent of the time.
Slipping into a pair of well-worn shorts and a fitted tank top under a baggy T-shirt, I pull my hair up into a messy bun, ready to face the never-ending sea of grass in the early morning light. As I step outside, the familiar heaviness of the sweltering summer air is like a gut punch. The sun is already beginning to rise above the horizon.
I glance over at Logan and Adam’s house, both of them standing on the front porch, seemingly oblivious to the impending slew of unsolicited visitors. They sip on their morning coffee, muscled arms flexing as they raise the cups to their lips. Oh, how I wished for them to fully appreciate the spectacle that was about to unfold.
Firing up the lawnmower, I revel in the familiar roar of its engine, feeling a tingling sense of power course through my veins. With each calculated pass across the lawn, the sweet smell of freshly cut grass fills the air. Drops of sweat cling to my forehead, glistening in the sunlight, but I paid them no mind. Today, sweat is my armor, my declaration of war against my two bully neighbors. I feel powerful knowing something they don’t.
I can’t help but notice their eyes discreetly tracking my every move, their gazes lingering a moment longer than necessary. Time to turn up the heat! With a calculated swivel, I yank off my shirt, revealing the sweat-drenched tank top clinging to my curves, accentuating every mesmerizing contour. The ground beneath me metaphorically crackles under the heavy weight of my revenge as I continue mowing, aware that their attention has shifted completely from their coffee to me. As I make my way closer to their house, inch by inch, I can practically taste the mixture of curiosity and desire emanating from them as they watch me with hungry eyes. The heat of the day intensifies, bringing a flush to my skin, but I am not undeterred. I am in love with the power I over them, basking in their unspoken adoration.
By the time I finish mowing my lawn, I turn off the lawnmower, my victory assured. I can feel their eyes burning with a mix ofguilt and admiration, their mouths agape, their cups of coffee forgotten on the porch railings. With a satisfied but seemingly innocent smile, I walk back to my front porch, giving them an unapologetic wave, relishing the taste of sweet revenge dancing on my tongue. The hot summer sun could never outshine the gleam of satisfaction that is practically painted on my soul right now.
I settle back onto my porch, my shirt draped across my shoulder, as I sip on my iced coffee, knowing full well that Logan and Adam have learned a valuable lesson about messing with the wrong woman. They thought I would grumble and complain the entire time I mowed my lawn. They wanted to see me suffer while I did it, but all I did was seemingly turn them on. Today, I have proven that not only can I tend to my lawn flawlessly and expediently, but I could also get even by just tapping on my phone.
It’s Monday morning and I have never been so excited for the work day to start. I get my laptop, tablet, drawing pen, iced coffee, and lemon poppy seed muffin top from 7 Brew and go to the front porch to sit. I stay reasonably cool on my porch with my amazingly powerful ceiling fan.
I go out in the mornings after my run to get coffee and a muffin, so I’m not stuck at home all day every day. I don’t usually sit out here this early, but the guys are due to get their first visit any minute now.
I am sitting on my plush patio couch with my feet propped on the ottoman. I have my laptop next to me and my tablet in my lap. The program I am drawing with on the tablet loads it to my laptop in real time so I can have it in both places. This is primarily because it’s like an auto save, but also, I like to be able to mess with the 3-D model on each device.
I am working on my drawing when I hear knocking on the door at Logan and Adam’s house. It takes them a second to answer, but eventually they do. I can’t hear the conversation, but I can tell it’s one of the churches. They should be getting visited multiple times a day, all week long. This is going to be the best week of my life.
I keep an eye on their house all day, and they get twelve visits from eight in the morning until eight at night. They know it’s me because I cackle every time they open the door. I should have kept a low profile, but they didn’t. Why should I?
Tuesday and Wednesday go the same way. They glare at me while I laugh. I know they are mad because I can see it in their body language. I’m surprised they haven't come over yet. I make sure that my house and property are in tip top shape so they can’t call the HOA on me again. I don’t break or even bend any rules because I know they are just waiting for me to mess something up so they can call it in.
Thursday is a little different. They smile and wave at me when I get back from my run and getting coffee. That makes me feel uneasy, but things go back to normal when one of the many churches shows up as I’m walking to the porch. They are back to beinggrumpy, and that makes me smile and wave at them. When Logan flips me off, it makes me feel giddy.
Friday is when things get weird. First, my trash can is already at the road when I go to take it. Logan and Adam both have taken to their front porch with their laptops, and I quickly realize that they are plotting against me now. I keep my composure most of the day but still end up laughing when they keep getting visitors. They are getting increasingly irritated, and I love it.
It is nearly ten at night by the time I finally stop for the night. My eyes are burning, and I have been sitting in the same spot for the last six hours. I did make a lot of progress today on my current project. I am about halfway done now but this last half will be more challenging.
I put all of my stuff in my office before going to pee. Too often I forget to do normal human things. It’s hyper-fixation at its finest. After, I browse DoorDash before choosing a burrito place for dinner. I ordered a burrito with extra spicy chicken, so the heartburn should be wonderful tonight. Definitely worth it though.
After a while, my food is marked just delivered, but it’s not on my porch a few minutes after I open my door to check on it, I get a text.
Logan: Your food was delivered here. Come get it before I decide to eat it!
Me: Okay -_-
I roll my eyes, grab some sandals, and walk next door. I’m sure they’re behind my missing food but I’m confident they won’tactually fuck with it in a way that will hurt me. They are many things, but they're not cruel.
I knock on the door, and I expect a simple exchange, but when Logan answers with no shirt on it instantly takes my breath away. They’re both gorgeous men with short and shaggy, sandy brown hair. They have rippling muscles and bulging veins up their arms.
“Need a bucket for your drool, Ally?” Logan asks with a smirk.
“No, but maybe one for my vomit,” I say with a deadpan expression. “My food?”
“Right. Come in and I’ll grab it,” he says before stepping to the side.