Big Bad Neighbor: A Single Dad Next Door Romance

by Tia Siren

  “Angie, I’ve been all over downtown in the last two hours, once you walked out I realized that I couldn’t say goodbye to you again, not like this.”

  He creaked opened the small box and showed off a gorgeous and simple ring.

  “Will you marry me?” he asked.

  I couldn’t believe my eyes. The burden in the back of my mind dissipated instantly as I looked into his soulful eyes.

  “Yes, Jake. Let’s get married,” I said.

  I stood up from the booth, and he picked me up triumphantly.

  Devlin, the sneaky bastard, had taken the chance to come up behind us and unlock the front door. I had never been in the center of such a media affair.

  The next week was nothing but my face in the paper next to his in that silly booth at Devlin’s.

  The marriage got him so excited that Jake went on a winning streak, and became much more popular. With us getting married, Martin had nothing left to say.

  I could still remember the last game of the season, sitting in the box seat not as an agent, but as a wife. The other players wives had started to accept me. Monica ended up moving across the country, last I heard, she hated every second with her new husband.

  We had each other, and in the end, that was all that mattered.

  *****

  THE END

  SPORTS Romance - Hard Play

  “It’s just a degree; don’t worry about it, you’ll find something good.”

  Tiffany wasn’t the best at being uplifting. In fact, she was usually quite the opposite.

  “Besides, you have Brad to keep you going anyway. When is that guy going to pop the question? You’ve been dating him since you got here; I would think almost four years would be enough time.”

  She was making a little sense on that second point, but I wasn’t interested in getting married until after graduation. It worked in my favor anyway, since Brad hadn’t even proposed at all.

  “Tiff, I know it’s just a piece of paper, and most places aren’t going to care what it says on it, but I’d like to know what I should aim for at least.”

  I sipped on the hot coffee I’d just purchased, wishing it were something a little more alcoholic. Sadly, it was hard to find good parties this late in the year. Too many students were spending their time studying just to make the grade.

  “Well, why don’t you just go to a graduate school, be a nurse or something. You’ve always been interested in helping people, right?”

  She didn’t know me at all.

  “Tiffany, I’d rather go and spend the next three years working to become a lawyer than a nurse. I’ve always thrown up at the sight of blood. Do you even know me at all?”

  She laughed in my face. I was getting used to it now, but it still felt mean spirited whenever she did it.

  “Lucy, don’t worry about it. There’s still another four months before graduation, plenty of time to decide what graduate schools to apply to, and plenty of time for that man of yours to man up and pop the question!”

  I always wished that Tiffany were a little more of a realist. I doubt she really had any plans post-graduation. Her parents were wealthy, which gave her a measure of leniency that I couldn’t afford.

  “Maybe I’ll check with a guidance counselor tomorrow; there are a few tests I can take that might help me figure it out.”

  My coffee was cold, another reminder of how fast time passed. There was nothing she could say that would take my mind off this topic.

  It enveloped me, as though I were standing in the middle of a desert with a thousand directions that I could walk, but only one would lead me to a town and salvation. But, I always imagined taking the wrong path and starving in the middle of nowhere wishing I’d gone a different direction.

  Brad was normally there to hear out all my crazy thoughts and dreams. He was good to me like that, and I was good to him in every way he wanted; which usually meant doing something a little demeaning in the bedroom.

  It helped that he was incredibly smart. He was almost the top of the class and headed towards a fantastic graduate school. I was jealous; he knew what he wanted.

  “Oh, don’t look. Here comes Chris!”

  I couldn’t help my curiosity, so of course I looked.

  He was something to behold. He was tall and strong, with that perfect V-shaped upper body. His tight white shirt clung to his biceps on the verge of tearing. His gorgeous blue eyes scanned the room as he walked up to the counter to order a drink. It was almost annoying how attractive he was.

  “Seriously, Tiff. If you’re so attracted to him, why don’t you go say ‘hi’ and let him know you exist.”

  She stiffened in her seat, perking out her breasts. I almost smashed my head into the table to protest her rather barbaric display of attraction.

  “Are you joking? He probably doesn’t remember half the people he meets on a daily basis,” she said taking a nervous sip of her coffee.

  “Fine, I’ll go say hello,” I started before being pulled back down to my seat.

  “Seriously, just stay here. Maybe he’ll come this way.”

  I leaned back in my seat and stared at the ceiling. A stain caught my attention; it looked something like a giraffe which prompted a light guffaw that exited through my nose.

  “What’s so funny,” I heard a man’s voice say.

  It was Chris, naturally. He came into view while I still stared at the ceiling. I grasped the table and pulled myself up to a normal sitting position.

  “Ha, I doubt you’d really be that interested,” I said.

  “You’d be surprised what I’m interested in,” he replied.

  I leaned back and pointed up at the ceiling tile, with the stain.

  “I thought it was funny that it looked something like a giraffe,” I pointed out.

  He looked up and let out a small bit of laughter. I couldn’t tell if he was laughing at my sense of humor, or if he was joining in on the joke.

  “You’re quite a character, what’s your name?”

  “Lucy,” I replied.

