Turn It Down
Turn It Down
She moved to Pittsburgh hoping for a fresh start.
Instead, her new neighbour tells her to turn her music down.
Jack Abbott is grumpy, silver-haired, impossible to read, and seems to think smiling is optional. She's a writer with too many houseplants, an overactive imagination, and a habit of talking to the moon.
They get off on the wrong foot.
Actually...
Several wrong feet.
But between sarcastic banter, awkward encounters, and two hearts carrying more than either is willing to admit, they discover that some of life's greatest surprises arrive when you least expect them.
Turn It Down is a heartwarming grumpy-sunshine romance filled with humour, hope, unforgettable characters, and the quiet moments that stay with you long after the last page.
Chapter One
Her back hit the wall. His pupils dilated as soon as he nipped at her jaw. Her moans grew louder as her fingers grew bolder on his chiseled torso. He let out a deep growl, his lips finding the column of her throat. She threw her head back, giving him full access.
He didn't waste a single second. Sucking at the skin on her collarbone, he licked it softly to soothe the sting before his lips traveled lower and lower, toward the sweet valley of her brâ
BANG! BANG!
She furrowed her brows as she stood up from her chair.
What in the living daylights?
Glancing around her apartment, she took in the half-empty boxes scattered everywhere. Finally, her eyes landed on the upside-down clock lying on the sofaâthe one she'd wanted to hang on the wall before inspiration had struck.
BANG! BANG!
She hollered over the blues rock blasting from the speaker.
"Yeah! Yeah! Keep your whiskers on, I'm coming!"
She opened the door, confusion written all over her face. Messy strands of hair stuck out in every direction. She was still wearing those hand-me-down sweatpants and a T-shirt that had seen better days.
Only to be met by a man who was nearly six feet tall. Maybe a little shorter, but nonetheless much taller than she was. Deep brown eyes stared back at her, eyes that had clearly seen some things. Grey curls sat messily on his head. Definitely no smile. And he sure as hell didn't look polite.
His voice broke her analysis.
"Turn it down."
She gestured with her hands.
"What? What?"
Grabbing her phone, she pressed pause on the music.
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you. What were you saying?"
He nearly growled in frustration.
"I said turn it down. It's nine o'clock in the morning, and your crappy music is blasting so loud I can't evenâ"
She pointed a scrawny finger in his face.
"Well, excuse me. My music isn't crappy."
He looked like a bull about to blow steam from his nostrils.
"Just turn it down. Some of us are trying to sleep."
She smiled.
"Oh, I like sleeping in too, but it's a Wednesday morning. Maybe you should be getting ready for work?"
He rubbed a hand over his face.
"Oh my Goodness..."
Then he sighed.
"Just stop being so loud and be a little more thoughtful."
His eyes drifted inside her apartment.
"Moving out?"
He almost sounded hopeful.
She crossed her arms.
"No."
She huffed.
"Moving in, actually. Arrived last night at ten."
His gaze landed on the coffee stain on her sleeve.
"Haven't slept?"
She nodded.
"How'd you guess?"
Looking completely unbothered, he motioned toward her.
"It's obvious."
Moving his hands in a circle, he added,
"This."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Excuse me?"
He immediately stepped back.
"Never mind. Just try not to wake the whole neighborhood."
As he turned toward his door, she called after him.
"Maybe turn down your hearing aid, old man."
He stopped dead in his tracks.
"Excuse me? I'm not that old. I'm only in my fifties."
She giggled.
"I rest my case. More like the dino era."
He frowned.
"Dino?"
She gasped dramatically.
"Dino. As in dinosaur."
He puffed out his chest.
"I'm notâ"
He stopped himself.
"You know what? Never mind. Just stay out of my way."
He walked off with a clearly wounded ego.
As for her, she slipped back into her apartment, closing the door with a loud bang.
Her eyes found the open laptop on the coffee table. Beside it sat a now-cold mug with the words:
Future New York Times Best Seller.
Flopping onto the couch, she groaned.
"Yeah..."
She stared at the blinking cursor on the screen.
"Like that'll happen at this rate."
When she woke up, the sun threw an orange-pink hue against the bleak apartment walls.
