Over the Hedge(witch) 7k Sterek
Derek moves into a new house with Laura and he is flustered by the hot gardener next door who is always just slightly dirty.
Excerpt:
“Derek, build your bed frame. You don’t want to sleep on the floor tonight. We’ve had enough crappy hotel beds to last for a lifetime.”
“I can sleep with the mattress on the floor for one night,” Derek countered. “I need to get this edit done or my editor is going to get on a plane and fly to California and re-enact Misery until I get it finished. And those are her words, not mine.”
Laura couldn’t help but laugh. “I love Erica. She is my favorite.”
“I just need to get my office stuff set up so I can work. I promise I won’t sleep on the floor for more than a night or two.”
Laura pointed a finger at him, “One night. You get one night.”
Derek held up his hands in defeat, “Alright, alright. I promise to build my bed frame tomorrow. Can I please focus on this desk now?”
“Fine,” she turned and walked downstairs.
Derek hummed quietly to himself while he assembled his furniture and unpacked his writing supplies. It only took him an hour or so before the office felt comfortable.
He sighed and smiled faintly as he settled into the new desk chair. It was a lot more comfortable than the old one he’d used in their apartment in New York. Laura had insisted he splurge on something top of the line, and he couldn’t say he regretted it.
He breathed out slowly as he turned on his computer. He hadn’t written anything in three days because of the cross-country move, and his editor, Erica, had been both understanding and also threatening. Of course it was understandable that he was moving. But also, she expected him to finish this on time, and he had already pushed the deadline back once, so she would be deeply displeased if they needed to push it back again.
He opened up the current version of his edits and skimmed through the notes for himself. It felt a little like pulling on a comfortable jacket you haven’t worn in a long time.
He placed his fingers on the keys and then was suddenly distracted by a sound outside.
He listened for a moment, but it was evidently just one of his neighbors working in their yard.
He focused back on the screen and typed a few sentences before he heard another sound outside.
He got up from his chair and moved to the window. In the yard next to his, a man moved around a large flowering tree. He was slightly obscured by the flowers and budding leaves, but Derek could see brown hair and moles dotting his neck and jaw, and he was wearing a flannel shirt open over a t-shirt.
He looked completely normal, but for some reason, Derek couldn’t tear his eyes off him. He watched as the man gardened for several minutes before he realized what he was doing. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and then pulled the curtains closed before turning back to his desk and focusing on his writing.
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