The Distance Between Us: A Hidden-Identity Romance (Cruz Into Love Book 1) by Anne Trowbridge

Author:Anne Trowbridge [Trowbridge, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Elevator Encounter

I got all the way into the basement before I realized my detergent bottle was basically empty. What little was left wasn’t close to enough to wash the mountain of clothes I’d just gotten done wrestling down the hallway, into the elevator, and finally the laundry room.

I debated what to do. I could take it as a sign from the laundry gods that they weren’t pleased with me and just haul the pile back to my apartment for another day. Or I could roll with it and leave my basket there for a few minutes while I ran across the street to the small convenience store, which always carried all sorts of last-minute essentials. I had slung on a crossbody purse in order to pay for the coin-operated washing machines, so I could easily purchase detergent.

With a sigh and a roll of my eyes, I shoved my basket into a corner and headed for the elevator. Yes, I was only going up one floor to the lobby, but the stairwells were dark and kind of freaky, so I tended to avoid them.

The store did indeed have detergent—Thank you laundry gods, I’m sorry I doubted you!—and it was while I was standing at the corner waiting for the light to change that I saw him. It was Soulful Guy! Well, at least that’s who it looked like from a distance. The guy I saw had a pizza in one hand and was opening the door that leads to the apartment building’s lobby with the other.

“Wait!” I yelled, but he walked through without stopping.

Luck was with me, though, as the light changed right as the door closed behind him. I jogged across the street, detergent in hand like I was rushing toward a five-alarm laundry emergency. I tried to pick up the pace even more when I reached the other side and started down the sidewalk, praying the elevator hadn’t magically gotten faster in the past ten or so minutes. I hoped I could catch him. And, well...I hoped it was really him. The short, dark hair looked right. So did his tall, muscular build. But since my glance had been so fleeting, I just wasn’t sure.

Right as I clattered into the lobby, I saw him again, walking into the elevator at the far end.

I should have yelled to see if he’d hold the doors. But all I could think to say was, “Hey!” as I raced toward him, skidding to a breathy halt as they started to close.

Once again, lightning struck the moment our eyes met. I watched as recognition lit up his dark brown eyes, and I heard myself gasp as a current of awareness coursed through me. What I should have done was try to elbow my way into the closing doors, but I was frozen and dumbstruck by the feelings he could stir up in me in a mere glance. This sounds crazy, but he must have been feeling the same way, because his mouth opened as though he were about to say something but, like me, was too lost in our stare to find the words.

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