Chapter 36 Thirty Six
The shrill scream of the fire alarm tore Antonia out of sleep the next morning.
She shot upright in bed, heart hammering wildly as the sound drilled into her skull. For a split second, she didn’t know where she was, only that something was terribly wrong. The unfamiliar ceiling, the pale curtains, the faint smell of smoke snapping her awake fully.
“Fire?” she gasped, throwing the covers off.
She scrambled out of bed and rushed into the hallway, following the sound and the growing scent of something burnt. By the time she reached the kitchen, she skidded to a halt.
Lucy stood in the middle of the kitchen, hair a wild mess, eyes watering, holding a pan that was aggressively smoking its contents beyond saving.
“Oh thank God,” Lucy said when she saw her. “You’re awake.”
Antonia stared at the scene: blackened eggs clinging to the pan, smoke curling toward the ceiling, the alarm blaring like the apartment was under attack.
“What… happened?” Antonia asked weakly.
Lucy waved the pan helplessly. “Breakfast happened. Or rather, breakfast died a tragic death.”
Antonia burst out laughing despite herself. “Lucy! You’re going to get us evicted on my first day here.”
Lucy laughed too, coughing as she hurried to turn off the stove. “In my defense, the eggs betrayed me. I turned my back for one minute.”
Antonia reached up and yanked the chair closer, standing on it to silence the alarm. The sudden quiet felt almost shocking.
They both stood there for a moment, staring at the ruined pan.
“Well,” Antonia said, hands on her hips, “on the bright side, the smoke alarm works.”
Lucy groaned. “I was trying to be a good host.”
“You tried,” Antonia teased. “That counts.”
Lucy dropped the pan into the sink. “I’ll clean this up before the entire building smells like a crime scene. Can you get the door? Someone might be about to complain.”
As if summoned by her words, a knock sounded firm but polite.
Antonia nodded. “Sure.”
She walked to the door, smoothing her oversized sleep shirt without thinking. Her hair was still slightly disheveled, her face bare, eyes sleepy. She didn’t care. Whoever it was would get an apology and maybe a laugh.
She opened the door.
And froze.
A man stood there, tall, broad-shouldered, effortlessly handsome in a way that made her momentarily forget how to breathe. Dark hair fell neatly across his forehead, his jaw sharp, his eyes warm and curious. He held a tray in his hands, the smell drifting from it instantly undoing whatever appetite the burnt eggs had destroyed.
For a heartbeat, neither of them spoke.
He looked just as surprised to see her.
“Hi,” he said finally, his voice low, almost amused.
“Hi,” Antonia replied, far too softly.
His gaze flicked briefly behind her, likely catching the faint haze of smoke still lingering in the apartment. A corner of his mouth lifted.
“Rough morning?” he asked.
“You could say that,” she managed.
“I’m Austin,” he said, lifting the tray slightly. “Your neighbor. I noticed the alarm, and the smoke, so I figured I’d check in.”
Antonia blinked. “That’s… really nice of you.”
He smiled, and it did something unsettling to her chest. “I brought breakfast. As a peace offering to the fire alarm.”
Before she could respond, Lucy appeared behind her, eyes lighting up instantly.
“Oh my God,” Lucy said. “Austin, my guardian angel.”
“Lucy,” he greeted easily.
Lucy grinned. “Antonia, this is Austin. He lives across the hall and refuses to let me starve. He’s an aspiring chef.”
Austin dipped his head modestly. “Aspiring.”
"Austin, meet my best friend, Antonia," Lucy continued, "She will be staying with me for a while."
He smiled at Antonia, "You're welcome to our neighborhood."
"Thank you." Antonia said stepping aside. “Please, come in.”
He entered, setting the tray carefully on the counter. Fresh toast, eggs cooked properly, sliced fruit, even coffee. Antonia stared at it like it was a miracle.
“You just saved our morning,” Lucy said sincerely.
“Happy to help always,” Austin replied, his gaze drifting back to Antonia, lingering just a second too long.
They sat together at the small dining table, laughter slowly replacing the earlier chaos. Conversation flowed easily. Austin talked about culinary school, about experimenting with recipes late into the night. Lucy chimed in, teasing him mercilessly.
Antonia listened more than she spoke, quietly amused, oddly comforted.
But she noticed it.
The way Austin kept looking at her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention. The way his eyes softened every time she smiled. The way his attention never really left her.
She shifted slightly in her seat, unsure why it made her heart beat a little faster.
This city was new. This life was new.
And yet, as she met Austin’s gaze across the table, Antonia had the strangest feeling that something had just begun.
She looked up again, and caught him staring. He smiled softly at her, and she couldn't help but smile back.