Chapter 7

Sienna gritted her teeth, adjusting her grip on the ridiculously heavy couch as she and Mia struggled to maneuver it into the apartment complex. The Indiana heat pressed against them, making the task even more unbearable.

“Why the hell is this couch so damn heavy?” Mia huffed, pausing to wipe sweat from her forehead. “Did you buy a couch or a boulder?”

Sienna rolled her eyes, her arms burning from exertion. “Oh, I don’t know, Mia. Maybe it’s made of solid gold, and I just forgot to tell you,” she quipped sarcastically, exhaling sharply as she adjusted her hold. “Just shut up and lift.”

Mia groaned, reluctantly grabbing her end again. “Remind me why I agreed to this? Oh yeah, because I’m a great best friend,” she muttered under her breath, earning a side-eye from Sienna.

After several minutes of grunting, adjusting, and near finger-smashing incidents, they finally reached the lobby. The blessed sight of the elevator doors greeted them like an oasis in the desert.

“Almost there,” Sienna encouraged, breathing heavily.

Just as they were about to push the couch inside, Mia’s phone buzzed loudly in her pocket. She groaned dramatically.

“Ugh, hold on, let me take this. It’s my mom—could be important,” Mia said, stepping back and pulling her phone out.

Sienna scowled. “Seriously? Right now?”

But Mia was already walking away, phone pressed to her ear, leaving Sienna to fend for herself.

With a sigh, Sienna leaned her weight against the couch and started pushing it forward on her own, muscles screaming in protest. She was too focused on not crushing her foot to notice someone approaching from behind.

“Hey, need help with that? Looks like you’re struggling.”

Sienna’s breath hitched. That voice.

She turned around, her heart pounding, and her eyes widened at the sight before her. Standing there, casually leaning against the wall in an Indiana Fever t-shirt and sweatpants, was none other than Caitlin Clark.

“Caitlin?” Sienna gasped, momentarily forgetting about the heavy couch behind her.

Caitlin, just as surprised, smirked at the sight of her. “Sienna,” she said smoothly, arms crossing over her chest. There was a teasing glint in her hazel eyes, and something warm curled in her stomach at the unexpected reunion.

Sienna snapped out of her daze and narrowed her eyes. “Are you seriously stalking me right now? I swear to God, I will call the cops,” she stammered, feeling heat rush to her face.

Caitlin’s expression shifted from amused to stunned. She lifted her hands in surrender, eyes wide. “Whoa, whoa, whoa—easy there, Sunshine. I’m not stalking you,” she protested. “I live here. I had no idea you were moving in. I thought you were just some random woman struggling with a couch.”

Sienna crossed her arms, giving her a skeptical look. “Oh, sure you did,” she muttered.

Caitlin let out an exasperated laugh. “I swear to the heavens above, I’m not a stalker. I’m a decent person,” she said, emphasizing the last part.

Despite herself, Sienna giggled at Caitlin’s flustered expression. She was cute when she rambled.

Caitlin groaned, rubbing her temples. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“A little,” Sienna admitted, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Caitlin sighed dramatically,before tilting her chin toward the couch. “So… which floor, Sunshine? I could help you with the couch, if you want.” she asked, rubbing the back of her neck.

Sienna hesitated, but the genuine offer in Caitlin’s voice made her relent. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

With ease that made Sienna slightly jealous, Caitlin lifted her side of the couch as if it weighed nothing. They maneuvered it into the elevator, Caitlin waiting for Sienna to tell her which floor to press,  and Sienna muttered, “Four, please.” Caitlin hit the button for the fourth floor smirking.

“Floor four, huh?” Caitlin mused, a hint of amusement in her voice.

“Yes, why?” Sienna narrowed her eyes.

Caitlin smirked, biting back a grin. “Just interesting, that’s all.”

The elevator ride was quiet but not uncomfortable. At least, not for Caitlin. Sienna, on the other hand, was internally spiraling. She was standing in an enclosed space with Caitlin Clark—a woman she had been trying not to think about since their last encounter. Her mind ran in circles. Did Caitlin work out every day? Because the way her arms flexed as she held the couch was unfair, plus she looked hot in her casual outfit. What kind of rom-com nonsense was this?

Caitlin, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, humming softly as they rode up.

When the elevator doors opened, they carefully maneuvered the couch toward Sienna’s new apartment: C4.

Caitlin stopped in her tracks, looking at the door beside it.

She pointed. “That’s mine.” She said casually, as if it was just a normal thing to say.

Sienna’s eyes widened. “You live next door to me?”

Caitlin shot her a cheeky grin. “Looks like it. Lucky you, huh?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Sienna muttered.

“Nope.” Caitlin looked way too pleased with herself. “Welcome to the neighborhood, Sunshine.”

Sienna groaned internally. This was going to be interesting.

They carried the couch inside, setting it down in the living room. Sienna turned to Caitlin, her gaze meeting those captivating hazel eyes.

Clearing her throat, Caitlin rubbed the back of her neck. “So… I guess I should get going. If you need anything else, I’m just next door.”

Sienna’s eyes widened slightly, her heart skipping a beat at the reminder. She folded her arms and exhaled a shaky breath before giving Caitlin a tight-lipped smile. “Thank you for helping me carry my couch. And I’ll consider your offer.” She paused, then added, “Thanks again, Clark.”

Caitlin’s lips twitched upward. “Well then, I’ll see you around, neighbor.”

With a wink that sent heat rushing to Sienna’s cheeks, Caitlin turned and left, closing the door behind her.

The moment she was alone, Sienna groaned, flopping onto her couch. “What the hell just happened?” she thought aloud. Oh, I cannot wait to tell Mia and Camden about this.

Later That Night…

By the time Camden arrived after football practice, Mia was already sprawled on the couch, sipping a glass of wine.

Sienna poured herself another glass, shaking her head. “Okay, you guys. You will not believe what happened today.”

Camden flopped into a chair. “Did you break another coffee maker?”

Sienna rolled her eyes. “No, dumbass. I found out Caitlin Clark lives next door.”

Mia nearly choked on her wine. “What?!”

Camden’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re kidding.”

Sienna shook her head, smirking. “Nope. She helped me move my couch and everything.”

Mia set down her glass. “Wait—wait—hold on. You mean to tell me that Caitlin Clark, the same woman you interviewed for your article , lives next door?”

“Yup.” Sienna replied, popping the “p”

Mia cackled. “Oh, this is gold.”

Camden crossed his arms. “And how do you feel about this, Sienna?”

Sienna exhaled dramatically, swirling her wine. “Oh, you know. Just another day in my totally normal, non-chaotic life.”

Mia grinned. “Oh, this is gonna be so fun.”

Sienna sighed, taking a long sip of wine. Yeah. That’s what I’m afraid of.

Authors Note :

Hello my brilliant darlings…. another update with this one for you my lovely’s…. Anyways how are you all… hope you’re well….I have been listening to Fletcher’s bitter and Becky’s so hot on repeat idk why honestly… I also just finished TSLOCG and the ending was so emotional I really need season 4 rn and I just love Camden and Mia so much …. anyways that’s all I have to say…. I love you all.

XoXo V 💜💜💜