With a heavy sigh, she threw her arms into the air.
"Okay, now I've gotta get up... sort out my life, be productive, be..." She stared at a crack in the ceiling. "Be what again?"
Nearly falling off the couch, she crawled across the floor on all fours toward a box marked Art Supplies, complete with a little smiley face that looked like it had been drawn by a two-year-old.
Which, in all honesty, it had.
Her sister's son.
The little guy with the big smile and wide blue eyes. Red hair. Freckles. A tiny heartbreaker.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"I miss my family."
The words echoed through the empty apartment, spoken to nobody at all.
Blinking away the tears, she groaned.
"What? Why did I come here again?"
She flopped onto her back, the hardwood floor cool and oddly comforting beneath her tired body.
Opening her eyes, she spotted the crack in the ceiling again.
Then suddenlyâ
She perked up.
Sitting upright, she pulled open the box and dug through it until she found her sketchpad.
Flipping through page after page, some finished, some abandoned halfway through, she finally found the drawing she'd been working on.
Her eyes darted back to the ceiling.
The crack.
That was it.
That was exactly what she'd needed to finish the sketch.
The ticking of the clock on the wall struck four.
The grumbling of her stomach informed her that she probably hadn't eaten in far too long.
Fine.
Most likely since yesterday morning.
She'd always had a problem with time tracking.
Getting up from the couch, she wandered toward the fridge only to find...
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Staring into the empty shelves, she sighed.
"Coffee it is."
Walking toward the kettle, she froze.
Then gasped dramatically.
"No."
She checked again.
Still no coffee.
Like...
Nothing.
"Great. The world is coming to an end."
Slipping on her fluffy slippers, she zipped up her hoodie.
She still looked homeless, but at this moment she didn't care.
She needed coffee.
Or food.
Or both.
Opening the apartment door, she headed downstairs.
When she'd moved in yesterday, she'd noticed a little coffee shop on the corner.
Nobody knew her here.
She could make this quick.
Coffee.
Maybe a muffin.
That was the plan.
Twenty minutes later, she stood inside the elevator holding a steaming FOMO coffee and a half-eaten chocolate chip muffin.
Life was worth living again.
She hummed a bluesy tune under her breath as the elevator climbed.
Ping.
Her floor.
Stepping out, she immediately caught her slipper in a crack between the elevator and the floor.
"Oh, fudgesticks up a fudge tree!"
She stumbled forward.
Quickly setting her coffee and muffin inside the elevator, she balanced on one foot and yanked at the trapped slipper.
Nothing.
She pulled harder.
Still nothing.
"Come on."
Another tug.
Another.
Another.
At this point she felt like she was wrestling an alligator.
Then suddenlyâ
The slipper came free.
Unfortunately, so did all her balance.
With a startled squeak, she flew backward and landed directly on her ass.
THUMP.
For a moment she just sat there.
Stunned.
Victorious.
Barefoot.
PING.
The elevator doors began to close.
Her eyes widened.
"Nooooooo!"
The doors slid shut.
Taking her coffee.
And her muffin.
She sat there in silence, looking utterly devastated.
That was exactly when he appeared.
Walking toward the elevator, early as always for his shift.
At first he thought she might be hurt.
Why else would a grown woman be sitting barefoot on the floor looking like she'd lost a custody battle?
Picking up his pace, he frowned.
"You okay?"
She looked up at him.
Pouting.
"No."
His brow furrowed.
"What happened?"
She waved a hand dramatically.
"It's gone forever."
"What?"
"You wouldn't understand."
He stared at her.
Then nodded once.
"Okay."
She gasped.
"Oh, gee, thanks. I'm dying. Okay, maybe not. But you don't know that."
He rolled his eyes.
Without another word, he pressed the elevator button.
One could practically see the annoyance written across his face.
PING.
The elevator doors opened.
There, sitting on the floor exactly where she'd left them, were her coffee and muffin.
She shrieked.
"Eeeeeeeeeek!"
Diving forward, she scooped them up.
"You made it back to me!"
Cradling them dramatically against her chest, she looked up at the greying man.
"Hope you have a good night. Bye!"