  “And who’s your friend,” he asked.

  “Tiffany!” she blurted out.

  Chris stood up tall, and it almost looked like he was flexing a little more now.

  “Mind if I give you a call sometime,” he said.

  Tiffany nodded excitedly. He hadn’t really directed his comment at either of us, so it stood to reason that he was asking both of us. Tiffany whipped out her coffee receipt and scrawled her phone number hastily on the back.

  “I don’t give my number to strangers,” I said.

  “Well, that’s too bad,” he said, “it looks like we’ll have to get to know each other better.”

  I wanted to think he was flirting with me, but he was looking at Tiffany the entire time. I sipped at my cold drink, and it was as disgusting as I imagined it would be, but the temporary relief of having to hold up my end of the conversation was welcome.

  “Chris,” the barista shouted while placing a drink on the counter.

  “Pleasure meeting you two, maybe we’ll talk later.”

  He sauntered off to his drink to be joined by a couple other rather fine specimens of manhood.

  “I’m freaking out, Lucy,” Tiffany started to say, “He has my number! I hope he calls. I hear he’s amazing in bed.”

  “Says who,” I asked.

  “Says nearly every girl that’s gone to a football game this season,” Tiffany replied.

  “Thank god I didn’t give him my number. I’m perfectly happy with Brad.”

  Tiffany tossed her drink in the bin behind her.

  “I don’t know how you can drink cold coffee; it’s not right.”

  “It’s hard to deny something you already have,” I replied.

  “Well, you should start learning that sometimes, it’s better to enjoy new things you might hate. You never know what you’ll find you like.”

  “Are you saying I should break up with Brad?”

  She started laughing.

&
nbsp; “No, I’m saying cold drinks are terrible, and I want you to buy me something I haven’t tried, yet. You did say that you’d buy the coffee if I helped you figure out where to go after college.”

  “If only you were helpful,” I said as I stood up and headed towards the counter.

  2.

  I wasn’t exactly living with Brad, but it felt like I was. I spent more time at his modest apartment than I spent in my own room. He didn’t seem to mind at all.

  “Hey Brad,” I said walking into the apartment.

  Nobody responded. I dropped my things on the couch and started thinking of ways I could surprise him. I wondered if he’d like me lying in bed, waiting for him to return. Or I could make his favorite food and give him something to enjoy, first.

  I couldn’t decide so I just went with a classic. I started to strip down, leaving a small line of clothes that led toward the bedroom.

  He usually would get revved up by the time he entered, and I’d be ready to surprise him. But, when I opened the door to the bedroom, I was the one surprised. He was already here, and he smiled brightly at me.

  “Hey, babe,” he said.

  The only thing covering him was a blanket, and it looked like he had just left the gym as a thin sheen of sweat covered him.

  “Looks like you wanted to get things started quickly,” I said, removing the last of my clothing and maneuvering towards the bed.

  “Oh, you know it,” he replied.

  I started to climb onto the bed until I heard a noise behind me. I spun my head to find the source. A girl, whom I didn’t recognize, was tip-toeing from the closet.

  “Are you kidding me?” I said.

  She started to move a lot faster, carrying her things with her as she sprinted to the exit. She was quick, and there was no way I’d catch her. So, I turned back to the real culprit.

  “Brad, what the hell?!” I shouted.

  “Okay, I can explain-”

  “Explain what? There’s a naked girl carrying her clothes down the hallway.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not what it looks like,” he replied

  “What does it look like,” I asked sharply.

  Brad studied my expression and realized there was no way he’d be getting out of this. His silence said enough.

  “I thought so,” I said as I started to get dressed.

  “Lucy, can we just talk this out?” he pleaded

  “Sure, start talking,” I said as I seethed with rage.

  He paused a moment, trying to get his thoughts together.

  “Okay, I met her about a week ago. She’s a transfer student, new to the campus. I was showing her around, and she started coming on to me,” he said.

  “So you decided it would be a good time to sleep with her?” I asked.

  “It’s not my fault.”

  “Goodbye, Brad,” I said, angrily.

  “Wait, Lucy!” he shouted at me as I flung the front door open.

  “What,” I said.

  “Okay, you have every right to be angry. I messed up. I hope we can, at least, talk about this soon. I don’t want to lose you,” he replied sheepishly.

  I fumed with rage just looking at him. But, the memories of all the great times we’d had together were also there. The nights we’d held each other during the rain; the days we ate ice cream and cookies until we couldn’t stand up, all those memories were there.

  I wanted to hit him for the slap in the face he’d just handed me. He didn’t even have the guts to own up to his mistake and accept his punishment.

  “Brad, I’m a forgiving person,” I said.

  His tenseness seemed to relax, and he exhaled out. A smile started to form at the corner of his lips.

  “Not this time, though,” I added, “I thought that you were a great guy. It turns out I was wrong.”

  I slipped on my other shoe at the door and tried to sort out my attire, straightening what I could, but my brain was too rattled to manage.

  “I’ll come get the couple things I left here when I manage to calm down. Goodbye, Brad.” I said.

