New Neighbors by Gregory Rossi

He stood on the street next to the MuniBike rack and looked up at me.

I was three weeks new in the building and had climbed out onto my second floor fire escape to smoke a cigarette.

My daughters were with me that night, already asleep.

The guy on the street raised a cigar to his mouth and switched his gaze from me to the floor above mine and over one unit to 3B. I had met 3B the day I moved in, and already had her over for a drink.

The guy lowered the cigar and switched his eyes directly back to me. Yep, he was 3B’s boyfriend.

Ten minutes later I was inside filling the kitchen sink with water.