explore | Grilled Cheese

@ashe-green.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 12:39 PM

Could steal your heart with a single look.

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“Sparks memories,” Neil-Benedict said. “I used to live on a farm, when I was a kid. We had five dogs. Two Golden Retrievers, two German Shepherds, and a Chihuahua.” He chuckled. “The Chihuahua was a rescue, as you may have guessed. A pocket-sized tyrant with eyes to die for. Could steal your heart with a single look.”
Neil-Benedict rested his head against the wall and smiled, his striking blue eyes making Ben’s heart skip a beat.
Ben averted his gaze. “What was its name?”
“Toast.”
“Toast?”

@ashe-green.bsky.social Oct 10, 2026, 11:51 AM

Fluffy!

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Ben took a seat, letting his gaze wander across the waiting room. Shelves upon shelves of pet food and accessories surrounded him, in between which were motivational posters featuring animals. One showed four dogs carrying a giant stick with the caption: “Teamwork makes everything paw-ssible!” Another had a picture of cute fluffy puppies with their heads cocked that said: “Had a ruff day? Pet a puppy!”
If only it were that simple.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 12:34 PM

Ben steps into his annoying new neighbor's place for the first time—quietly. Sesame the rescue kitten is sleeping.

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He tiptoed in, eyes widening as Neil’s home unfolded before him. He’d expected bare walls, unpacked boxes, and the underwhelming décor of a recent move. Instead, he stepped into an open-plan apartment that looked as if someone had lived there for years.
Everything was dark—ebony hardwood, charcoal walls, black leather, midnight drapes. And yet, Ben found the place surprisingly soothing, especially with the low lighting from the imposing floor lamps. Several photos of boats and groups of people adorned the walls, and a large painting of a stormy sea hung in the living area. Ben recognized it from the local art gallery.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 1:00 PM

Ben loves his craft. 🍩

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Ben carefully peeled the last chocolate petal from the parchment paper. He set it down with the rest and stretched his back, taking in the hundreds of pieces waiting to be assembled. He smiled.
He’d always loved this part of his job. Once he settled into the rhythm, the rest of the world dissolved like cotton candy on the tongue. And soon, chocolate lilies and roses would be melting in happy customers’ mouths.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 1:29 PM

Ben will soon learn that he can't handle everything life throws at him on his own.

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Ben looked at Sesame, who was now awake and on a mission to explore the world on clumsy paws. He laid his arm across the table to stop her from falling off.
He’d been looking forward to going home with Sesame, but this rescue had made a big dent in his bank account—one Rose’s order would make up for entirely. With his full focus on the task, he could probably make quick work of it. And then he’d finally get to relax with the new member of his family. “I’ll see what I can—”

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 30, 2026, 1:53 PM

Uh oh. Ben is touch starved.

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“All right, but don’t hesitate to ask if you change your mind.” Neil rested his hand on Ben’s forearm.
Ben stilled, staring at the broad, calloused hand that wasn’t supposed to be there. Neil’s tan skin showed signs of hard physical labor, but his nails were neat and clean. A pulse of longing caught Ben off guard, stirring unwelcome thoughts of what those hands could do.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 29, 2026, 12:44 PM

Ben doesn't lack assurance when it comes to his craft. In fact, one could say it sometimes borders arrogance.

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“No.” Rose sighed. “See, there’s this couple celebrating their 30th anniversary tomorrow. Last time they were in town, they tried your doughnuts, and now they’re obsessed. They wanted to serve them during the reception, but you were on vacation and, well, they opted for Natalie’s cupcakes instead”—her voice lowered to a conspiratorial murmur—“but we both know how uninspired her creations are. Yours, on the other hand, are an absolute delight.”
Ben rolled his eyes at her blatant attempt at flattering his ego. He knew his doughnuts by far outranked Nathalie’s cupcakes; it needed no telling.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 12:16 PM

Ben returns from a three-week vacation to a monstrosity across the street from his gourmet doughnut shop.

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Ben slowed to a stop, the early morning sun warming his skin as he studied that thing that wasn’t there before he left for his vacation. Black brick, black window panes, black awning, and of course, black planters with artificial black bushes. What the hell was this?
He looked left and right in search of answers, but the street was deserted. His neighboring businesses were still closed at this hour, which meant he was left speculating. Nothing good ever came out of that.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 25, 2026, 11:35 AM

In Matchmaker Kitten, there's no meet-cute. There's only a meet-suspicious-squint-with-a-pinch-of-dread.

