Read Apartment 2B for Free Online Page B

life of mine feels too big. I somehow
     feel like I wasn’t meant for this world at all because I certainly don’t fit in.
    After I’ve gotten rid of the itchy feeling, I turn off the water and dry off. Hanging
     the towel back on the hook, I exit the bathroom. When I see Liam there, his arms folded
     in his signature stance, I for a split second have the urge to throw myself into his
     arms, but the moment quickly passes.
    “Fuck, Sidney! Do you just walk around everywhere naked? You do laundry with no bra
     on? That fucker could have come in here because you left your damn door unlocked!
     What’s wrong with you?” he demands angrily.
    Tears spring to my eyes as I recover from his words and the fact that he’s once again
     seen me naked. Instead of getting embarrassed this time, I stomp past him to my bedroom
     and into the closet. The first dress I find gets torn from the hanger and hastily
     pulled over my head. When my head pops back through, Liam is standing there watching
     me, his shoulder leaned against the doorframe. The way he looks at me affects me in
     a complete opposite manner than the creep from the laundry room. Liam looks at me
     with appreciation for my body, desire, and protectiveness.
    I straighten up my dress and put my hands on my hips.
    “Why do you keep coming into my house? I never invited you to be my protector and
     I certainly never invited you in my home,” I huff out.
    He looks stung by my words. It makes me want to take them back.
    “Look, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but you don’t understand how hard it
     is for me to deal with this. Every day is a struggle for me to feel like a human being.
     I’m sorry if you can’t understand that,” I sigh sadly.
    I’ve probably just told this man, whom I barely know, way too much. For some reason,
     I want to open up to him. Maybe an open person is the real me, buried deep down inside,
     because I certainly have done a lot of opening up in the last few weeks.
    “Sid, I want us to be friends. You’re my neighbor. Can’t we just get past all of this
     awkwardness and hang out? Don’t you get lonely? I am so fucking lonely, Sidney. Please,”
     he begs, and tears threaten his own eyes.
    My mouth parts in shock. This gorgeous man is hurting inside and I can’t help but
     feel a kinship to him.
    “Yeah, I actually do get lonely. Tina is my only friend. I have to warn you though.
     I don’t know the first thing about being a good friend. She forces me to do things
     like watch movies and drink wine, but that’s the extent of it. You don’t expect me
     to go do things with you? I’m not comfortable leaving my apartment. I have major issues,
     Liam.”
    He makes a move toward me and I flinch instinctively from him, which makes him stop
     dead in his tracks.
    “Sidney, let’s be friends, and I promise you I will not touch you. I may want to sit
     near you though or stand close to you. But I won’t touch you. Can you trust me?”
    Something about his words tells me that he’s being honest. I can feel the sincerity
     dripping from them. Giving in to him, I nod and close my eyes.
    He steps over to me until we’re mere inches apart. Opening my eyes, I peek up at him.
     It’s as if he’s studying every single detail of my face so he can memorize it. His
     gaze is so intense that I feel like I might combust.
    My words come out garbled. “Liam, right now, this is making me crazy. My skin is burning
     and I feel the need to shower again to cool it off. Do you see why this is hard for
     me?”
    His eyes search mine for answers I don’t possess to give to him. Finally, he puckers
     his lips, dips his head to my neck, and blows cool air out over the flesh. The burn
     quickly morphs into a chill and I shiver. The way he’s blowing on me makes me want
     to pull his head to my neck so he can press his lips to it. But I don’t. I just breathe
     heavily as he dips farther and blows cool air down between my breasts, successfully