My Neighbor Kept Parking in Front of My Garage – One Day, I Taught Him a Lesson He Won’t Forget #3

…grinned sheepishly. “Fair. But if I’m honest, I’ve been using the garage thing as an excuse. Not just because the street is full or my dad needs the driveway. I think I wanted a reason to talk to you. Even if it was a terrible one.”

I blinked. “What?”

Richard shifted awkwardly. “I’ve had a thing for you since high school. But you were a senior, and I was just the kid next door. I thought maybe if I annoyed you into conversation… I don’t know, maybe you’d see me.”

I stared at him, stunned into silence. This man-child in a band t-shirt and pajama pants had just flipped my world upside down.

“Are you saying you blocked my garage on purpose?” I finally managed.

“Not at first,” he said quickly. “At first it was genuine. Then… I noticed you always came over, even if you were mad. I started to look forward to it.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” I said.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

I took a deep breath. “And the raccoons?”

“I definitely deserved them,” he replied, holding up the gloves again. “Truce?”

I hesitated, then took them. “Truce.”

We spent the next hour cleaning up his car. It was ridiculous, messy, and strangely fun. At one point, I laughed so hard I nearly dropped the sponge when the raccoon returned and sat at the edge of the driveway, watching us with judgmental eyes.

When we finished, we stood side by side, both soaked and covered in suds.

“You know,” Richard said, “next time I want to ask you out, maybe I’ll just bring flowers.”

I looked at him, surprised again.

“And not block your garage,” he added quickly.

“Smart move,” I said, smiling despite myself. “Very smart move.”

Sometimes, it turns out, people do learn—eventually. Even if it takes a raccoon.