For a few seconds, I just stared at him.

No.

No, no, no.

This couldn't be happening.

This had to be some kind of joke.

Maybe I was still asleep.

Maybe I'd passed out while unpacking and was currently having the world's most specific nightmare.

Or maybe the universe had finally decided that after twenty-four years of existence, it was time to personally ruin my life.

Honestly, that felt like the most realistic option.

The universe looked me directly in the eyes and said, You know what would be funny?

Nathan Carter.

Again.

"Okay," I said slowly. "No."

Nathan raised an eyebrow.

"No?" he repeated.

"No."

He glanced behind him.

Then back at me.

"I wasn't aware this was a vote."

I pointed at him.

"You're not supposed to be here."

His expression remained completely calm.

Infuriatingly calm.

Meanwhile, I was one inconvenience away from a nervous breakdown.

"Pretty sure I am," he said. "My key works. My rent gets paid. Seems pretty official."

I shook my head.

"No. This isn't real."

"You're taking this surprisingly hard."

"Surprisingly hard?" I repeated. "Nathan, I moved eight hundred miles away."

"Congratulations."

"I came here for a fresh start."

"Very inspiring."

"And now you're standing outside my apartment."

"Technically," he corrected, "I'm standing outside my apartment."

I hated him.

I genuinely did.

He had this incredible ability to make every situation worse simply by existing.

The worst part?

He knew it.

The stupid grin on his face proved it.

I dragged both hands down my face.

"This is a nightmare."

"Tough morning, huh?"

I dropped my hands.

"You know what? I actually hate you."

"Good morning to you too, Parker."

"I mean it."

"So do I."

"What?"

"Good morning."

I stared at him.

He stared back.

The smile never left.

Not even for a second.

I was beginning to think it was surgically attached.

"What are you doing here?" I finally asked.

Nathan looked around the hallway.

Then pointed to the apartment behind him.

"I live here."

I narrowed my eyes.

"No, specifically. What are you doing here?"

"Standing?"

"Nathan."

"Breathing?"

"Nathan."

"Existing?"

I groaned loudly.

His smile widened.

"Okay, okay." He adjusted the box he was holding. "What exactly are you asking?"

I crossed my arms.

"You live here?"

"That's generally how apartments work."

I wanted to throw something at him.

Preferably something heavy.

"That's not possible."

"Yet here I am."

"My brother said you were doing some fancy internship somewhere."

"I was."

"Far away."

"It was."

"Very far away."

"It really was."

I blinked.

"And?"

"And internships tend to end."

I hated when he was reasonable.

Nathan shifted the box against his hip.

"I finished a few months ago. Got offered a position with an architecture firm here."

I frowned.

"In New York?"

"Believe it or not, they do have architecture in New York."

I ignored that.

"You're serious?"

"Unfortunately."

He nodded toward my apartment.

"You too?"

I hesitated.

Somehow, saying it out loud felt different.

Real.

"Marketing."

His expression softened for a second.

A very brief second.

"Nice."

"Yeah."

"Big first job."

"Yeah."

"Big city."

"Yeah."

For the first time since opening the door, neither of us spoke.

It felt strange.

Because beneath all the annoyance and sarcasm and years of arguing, Nathan knew exactly how hard I'd worked for this.

Just like I knew how hard he'd worked for that internship.

For one tiny moment, it felt almost...

Supportive.

Then he ruined it.

"It's great to see how happy you are to see me, by the way."

There it was.

I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly injured myself.

"Trust me, happiness is not the word I'd use."

"Really? I was getting excitement."

"I'm considering filing a complaint with the building."

"Because I live here?"

"Because you're a public nuisance."

Nathan laughed.

The sound echoed through the hallway.

And for some reason, that annoyed me even more.

"Well," he said, reaching for his door, "it's nice to know some things never change."

I pointed at him.

"Don't get comfortable."

He paused.

Then looked directly at me.

That stupid smile still sitting on his face.

"Parker."

"What?"

"You always say that."

And before I could come up with a response, he disappeared into his apartment and shut the door behind him.

Leaving me alone in the hallway.

Completely speechless.

Which was impressive.

Because Nathan Carter had been annoying me for twelve years.

And somehow he was already getting better at it.