The Neighbor (The Neighbor #1) (8 page)

“Hey Ryder are you home!” I shouted.

As I was walking around to the patio, Ryder called
from the front door, “Hey Jenna!” He opened the front door about a foot. “Hi. I
was going to call. I wanted to make sure you got home okay and everything but
I’ve been sick and couldn’t get the energy to call you the past couple of days.
You might not want to get any closer because I think it’s the flu. It couldn’t
have been the booze or the shrimp
cause
I continue to
feel worse. I hope you don’t get what I have,” Ryder said.

Ryder was wearing a robe and he looked like shit.

“Why don’t you let me take care of you? I feel fine
and I will make sure we don’t get close. That will be a challenge after last
night but I think I can make it.” I winked and smiled.

“Nope.
I just want to
be left
alone to suffer. I have some
classic Palmer tapes that I am going to watch. I’ll call you when I’m better.”
Ryder began to close the door.

“Arnold Palmer?
Now you are dating yourself. I thought he was dead,” I joked.

“That isn’t funny to a true fan of the game. The day
he dies should be a national day of mourning.
Later Jenna.
I have to go puke.” He started to close the door again.

“Ryder. Did you have a visitor today? I noticed a
strange car parked in your driveway.” I realized I was beginning to sound
desperate but I couldn’t help myself.

“You must be imagining things. I have been alone all
day.”

Ryder closed the door after his condescending
comment. I tried not to be offended but I was. He was sick. I was hoping he
would add a comment about how epic our date was.

I walked into my yard. If he were back on his couch,
he would have had a clear view as I hosed off. It was a hot day so I doused
myself with water. If I knew Ryder and I think I did in some respects, he would
enjoy watching me. When my body was soaked, I slicked back my hair. If he was
looking at me through the window, I hoped I looked hot

I spent the rest of the day packing and wondering
what Ryder was
up to
. Maybe he was a bad idea.

Chapter
Nine

I was disappointed when Ryder didn’t contact me
before I left for school. I packed most of my stuff in a trailer, which Sayler
was driving. She was going to follow me as I drove my Sol to Columbia, South Carolina.
Sayler would not be joining me at college. She planned to stay close to home
where she felt she
was needed
. Who knew what Juliet
Lindner would do in her absence?

I said goodbye to my Mother in the kitchen. Our
farewell was bittersweet. I was anxious to start living on my own but scared to
step into the unknown.

“This is it mom. Thank you so much for everything. I
know it has not been easy around here since dad died.”

“I have not been the best mom since he died. Maybe
this will be a fresh start for the both of us. I will have to learn how to use
the coffee maker and take care of that damn dog.”

“Yeah mom.
About that dog Potato. Who names their dog after a boring food product? I could
see if we lived in Idaho or something.”

She laughed through tears. I cried too. My mom was
quirky but I loved her.

I would fill the void left by Sayler with my very
close friend Max Burgess. The relationship between Max and I had been going
strong in one form or another since I was in kindergarten. We went from being
playmates, to hating one another, then friends, which eventually became friends
with benefits. We hated each other again for a couple of weeks until the
benefits kicked in again and now we were strictly friends.

Knowing that Max would be there if I became terribly
homesick was a comfort. I had to make it clear to him that there would be no
benefits. I was assuming he would be interested, which was not necessarily the
case. Ryder was in my mind.

“Hey Sayler.
Do they even have CB radios anymore? I can’t imagine the use for them with cell
phones and Twitter.” I was planning to talk to Sayler on the way upstate.

“I do not know. You will have to ask one of those
18-wheeler guys. Did you hear from the hot golfer?”

“No Sayler. It’s kind of strange. We seemed to have
a good thing going. We had good conversations and I even sucked him like a
Dyson. He could not have any complaints in that department. It is the last time
I give a blowjob on a first date.”

“Don’t sweat it Jenna. He is golfing at Magnolia and
you will be away at college. You live your life and allow him to live his. When
you see him again your tryst will be a distant memory.”

“I will chalk it up to experience. Now I have
experience with an older man although he didn’t act much different than boys my
own age,” I said.

“What about Max Jenna?”

“What about Max. We have a history but it has
evolved into a plutonic friendship. I can tell him anything. He is like a big
brother to me.”

“I would test the waters with him again before you
reveal that you blew the golfer,” Sayler warned me.

“I’m not going to do anything with Max again. You
are staying the night with me right Sayler?”

“Absolutely.
I say we order a pizza. Isn’t that what college kids do?”

“Not sure. We have been eating pizza in your bedroom
for years. I will call Max when we get to campus. He can join us and tell us
where to get the best pie. Never mind, pie reminds me of Ryder.”

“Get him off of your mind Jenna. Distant memory like
I said.”

“I will see you in Columbia. I am going to
disconnect. I feel like
rockin
’ out.”

I sped off as I listened to an Iggy Azalea tune. It
was another part of the mix made by my nephew – my mixologist. I was driving in
the fast lane. I hummed the tune and I knew it would be in my head for the rest
of the day. I was feeling the freedom of being away from home and I had not yet
driven 30 miles.

It had always been my plan to attend college.
Neither of my parents were college educated. They did all right up until the
point my father got ill so they had earmarked money for school. My own summer
savings plus financial aid made it possible. I was undeclared as far as a major
went. Like many young women, I thought I was going to be a music star as I
produced my own music videos on You Tube. I spent a great deal of time singing
into my hairbrush.

