Neighbors pt3

After the rooftop night, things between Kelly and Jake didn’t suddenly become complicated. But they definitely weren’t the same. The hallway between apartment 4A and 4B started feeling a little smaller… a little warmer… like the air itself knew something had changed. Three nights after the rooftop kiss, Kelly stood in her kitchen staring at a cutting board full of vegetables when there was a knock on her door. She didn’t even have to check. “Come in,” she called. Jake opened the door slowly. “Did you just assume it was me?” he asked. Kelly glanced over her shoulder with a smirk. “You’re the only person who knocks like you’re delivering bad news.” Jake stepped inside holding a small grocery bag. “Excuse me. That is a confident knock.” Kelly turned back to the stove. “What’s in the bag?” Jake held it up proudly. “Steak.” Kelly raised an eyebrow. “Oh… so you’re serious tonight.” Jake leaned against the counter. “I figured after that rooftop moment, we should probably step our cooking game up.” Kelly tried to keep her face calm but couldn’t stop the smile creeping in. “That rooftop moment?” Jake shrugged casually. “You know… the one where you kissed me.” Kelly turned around immediately. “I kissed you?” Jake grinned. “Yeah.” She grabbed a wooden spoon and pointed it at him. “You’re bold tonight.” Jake raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m just telling the story how I remember it.” Kelly walked closer, stopping just a few feet away. “You’re remembering it wrong.” Jake leaned forward slightly. “Oh really?” “Really.” There was that tension again. The quiet kind. The kind that lived in the space between their words. Kelly broke the moment by turning back to the stove. “Alright,” she said. “Chef Jake… what’s the plan?” Cooking together had always been fun. But now there was something new layered into it. Every small moment felt charged. Jake moved beside her at the counter, seasoning the steak while Kelly stirred a pan of vegetables. “Careful,” she said, nudging his elbow. “You’re about to burn it.” Jake glanced down. “I am not.” “You definitely are.” Jake moved the pan quickly. “Okay… maybe a little.” Kelly laughed softly. “You talk a big game for someone who almost ruined dinner.” Jake stepped closer behind her to reach for a spice on the shelf. For a second his arm brushed lightly against her waist. Kelly paused. Neither of them said anything. Jake grabbed the spice jar slowly. “Paprika,” he said quietly. Kelly didn’t turn around. “Important ingredient.” Jake leaned slightly closer. “You nervous or something?” Kelly scoffed, finally turning to face him. “Nervous about what?” Jake shrugged. “I don’t know… maybe the fact that we keep ending up two inches away from each other.” Kelly crossed her arms. “That’s your fault.” “My fault?” “You’re the one invading my kitchen.” Jake smiled. “Pretty sure you invited me.” Kelly opened her mouth to respond. But Jake suddenly reached out and gently tapped a small spot of sauce on her cheek. “You had something there.” Kelly froze. Jake’s hand lingered a second longer than necessary. Then he slowly wiped the sauce away with his thumb. Their eyes locked. Again. And the room suddenly felt warmer than it should have. Jake’s voice dropped slightly. “You do that thing again.” “What thing?” “Where you look at me like you’re thinking about something.” Kelly swallowed softly. “Maybe I am.” Jake stepped closer. “So what are you thinking?” Kelly didn’t answer right away. Instead she reached past him and turned the stove off. The quiet click of the burner echoed in the kitchen. Then she looked back at him. “You’re distracting me.” Jake laughed softly. “I’m literally just standing here.” “You’re not just standing there.” “Oh really?” Kelly stepped closer now, closing the space between them. “Really.” The playful energy between them had shifted again. Slower now. More intense. Jake gently rested his hands on the counter behind her, trapping her between him and the kitchen island without actually touching her. “You gonna explain that,” he murmured, “or just keep accusing me?” Kelly tilted her head slightly. “You like arguing with me, don’t you?” Jake smiled. “A little.” “Why?” “Because every time we argue…” He paused, studying her face. “…we end up like this.” Kelly’s heart was beating fast now. “Like what?” Jake leaned closer. “This close.” For a moment the world outside the apartment disappeared again. Just the quiet kitchen. The faint smell of food cooking. And the two of them standing inches apart. Kelly lifted her hand and rested it lightly against his chest. “Jake…” He looked down at her hand, then back into her eyes. “Yeah?” “You’re still distracting me.” Jake leaned in slowly. “Maybe I don’t mind.” Their kiss started soft. But this time it didn’t stop after a few seconds like it had on the rooftop. This one was deeper. Warmer. The kind of kiss that had weeks of tension behind it. Kelly laughed softly against his lips. “We’re definitely burning dinner.” Jake barely pulled away. “Worth it.” Kelly shook her head, smiling. “You’re impossible.” Jake rested his forehead lightly against hers. “And you keep letting me come over.” Kelly looked up at him. “Yeah…” Jake whispered, “Yeah.” And somewhere behind them, the steak in the pan sizzled loudly reminding them both that dinner was still cooking… …and that their late night kitchen moments were only just beginning.