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“Bonjour, neighbor!” the man said cheerfully. He ran across the empty street, his curly black hair bouncing with each long stride.
His face wasn’t familiar, but Ben would recognize that accent anywhere—the singsong cadence, the sharp-edged consonants. He’d heard it every day for over two decades before moving all the way across Canada.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 19, 2026, 12:54 PM

How to shove two love interests who just met into the same car.

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Ethel was arranging her flower displays on the sidewalk, her puffy white hair framing her head like a lion’s mane. She beamed as he headed in her direction. “Ben! How was your vaca—”
“I found a kitten in the trash.”
Ethel gasped, her gaze dropping to the trembling ball of fur in his hand.
“Can I borrow your car to take it to the vet?” Ben asked. “I’ll pay for your gas.”
Ethel frowned. “Sorry, sweet pea, it’s at the repair shop.” She looked across the street. “Oh! Neb, great timing! Could you take Ben to the vet? He found a poor kitten in the trash—can you imagine?”

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 16, 2026, 4:26 PM

Is it even a Romance if no character obsesses over another character's eyes?

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The only speck of color in the man’s appearance was his bright yellow bow tie, and although Ben couldn’t tell why, the accessory annoyed him to no end. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that it was at his eye level, meaning Ben had to tilt his head back to look the man in the eye.
Ben’s breath caught at how strikingly blue those eyes were.
“I’m Neil-Benedict,” the man said, offering his hand, “but my friends call me Neb.”

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 12:07 PM

Some might say Ben's a little paranoid, but if he hadn't inspected every inch of his business after his vacation, a tiny abandoned kitten may not have survived. 💔

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The back alley greeted him with the familiar smell of fish entrails—the downside of being neighbors with a sushi restaurant. Jefferey cleaned his trashcans regularly, but some smells just lingered, for better or for worse. Thankfully, the other business flanking Ben’s was a florist.
At a glance, everything seemed in order. All their trashcans were intact, and the building’s exterior wall appeared to have suffered no damage. Ben was about to go back inside when he heard squeaks.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 12:00 PM

Ben comes back from a three-week vacation and has the displeasure not only to find out he now has an annoying new neighbor, but said neighbor is already friends with everyone in the community.

That new dude is suspiciously nice. Ben doesn't trust him.

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“You and Nebby-rum already hit it off,” Jefferey said, exhaling vanilla-latte-scented vapor.
Nebby-rum? They were already at the nickname stage? It had taken six months for Ben to get there.
He ignored his annoyance and focused on the positive. He now knew what Neil’s business was going to be: another bar. Their opposite business hours meant they likely wouldn’t see much of each other. It was probably for the best.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 13, 2026, 12:54 PM

First World problem: the new owner of the business across the street from Ben's all-white gourmet doughnut shop has painted the building all black.

Yes, I do intend to make grumpy Ben fall in love with that *criminal*.

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Ben’s smile fell as he caught sight of the black building across the street. His own business wasn’t just all-white for the heck of it—there was a reason behind his choice of aesthetic. It represented the purity of his ingredients; the elegant simplicity of his recipes; the promise of a divine experience. His creations were the only attraction; everything else faded into an all-white, barely discernible background.
No noise. No distraction.
He doubted Neil-Benedict had put this much thought into his own aesthetic.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 11, 2026, 1:13 PM

A longer excerpt today because this is a special moment between Ben and Sesame the rescue kitten, and it didn't feel right not to include her in it!

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“We’re going home,” Ben said, caressing Sesame with his thumb. “Your forever home.”
The sky was cloudless, and a plump moon shone among a sea of stars. Ben ignored the black building as he walked past it, instead looking up and smiling at the magnificent view.
Back in the city, the stars were barely visible through the haze of light pollution. Movies had taught Ben that some parts of the world offered breathtaking night skies, but this was beyond anything he’d imagined while growing up. He didn’t think he’d ever stop being amazed by the view.
He took a deep breath, inhaling the wonderful scent of a lilac tree in bloom and wishing he could enjoy the moment a little longer. But exhaustion soon caught up to him, making him feel as if he were trudging through a pond of molasses.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 10, 2026, 11:46 AM

The first of *many* favors Ben will be forced to accept from his annoying new neighbor.

What he wouldn't do for a fragile little kitten.

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The kitten let out a tiny squeak just as a shiny black SUV pulled up next to Ben. Neil-Benedict gave him a toothy grin from the driver’s seat and gestured for him to get in.
Ben suppressed a sigh. He had no desire to owe his new neighbor a favor, but he had no other choice.
For the kitten.

@ashe-green.bsky.social Sep 8, 2026, 12:14 PM

Ben just came back from a three-week vacation, and has had a very strange morning indeed.

But it ends with a new furry family member, so I call that good luck, personally 🐈‍⬛

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