“Shit,” I said as I noticed the flashing lights
behind me. I was driving 75 mph in a 65 mph zone up US-26 without a care in the
world. Apparently, the state trooper was paying attention while I was not.

I pulled over my Sol. It was a male officer. I was
young, innocent, and generally attractive. Maybe not so much innocent but it’s
not
like
the trooper knew I gave guys blowjobs on the
first date. I decided to act as women did in the movies. I attempted to use my
feminine wiles. I quickly released my ponytail and unfastened my top button.

“License and registration.”
So far, it was just as on television. I flashed a bashful grin.

“I am so embarrassed. This is my first traffic
violation. You will have to excuse me if I seem nervous. I am off to college
and this a big day for me.” I hoped he would take pity on me. The man smelled
like stale coffee and he had yellow teeth.

“Are you aware of why I pulled you over mam?” The
man showed no hint of a smile. He had probably pulled over hundreds of
prospective students already. For all I knew he was not interested in women. He
returned to his vehicle to check my information.

He returned to my car. I was sweating. My nerves
were getting to me. I was living on a very carefully balanced budget. If the
scales tipped, I
would be screwed
.

“I am going to write you a ticket Ms. Walsh. You are
young and it is a good time for you to learn a lesson. Speeding is unacceptable
and dangerous to both you and others who share the road. I suggest you pay the
fine and try not to take this to court. I am not like others in that I show up
for all of my court dates.”

“Okay. Bye officer.” I drove away having not said
thank you
or
have a nice day
. I was pissed and he was an asshole with shitty
breath. It made me think of Ryder’s sweet breath. I couldn’t help it. All roads
led back to Ryder. I had to stop thinking of him. I called Sayler.

“Where are you?” I asked.

“I just passed you while you were speaking with the
officer.”

“Thanks for stopping and helping me out.”

“Seriously Jenna.
What was I going to do? You were probably turning on the charm. They hate that
because it’s so overdone. You actually piss them off when you try that shit.
Statistics show that female drivers have a better chance of getting off with
women officers. It is a sisterhood kind of thing,” Sayler said.

“All I know is that you are paying for the pizza
tonight. My ticket is for $180. I thought they were more like $50.”

“I guess you learned your lesson.” She laughed.

“Shut up! That’s what the cop said. Why does everyone
think I have a lesson to learn? I’m hanging up now.”

Wanting to hear a refreshing voice, I called ahead
to Max.

“Hey Max. It’s
me
and I’m
heading your way. Take a load of stuff up to my room and Sayler will buy us a
pizza.”

“Sounds like a plan. Guess what?”

“Do I want to know?”

“I am taking freshman sex
ed
…
with you.”

“You’re what? Is it that good that you retaking it?
Do they think we need it at this age? They should have given us the class when
we hit puberty.”

“I skipped it last year,” Max said.

“Let me guess, you thought you were exempt due to
previous experience?” I laughed.

“Something
like
that. But I
actually didn’t realize it was a requirement. It will be an easy A which my GPA
can use.”

“It will be fun attending with a friend I guess. In
case you were wondering, I will not be available to be your test subject.
Anything you get in class, we have probably covered.”

He chuckled. “
Ain’t
that
the
truth.
I will see you when you get here. I’ll
bring some beer.”

Max disconnected and I threw my phone in the
passenger’s seat.

****

After arriving at my dormitory, it was time to get
to eating and gossip. Sayler bought the pizza at my assistance. We ordered it
with just about everything except for green peppers, which I detested.

“Two of my best friends in one
room.
Pizza is a nice addition,” I commented.

“Beer?”
Max asked.

“No thanks. I went over my limit a few days ago and
I felt like shit the following day,” I said.

“Did you have a Ryder hangover or a wine hangover?”
Sayler winked.

“Nice of you to bring him up.
I have spent all day trying to forget the man but thoughts of him keep haunting
me. I thought we agreed to keep this between us.”

Sayler ignored me and Max’s interest was piqued.

“Bad date Jenna?” Max asked.

“No, actually.
I would rather not talk about it. I’m at school now and he is
back
home. He had potential but it was poor timing and he
was older – at a different place in his life.”

“That is not the truth Max. Mystery Ryder faded to
black. I believe Jenna would have been open to continuing the friendship.”
Sayler felt compelled to clue Max in on the situation.

“Come on. You can tell me more Jenna.”

“Hmm…well he loves golf, which is how I met him. He
happened to move in next-door to my mom. I know he is 33. He’s hip and
everything that entails. He has his finger on the pulse of what’s going on.”

“That’s all you can say about him Jenna?” Sayler
couldn’t leave the subject alone.

I returned to eating my pizza slice. Max and I
were done
being sexually involved, but it still felt weird
talking about other guys with him.

“I will tell him. She - in her own words – sucked
him like a Dyson. You must remember what that is like where Jenna is
concerned.” Sayler had one beer too many. I wanted to throw her out for
revealing secrets that Max didn’t need to know.

“Really?”
Max seemed surprised.

“Yeah...but we didn’t fuck though.”

“But you were open to it?”

“Yes Max. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No. It’s more awkward than anything.”

“Then don’t ask questions Max,” I told him.

“Great pizza,” Sayler said, trying to stop the
tension in the room. I could tell by the look she gave me that she was sorry
she brought the topic up.