Breaking the Ice

Amber bursts through the door of her apartment lobby, soaked from the pouring rain. She rounds the corner towards her room, startled to see water gushing from under 203B.

“Mrs. Martin?” Amber called, knocking on the door with increasing urgency.

Splashing, followed by a disembodied voice, deeper than expected, “It’s open!”

Water burst through the door, knocking her to the ground.

She grabbed the strong hand offered. A handsome stranger hoisted her. His amber eyes burned with an intensity that warmed her.

“I found the hole!” Mrs. Martin called.

“Hole?”

“You haven’t seen the worst of it.” He chuckled. His grasp firm, whisked her through the flooded apartment.

Mrs. Martin gestured to her vanity, doors open, revealing the culprit. The stranger dove towards the pipe and stuffed it with his tie.

The water stopped.

“What’s your name, stranger?” Amber called. Gleaming triumphantly, he stood, tie still attached to his neck. It yanked out of the pipe, the pressure blast sent him reeling into the fish tank on the opposite wall, toppling it.

Amber catapulted to the ground, capturing the fish in her hands. It wriggled, head poking through her fingers. The man cupped her hands. “I got it,” he whispered, warm breath welcome on the icy floor.

“Thank you…” she paused, holding the last syllable.

“Logan,” he responded.

“Maintenance!” a voice called from the hallway.

Mrs. Martin guided maintenance to the bathroom. He surveyed the scene and entered confidently, signaling the others to leave.

Amber fumbled for her phone and fired off a quick text to her blind date, “I am so sorry! Crazy day, I’ll see you soon!”

She turned to thank the stranger when a familiar blue glow lit up. He paused for a moment, flashing a cheeky grin he spoke, “It’s okay. I think he’ll understand.”