Chapter 5 Do I Really Prefer Older Women?
Adrian
“Alright… can I check the door now?”
Tried to keep my voice calm, but my head was a complete mess already.
“Of course, go ahead.” Evelyn moved aside fast, brushing hair behind her ear. “Thank you so much, Adrian. Seriously, you came at the perfect time.”
“It’s fine. Same thing happened to me when I first moved here.”
The second I stepped closer to the door, I felt her eyes on me again.
Damn.
Hands pressed against the heavy wood while I adjusted the loose hinge. Every small movement pulled at the muscles in my arm, and for some reason that only made things worse. Her perfume lingered nearby. Soft. Warm. Distracting.
Way too distracting.
“Does that mean we got scammed, Mom?”
Marcus’s voice cut straight through my thoughts.
Evelyn placed a hand on her waist with an annoyed sigh. “Looks like it. I’ll call the agent later and ask him what this is about. He seemed nice too… God, he tricked me.”
“Don’t bother,” I said, tightening the screw back into place. “Guys like that usually disappear the second they get paid. Phone off. Number changed. Whatever.”
Her face fell a little.
“That’s… harsh. But yeah. You’re probably right.”
Marcus glanced at me, calmer than before. “Sorry about earlier, Blackwood. Didn’t mean to talk to you like that.”
Only looked at him for a second before going back to the lock.
Click.
Done.
“There.”
Evelyn blinked at the door, surprised. “What? That fast? Wow… you’re really quick.”
My eyes met hers.
“Not at everything.”
For a second, she froze.
Yeah. She got the meaning.
Marcus, thankfully clueless, grinned. “That’s amazing. Thanks, Adrian. Seriously, you’re the best.”
“We’re neighbors. It’s nothing.”
“Still, come inside.” Marcus opened the door wider. “Right, Mom?”
“Oh— yeah, of course.” Evelyn smiled warmly. “Marcus can make coffee while I finish greeting the neighbors. I’ll be back soon.”
“Don’t be late,” Marcus said.
“I won’t.”
She walked off in those heels, and God… the sway of her hips nearly made me lose focus again.
What the hell was wrong with me lately?
Had to be that damn test.
Marcus pulled me back before my thoughts got worse. “Sorry the house is still messy.”
“It’s okay. Mine’s worse most days.”
That made him laugh.
“So… how old are you?”
“Twenty.”
“No way. Same.” His face lit up. “Do you study somewhere?”
“Yeah. ****** University.”
His eyes widened right away. “Seriously? Me too! That’s perfect. We can go together because honestly, if I stay alone, I’ll turn into one of those weird study addicts.”
A laugh slipped out before I could stop it.
Marcus headed to the kitchen for water while I leaned against the counter, watching him quietly.
Then he turned around too fast.
“Yeah,” I said before it got awkward. “Guess we’ll go together. We’re friends now, right?”
“Exactly.” He smiled easily. “My mom’s gonna work there too, actually. As a professor.”
That caught my attention fast.
“Oh… Mrs. Carter’s a professor.”
“Yeah.”
Interesting.
“So, coffee or juice?”
“Coffee. Don’t really like juice.”
“Got it.”
The second Marcus disappeared into the kitchen, my eyes drifted around the living room.
Still unpacking.
Boxes everywhere.
One box sat half-open near the couch with Evelyn Carter written across the side.
I shouldn’t have looked.
Seriously. I shouldn’t have.
But my feet moved anyway.
Quietly lifted the lid while Marcus stayed busy in the kitchen.
And there it was.
Her underwear.
Heat rushed through me so hard it almost pissed me off.
“What the hell…”
My heartbeat started pounding against my ribs.
This was insane.
Never reacted like this before. Not over something so simple. So why now?
Because they were hers?
Because she was older?
One piece ended up in my hand before I even realized it. Soft fabric. Faint perfume.
My eyes closed for a second.
Bad idea.
Images flashed through my head immediately. Her voice. Her body. Her telling me what to do while I listened like some obsessed idiot.
Footsteps.
Shit.
The underwear disappeared into my pocket fast before I dropped back onto the couch like nothing happened.
Marcus walked in carrying two mugs. “Here’s your coffee.”
“Thanks.”
He sat across from me, relaxed.
“Go ahead,” he said. “You wanted to tell me something?”
“Yeah.” Took a sip first. “People here talk a lot. You’ll probably hear bad stuff about me.”
Marcus shrugged. “People gossip everywhere.”
“You and your mom should ignore it.”
“Don’t worry.” He sounded sure about it too. “Neither of us care about rumors.”
That answer stayed with me for a second.
Picked up another piece of cake instead.
Damn. It was good.
“You like it?” Marcus asked.
“Yeah. Really good.”
“My mom made it. She’s obsessed with baking.”
A small smile pulled at my mouth before I could stop it.
“Seems like it.”
While reaching for my coffee again, some spilled across my shirt.
“Damn it.”
“Careful!” Marcus nearly stood up. “It was hot. You okay?”
“I’m fine. Need to wash this.”
“Bathroom’s over—”
Already walking there before he finished.
The layout felt familiar because our houses were practically copies of each other, but Marcus still looked confused when I stopped at the right door immediately.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
Water ran over the stain while Marcus stayed outside looking suspicious for some reason.
Then came his question.
“Wait… how’d you know where the bathroom was?”
I looked back at him.
“Your house is built exactly like mine, genius.”
“Oh.” He laughed at himself. “Right. Fine. That makes sense.”
Back in the living room, Marcus dropped onto the couch again.
“So… do you like the neighborhood?”
“It’s alright.”
“Honestly, moving here’s the best thing that happened to us.” He took a sip of juice. “We used to live outside the city, so I thought this place would be tiny or something.”
“Outside looks old,” I said, taking another bite of cake, “but the houses are decent.”
“My mom always knows how to pick good places.”
Right then, the front door opened.
Evelyn.
My eyes lifted automatically.
Black heels. Fitted dress. Hair falling over one shoulder.
Yeah. Breathing got harder for no reason.
She stopped after noticing me watching her.
Then smiled.
Small smile. Still enough to mess with my head again.
“Mom, you’re back early,” Marcus said.
“Not many neighbors answered.” She placed the cake box on the table before looking at me again. “Hello again.”
“Hello, Evelyn.”
Just saying her name did something weird to me now.
Seriously. What the hell.
She sat beside Marcus and crossed her legs.
Big mistake.
Smooth skin. Pale thighs. Perfect nails painted black.
My throat went dry instantly.
“Most people didn’t even open their doors,” she kept talking, unaware of the thoughts wrecking my brain. “I only met Adrian and two women nearby.”
Tried focusing on her words.
Didn’t work.
My eyes kept drifting lower.
That stupid test really had messed something up inside my head.
Because none of this felt normal anymore.
Not the thoughts.
Not the obsession.
Not the way one older woman could ruin my focus this badly.
I cleared my throat and looked away before someone noticed.