And just like that, she disappeared into her apartment.
Leaving him standing there.
Wondering what the hell had just happened.
The moment he walked through the automated doors, you'd think he would've forgotten all about the very dramatic woman who'd been sitting on the floor outside the elevator with those wide, tearful eyes.
(Damn... those eyes.)
He rubbed a hand over the scruff that had claimed his jaw over the past few days.
What the hell was wrong with him?
He growled under his breath.
Right.
Her music was crappy.
She'd shrieked when she'd been reunited with her stupid muffin.
And she'd called him a dinosaur.
She was going to be a pain.
His shift had barely started...
...and he was already growling.
The shift was grueling, like always, but that's why he chose the night shift. His therapist says it's his way of working through the war, losing his leg... losing his wife.
The city lights always looked like stars from the rooftop. Strange that the one place he felt free was right here, looking down into the darkness.
His pager went off, and he walked with a limp down the stairs. It was only a few hours into his shift, and the prosthetic already hurt. But one thing he'd learned was how to push through.
The ER was bustling, like always. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. This was where he felt the most useful. Almost hopeful... or joyful?
Okay, fine.
Maybe it was just because silence was louder than any emergency chaos.
The YouTube adâbecause obviously she wasn't paying for something she could watch for free, and she wouldn't tell anyone this, but she actually liked watching the adsâmade her open her eyes.
Exhaling, she glanced at the clock.
03:00.
"Yay me."
She muttered it to no one because there wasn't anyone.
Well...
Except the characters waiting inside those unwritten pages where the cursor kept blinking.
Blinking.
Blinking.
Getting up, she wandered to the kitchen sink and poured herself a glass of water. As she took a sip, she stared out into the night sky.
"Hey, Mr. Moon."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Also lonely tonight, are we? No stars... sorry, buddy. But at least you're shining. Proud of you."
Making her way back toward the living room, it was either fate or her little toe had decided to become best friends with one of the moving boxes.
Much like all her past relationships...
It ended badly.
She yelped, hopping around on one foot while cussing out the innocent cardboard box before collapsing onto the fluffy, dusty-pink, heart-shaped rug.
"Fudgesticks."
Biting her lower lip, she cradled her throbbing foot.
"It really is unfair how a toe and a box can perfectly represent my love life."
Lying on her back, she carefully inspected her toe.
"Nope... okay."
She gave it a gentle pat.
"All good. You'll make it, buddy."
Her leg flopped back onto the carpet as her eyes drifted toward the ceiling once again.
The words replayed in her mind.
New beginning.
Or rather...
Fresh start.
That's what she'd excitedly told her parents.
Her sister.
Everyone.
But the truth?
She couldn't stay in the same town she'd grown up in.
Not when every street seemed to hold another memory.
Every cafĂŠ.
Every park.
Every corner.
And every one of her heartbreaks was now walking around with their forever.
And she?
Well...
Honestly...
At this point, she'd practically given up.
It wasn't that being single bothered her all that much.
Most days, she was perfectly happy with her own company.
What she hated were the family gatherings.
Because if one more aunt leaned over with that sympathetic smile and asked,
"So, sweetie... found someone special yet?"
She was going to scream.
The last time she'd found someone special...
...it was the barista who made that delicious vanilla latte.
It was official.
She couldn't fall back asleep.
So she started unpacking, box by box. Her whole life packed away inside cardboard.
As she placed a little photo frame on an empty shelf next to the television, she noticed the first rays of sunlight creeping through the curtains.
Smiling, she opened the balcony doors and stepped into the crisp morning air. Her bare feet met the cold concrete, that bruised toe long forgotten.
She inhaled deeply.
"Ahhh."
A small smile spread across her lips.
Glancing to her left, she spotted the greying curls of her neighbour on the balcony next door.
Walking a little closer to the railing, she froze.
Then gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth.
He was...
Doing yoga.
Downward Dog, to be exact.
She'd know.
She did yoga too.
Just...
Not naked.
Her eyes grew as wide as saucers.
His bottom was on full display, looking remarkably like a peeled peach.
Then he flowed into another pose.
It was like watching a car crash happen right in front of her.
