“Oh don’t be on that way,” he said. “I’m just winding you up. Takin’ the piss, is all.”

She barely heard him as she jiggled her door knob. Antonia was met with resistance when she pushed at her door. “Shit.”

“You need a key, darlin’,” he joked, sounding just like her character, Bryon. The eeriness of his phrasing wasn’t lost on her as she tried to turn the knob.

“I left it on my window sill,” Antonia said, closing her eyes. She thought nothing of it when she was talking to her sister on the phone. “Jesus, I’m locked out.”

Aiden stepped back to survey the small house. “I bet you’ve got an open window somewhere.”

Antonia thought for a moment before clapping her hands in excitement. “My bedroom!” she cried. “I shut it last night when it got cold, but I don’t think I locked it.”

He gave her an appraising nod. “Then you’ve got a break-in to conduct.”

“I guess so,” she said with a grin.

“There’s that smile,” he said softly. “I was wondering when I’d see it again.”

Her grin fell away as quick as it appeared. “I’ll lead you to the back,” she said, turning on her heel.

They walked around their connected homes to the grassy area of the backyard, where her bedroom window was located. She prayed that she was correct as she laid her hands on the thin-paned glass. When it slipped open at her tentative push, she beamed at Aiden, who stood off to the side. “Bingo,” she said.

“Do you want me to pop in?” he offered.

“I got this,” she said with a confident scoff. Antonia hoisted her body up against the opening and awkwardly stuck her head inside. Sure enough, she could still hear the washing machine rinsing her clothes. “Although...”

“Hold yourself there,” she heard his voice behind her. “I’ll give you a nudge.” His hands were on either side of her hips, steadying her balance.

“Hey,” she said in a wary tone. “Don’t try anything fresh.”

“I’m only helping.”

With his support, she wedged one knee against the window sill and angled herself halfway in. Aiden held on to her free leg and eased her through. When both feet were on the floor, she gave him a thumbs-up. “I’ll let you in on the other side.”

Minutes later, Antonia met him at the front door. “It’s still running,” she said wearily.

He moved past her and went straight to her kitchen. Aiden squatted down before the machine and examined the settings.

“What do you think is wrong with it?” she asked, hoping that she wasn’t an idiot.

“It appears you set the machine to intensive wash. That adds quite a bit more time,” he said, squinting up at her. “What were you trying to clean?”

“Some muddy clothes,” she said. “I fell on my hike today.”

“Aww, where’d you go hiking? I could have gone with you.”

Antonia gestured to the machine. “The problem at hand, Aiden.”