  I walked away in a fit of rage. He didn’t have anything to add, and that was good. I don’t know what else I would have said, but I know it wouldn’t have been nice.

  Twilight was falling over the campus, and I would have to sleep in my own bed tonight. It had been a while, and I wondered what my roommate was doing.

  What I really wanted to do was break something.

  3.

  A sock on the door only meant one thing; Tiffany was getting laid. What else was I to expect from one of the most promiscuous girls on campus?

  I remembered there was a bar just down the street that we used to visit on Friday nights from time to time. I couldn’t remember the name, but a drink just sounded good right now.

  Even though I was angry at Brad, it was incredibly hard to keep my thoughts off him. He was the dumbest guy I knew, giving up so easily on such a great relationship for a fleeting one night stand.

  I wondered who the girl was. Was she prettier that me? Was I just not that interesting anymore? Had we really told each other all our stories and become a boring couple? I couldn’t fathom whatever reason he had. Maybe it was just his twenty-two-year-old hormones taking over and ruining the one good thing he had.

  I knew he was regretting it. My constantly ringing phone was a grim reminder of that. It was bothering me, so I turned the thing off. The less I thought about it, the better.

  I felt like making some mistakes tonight.

  It was only a ten-minute walk to the bar down the street. I took a seat and started regretting my decision to come. A few members of the Football team had decided to come out for drinks tonight as well. They were stirring up a raucous while playing pool.

  I stayed out of sight and just stared into my glass, finishing drink after drink.

  “Does the bottom of that drink look like an animal, too,” I heard Chris say from behind.

  “What the hell do you want,” I said.

  I slammed the glass back on the bar; I definitely slurred my speech.

  “Whoa, take it easy. I’m just here to talk. Maybe get to know you a little better,” he said.

  “Tonight isn’t the best night for talking to me.”

  “And, why is that?” he asked.

  If I were soberer I probably would have avoided saying anything, but what did I care right now.

  “If you have to know; I caught my boyfriend of the last three years sleeping with some girl.”

  Chris leaned back, surprised at what he heard.

  “Okay, that’s a rough one. Here, let me buy you your next drink. I have a feeling you need it.”

  I just nodded and rested my head on my hand.

  “You know, you’re pretty cute,” I said, not realizing what I was saying.

  “That’s not the first time I’ve heard that,” he replied with a laugh.

  “I bet nobody would ever leave you if you didn’t want them to,” I said.

  “Probably not, but I wouldn’t know. I don’t really stay with people too long,” he replied.

  “Why the hell not,” I asked.

  “It’s hard to stay with people for too long; you get stuck in a bunch of drama-”

  He stopped himself mid-sentence, realizing he’d probably said a little bit too much.

  “Let’s just say, I don’t like to be tied down,” he added, trying to smooth over a possible blunder.

  “I get it; I get it. I’m sure I would’ve been the same way as you, but I just like being able to curl up with someone when I want to.”

  “That sounds boring,” he replied, “I’m young and would rather meet as many people as possible. All that sappy girly stuff isn’t for me.”

  I tried my best to focus my eyes on him; I wondered if he was really serious or just having a laugh. He seemed to be telling the truth.

  “I bet you wouldn’t be saying that if you met someone that mattered,” I said, returning myself to my new drink.

  “I�
�ll let you know when I meet someone that matters,” he replied.

  “You’ve slept with half the women that go to this college, and you haven’t met a single one that mattered? That’s convenient,” I slurred at him.

  He grabbed me to hold me in my seat; I’m sure I would have fallen out of it otherwise.

  “Why would I bother getting involved with anyone here? Am I really going to see these people when I’m playing pro ball? I’d rather just have my fun while I’m here and move on.”

  While his point may have been idiotic to hear, I did understand his meaning. We’re all in college for only a few years; a few gleaming years when you can do whatever you want without any real repercussions.

  “I guess I kinda get what you’re trying to say,” I replied.

  “Good,” he replied, “you should be having more fun. This recent ex-boyfriend of yours is doing it.”

  “Don’t remind me,” I replied, taking another large swig.

  “Okay, something else is bothering you, isn’t it,” he said.

  “Yeah, and what do you really care?” I replied.

  “Whoa, don’t throw me the attitude. I’m just trying to keep you from passing out on the bar,” he said raising his hands in the air in a gesture of innocence.

  “Well, if you must know, I don’t know what I’m going to do after college. Brad was the only thing I was able to count on.”

  “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you shouldn’t count on anyone.”

  I moved my head to lean on my other hand so I could keep Chris in eyeshot.

  “Aren’t you a player on the football team? Aren’t you supposed to count on people?”

  “Count on these jokers,” he said under his breath, “I’ll probably lose my pro-ball shot if I relied on these guys.”

  I looked at the group partying in the back. They hadn’t heard the insult that their quarterback had just thrown, but I was there to catch it.

  “You know, you should try trusting them a little more. If you get to the pros and keep the same attitude, your team is going to kill you.”

  “You mean when I get to the pros,” he laughed.

  I joined in with an awkward laugh and silence fell between the two of us. He leaned over and whispered in my ear.

  “You wanna get out of here?”