She knew she should look away.
She simply...
Couldn't.
A moment later, he stood upright as casually as if he were watering plants.
Without the slightest hint of embarrassment, he wrapped a towel low around his hips.
Her cheeks flushed bright red.
"Morning," he said matter-of-factly.
She immediately looked anywhere except at him.
"Morning? Are you crazy? There are people! This is a public place! What about kids? Older people? Somebody!"
He wandered a little closer to the dividing wall.
"I always do yoga after my shift."
He shrugged.
"Helps me sleep better."
She narrowed her eyes.
"But... does it have to be naked?"
He looked down at her.
"I didn't say you should keep looking."
"I... uh... I..."
She could barely get a single word out.
Finally, she huffed.
"Fudgesticks!"
Then disappeared back inside her apartment, slamming the balcony door behind her.
He tilted his head slightly, the ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"'Fudgesticks?'"
The word was barely audible.
"...She's as innocent as she looks."
With that, he wandered back into his apartment to finally get some shut-eye.
After her shower, she threw on a pair of jeans and a flattering top.
Not too revealing.
Because she wasn't easy.
She caught sight of herself in the mirror and let out a delighted shriek.
"Cutie patootie!"
Grabbing her purse, she grinned.
It was official.
Today was food shopping day.
Around midday, she returned carrying one too many grocery bags while somehow balancing an iced matcha latte in one hand.
Muttering to herself, she walked past man after man who could've helped a damsel in distress.
Okay...
Maybe not distress.
But still.
Stopping outside her apartment, she blinked at the door like a confused toddler.
The keys.
Still buried somewhere inside her jeans pocket.
With both hands occupied, she simply sighed and took another sip of her creamy green drink.
"Fine."
She looked down at the cup.
"I'll just stand out here until I finish you."
Another sip.
She felt him before she heard him.
Looking up, she found the grumpy dino standing there.
Looking... annoyed.
Then again, maybe that was just his permanent facial setting.
"What?"
His voice was as gruff as ever.
"I'm just trying to figure out why you're standing outside your apartment."
He nodded toward the door.
"Lose your key?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"No."
A beat.
"I just like standing outside my apartment."
He gave her a look.
She sighed.
"Fine. The keys are in my jeans pocket, and my hands are full."
He stepped closer.
His scent drifted toward her.
His warm breath brushed against her ear... then her neck.
She froze.
His hand moved toward her pocket.
Her heart skipped.
Then...
He reached past her and took the grocery bags instead.
"Oh."
She blinked.
"Thanks."
With her hands finally free, she fished out the keys and unlocked the door.
She walked inside, setting her matcha on the counter.
He followed, placing the grocery bags on the kitchen floor before turning to leave.
Then his eyes landed on the bright green drink.
"I think there's something wrong with your coffee."
She burst into giggles.
"It's matcha, silly."
He nodded once.
"Oh."
His face, however, was saying,
I have absolutely no idea what language you just spoke.
She laughed even harder.
"Yep."
She pointed at him.
"Dino."
He made that familiar growl-huff combination before turning toward the door.
"Wait."
He paused.
"Please."
She bit her lip.
"...Sorry."
He growled.
Then she smiled.
"C-Can you help me?"
He froze.
"With?"
She suddenly looked shy.
"I have a few more things in the car and..."
She hesitated.
"Never mind."
She gestured toward him.
"You're busy being..."
Her hands waved around vaguely.
"You."
"This."
He turned toward the apartment door.
She sighed dramatically.
"Typical."
Then he growled again.
"You coming?"
She blinked.
"Huh?"
"I need your car keys."
Her eyes grew wide.
"Wait... what? You'll help?"
He stared at her.
"Okay, don't make it a thing."
The walk to the car was anything but quiet.
She talked his ear off.
About the things she'd seen in the shops.
The clouds that looked like fluffy marshmallows.
The little bug someone had almost stepped on.
The lady who'd accidentally bought cat food instead of dog food.
With every passing sentence, his expression grew more and more irritable.
Finally, they reached her car.
It was old.
Rusty in places.
The paint had seen better days.
Something in his chest did... something.
He couldn't quite put a name to it.
