Seed struggled up the last flight of stairs to his apartment building, The day had been a whirlwind of bullshit that had now completely tired him out.
That wild alley fight with the gargoyle and Cassie's lightning show in the morning, then the park ambush with her and that shady Pedro guy in the evening, capping it off with his forced "Recruitment" to the Monster Management Association. MMA? What a joke. Agents wiping memories and hunting monsters like it was a 9-to-5 gig.
His skull tattoo itched under his sleeve, the overuse of death energy wearing him down. All he wanted now was a beer, a shower, and eight hours of dreamless sleep.
He paused at his door, rubbing his face with both hands. His eyes drifted to Rebecca's apartment across the hall, the yellow police tape gone, it must've been pulled away. That meant she was out of the hospital, back to her quiet life of painting and takeout. Good for her. He'd saved her ass from that ghost hair nightmare—HIS hair nightmare now, thanks to the Crazy Female Ghost...and the thought brought a tired half-smile. At least one win for him in this mess.
Fumbling for his keys, Seed twisted the lock and pushed his door open. A soft shuffle of footsteps came from behind him, and he turned, there was Rebecca, climbing the last few stairs with a plastic shopping bag swinging from her hand. She froze mid-step, her dark eyes widening in surprise that quickly melted into something warmer with a smile appearing on her face.
Rebecca was the kind of beautiful that snuck up on you—not the polished magazine or Instagram type, but real, natural and effortless, like she'd stepped out of one of a painting. She was in her Mid-twenties, with faint freckles across her nose, and those long black waves of hair falling down her back.
She had full lips that curved into a shy smile now, revealing a dimple on one cheek, she was in a simple white crop top that hugged her curves ,she probably does yoga or whatever artists do to stay flexible....and high-waisted denim shorts that showed off legs tanned from the midday sun. The bag in her hand crinkled, peeking out a pack of beer and a container of chicken wings from the super mart down the block.
"uhh...S–Seed?" she said, her voice soft and with genuine relief, a blush creeping up her neck to tint her cheeks pink. She shifted the bag to her other hand, clutching it like a shield. "I... I just got back from the hospital this afternoon. The doctors said I was lucky—choking hazard, they called it, but I know better. You saved me. From... whatever that was." Her gaze dropped to the floor, then flicked back up, shy but direct. "Thank you. Really. I—I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't broken in."
Seed blinked, caught off guard. In the seven years he'd lived here, Rebecca had been a ghost tenant herself, just waves in the hall, the occasional muffled music from her place. She'd moved in a year ago, always buried in her canvases and takeout, and he'd never pushed for more than a nod. Now, here she was, looking at him like he was some kind of hero, her blush making her seem even more alive after that near-death experience.
"Hey, no big deal," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, his long hair itching under his collar. "Glad you're okay."
She hesitated, biting her lip, then held up the bag with a smile. "I was heading home with this, figured I'd celebrate being alive with some wings and a beer. It's nothing fancy, but... want to share? As a t–thank-you? I mean, if you're not busy or anything." Her eyes sparkled with hope that seed would accept her offer. Her blush deepening as she wait.
Seed glanced at his open door, the mess of his apartment waiting inside, takeout boxes, Lila's photo on the coffee table, the faint scorched mark from the Crazy Female Ghost still lingering on the floor. He was beat, bone-tired from the day's chaos, but turning her down felt rude, like kicking a stray dog. Plus, free beer? "Uh, sure," he said, stepping aside with a shrug. "Why not? Come on in. It's not exactly a palace, but the couch is comfy."
Rebecca's face lit up, that dimple flashing as she stepped past him into the apartment. Seed closed the door behind her, catching himself staring a beat too long at the sway of her ass in those shorts. The way the shorts hugged her ass, the crop top riding up just enough to show her smooth skin at her waist.
Damn. It had been... what?, years since he'd even noticed a woman like that?. Since Lila vanished, romance had been the last thing on his mind. Women? Dates? He thought That ship had sailed a long time ago. He shook his head, forcing his eyes up to her hair as she set the bag on the coffee table, oblivious to his wandering gaze.