She unlocked the driver's door.
The moment she opened it...
A potted plant attacked her.
She stumbled backward.
"Oh!"
Instead of reacting like any normal person, she caught the pot before it hit the ground.
"Oh my goodness."
She gently steadied it.
"I'm so sorry."
She stroked one of its leaves.
"I nearly dropped you."
Setting it carefully on the ground, she turned toward him with her hands planted firmly on her hips.
Full, perfect hips.
He blinked.
Shook his head.
And waited.
"Before I give you my babies..."
She pointed at him.
"I need to know two things."
One of his eyebrows twitched.
"Hmm?"
"First..."
She pointed again.
"Your name."
He answered almost reluctantly.
"Jack."
A pause.
"Jack Abbott."
She smiled brightly.
"Well, nice to meet you, Dino."
She giggled.
"And second..."
She nodded toward the plants.
"Will you take care of my babies while you carry them?"
He frowned.
"The plants?"
She huffed.
"Forget it."
"I'll do it myself."
She picked up two small pots and proudly marched toward the apartment.
His eyes immediately drifted to her swaying hips.
Again.
He sighed.
"You're going to carry all ten plants yourself?"
She looked genuinely offended.
"Ten?"
She gasped.
"There's thirty-two."
"And yes."
"They were on special."
"They needed me."
A dry, humorless laugh escaped him as he peered into the car.
"No wonder they were on special."
He reached toward a wilted fern.
"Half of them are dying."
She gasped.
Her eyes instantly filled with tears.
Something twisted uncomfortably in his gut.
When she spoke, her voice was so small.
So hopeful.
"They're just a little sick."
She smiled softly at the plants.
"I'll help them."
"They'll be okay."
Without another word, he reached into the car and picked up several pots.
He didn't make another comment.
What could he possibly say?
She talked to plants.
She apologized to them.
She believed they deserved another chance.
She was...
Different.
So soft.
Far too kind.
Time seemed to disappear as they carried plant after plant into her apartment.
By the end of it, all he could see was that short, strange, far-too-kind-for-the-world woman standing in the middle of a little jungle.
She spun around, arms stretched wide.
Plants everywhere.
A grin lit up her face.
"Perfect!"
Her voice came out high-pitched with excitement.
He simply watched her.
Then, without warning...
She sprinted toward him.
Before he had a chance to react, she threw her arms around him.
"Thank you."
For a second, he completely froze.
Is she... hugging me?
Why?
It's been a while.
Slowly, almost cautiously, his arms wrapped around her.
She melted against him.
A quiet, relieved sigh escaped her lips.
Something inside his chest tightened.
Looking down, he noticed her cheek squished against his shirt.
Her big, beautiful eyes were closed.
She looked...
Peaceful.
Without thinking, his fingers gently brushed over her hair.
A few seconds passed before she seemed to realise she was still hugging him.
"Oh!"
She stepped back so quickly she nearly tripped over one of her plants.
Her cheeks turned bright pink.
"Uhm..."
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her own ear, suddenly finding the floor very interesting.
"Sorry."
He couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"It's okay."
The words came out softer than he'd intended.
She looked up.
Their eyes met.
For just a moment...
Neither of them moved.
Almost without thinking, Jack reached up and gently brushed another loose strand of hair away from her face.
His fingers lingered against her cheek for the briefest second.
She smiled.
Then her hand lifted, instinctively covering his.
Her fingers brushed against something cold.
Metal.
Her smile vanished.
Her eyes slowly dropped to his left hand.
The wedding band.
The colour drained from her face.
"...You're married?"
The words came out barely above a whisper.
Jack's heart sank.
"No..."
He swallowed.
"I mean... yes."
He rubbed a hand over his face.
"It's not what you think."
She quickly stepped back.
A smile appeared on her face.
Too quick.
Too fake.
"Thanks, Jack."
Her voice was suddenly overly cheerful.
"I'll... I'll come right now."
He frowned.
Confused.
"...Okay."
He nodded once.
"I'll see you around."
Turning, he quietly let himself out of her apartment.
The moment the door clicked shut...
Her smile disappeared.
@jackles010378
