The Other Guy: A Textdoor Neighbor Romance

by Van Wyk, Jennifer

  God gave me the words for this story, just like he does every other. He gave me the desire and ability to write and the glory goes all to Him. It’s a privilege to have a career in publishing romance novels and my prayer with each and every story I write is that you’re blessed as you read it.

  My family is so supportive and understanding. When I hit a word count they’d cheer and keep pushing me. They never complained when I would need to throw a frozen pizza into the oven for supper. Travis, Joey, Jake, and Riley, I love you all so much. You four and God. That’s all I need in this world. You make me smile and laugh and feel loved. Even in the hard times, you make it all better. Thanks for being my tribe.

  Jill. My Jill. I can’t imagine you not being in my life and I’m so grateful that I get to call you one of my best friends. Love you.

  Kate. I adore you. I really, really do. Thank you for ALWAYS answering the phone and not thinking I’m insane. Mostly thanks for being my friend. I love you, girl. Huge shout out to you for creating a gorgeous cover!

  Maria and Amie. Thank you for encouraging me along the way and especially Maria who was like GIVE ME THIS BOOK NOW, DAMMIT!

  Rachel. Thank you really isn’t enough. You have been one of my biggest supporters from day one and I’m so proud to call you friend. I love you!

  The Walk has turned my life around these past few months and I am so so grateful for the ladies who Walk with me. You know who you are.

  Andrea. Thank you for your editing and guidance and love. Especially your chats.

  Allison. Thank you for dissecting and being truly honest with me while beta reading TOG. Your suggestions always enhance my stories and I’m grateful you take the time to read through.

  Julie. You don’t miss anything and I thank you so much for loving my stories and making them shine!

  Kaitie. You, my dear, are a gem in our world and I’m so lucky you love my stories and are there for me.

  Jennifer’s Java Girls is an incredible group. If you’re a member, thank you very much. I love our little slice of real estate in Facebook. The fact that you laugh with me and encourage me, eager for more stories, makes my heart so happy.

  KU for You is a fairly new group in Facebook world and it’s so much fun. It’s ALL Kindle Unlimited reads and wowzers are the authors who are part of it amazing. I love this group and am finding more and more recommendations for myself daily. If you’re a part of the group already, thanks for being there! We are having so much fun!

  Bloggers. Thank you for sharing and being incredible. Your job isn’t easy and it’s very humbling each time I see you shout out one of my books. Whether you’re reviewing, sharing a cover or release, or creating graphics for me, I am forever thankful.

  Readers. You have so many books to pick and choose from and yet you chose The Other Guy. I hope you absolutely loved Jack and Sierra’s story! Thank you for reading! Truly.

  Our school system rocks. My favorite teacher is in my reader group – how cool is that? I love what you do for our kids on a daily basis and am so grateful.

  About the Author

  From the Ground Up was Jennifer’s first published novel and now that she was bitten by the writing bug, has no intention of ever stopping. Jennifer makes her home in small town Iowa with her high school sweetheart, three beautiful, hilarious and amazing kids, one crazy Jack Russell terrier. This is where her love for all things reading, baking, and cooking happen. Jennifer’s family enjoys camping, boating, and spending time outside as much as possible. You'll be her best friend if you can make her laugh and follow up with asking her what to read next. When she’s not writing, you can find her cheering the loudest at her kids’ sporting events (read as: embarrassing them), sipping coffee or iced tea out of a mason jar with her Kindle in her lap or binging on Netflix.

  Follow her newsletter to always stay up to date!

  Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dcTJKf

  And make sure you’re a member of Jennifer’s Java Girls for crazy antics about her family and first looks at what’s coming soon:

  Reader Group:

  Jennifer’s Java Girls

  Website: https://www.jennifervanwykauthor.com

  Other Books By Jennifer Van Wyk

  From the Ground Up (Barrett & Tess Ryan): They’ve been married for over two decades. Loving each other isn’t the problem. Finding time together is.

  https://jennifervanwykauthor.com/from-the-ground-up/

  A Better Place (James & Carly): She escaped from a life that threatened to destroy her. He’s helping her to see that she’s worth everything.

  https://jennifervanwykauthor.com/a-better-place/

  Feels Like Home (Andy & Christine): They’re both single parents. One has a secret that threatens to destroy them.

  https://jennifervanwykauthor.com/feels-like-home/

  Waiting For Her (Grady & Bri): She wrecked him the first time she left. Now she has to prove that she deserves a second chance at a first love.

  https://jennifervanwykauthor.com/waiting-for-her/

  All I Need (Walker & Ellie): She’s been burned twice before. He’s committed his life to his career and nephew. But neither can resist the pull between them.

  https://jennifervanwykauthor.com/all-i-need/

  Gone For You (Ethan & Olivia): He walked away from her once when her brother warned him to stay away. He’s not sure he can have that kind of strength a second time.

  https://jennifervanwykauthor.com/gone-for-you/

  Falling For You (Rex & Chloe): She just discovered a secret that changes everything. He’s committed to a life of being a bachelor. But life has other plans.

  https://jennifervanwykauthor.com/falling-for-you/

  Staying For You (Owen & Cami): She’s a newly divorced author who lost her touch. He’s a resort owner who loves his privacy.

  https://jennifervanwykauthor.com/staying-for-you/

  I’m Yours (Reed & Sadie): She told him once she didn’t love him. He built a new life but is forced to return to the old one for his daughter. Being thrown together again was never the plan.

  https://jennifervanwykauthor.com/im-yours

  Coming soon!

  One Look Back (Title Subject to Change)

  Pinterest Board: https://www.pinterest.com/jennifervanwykauthor/one-look-back/

  Spotify Playlist: One Look Back

  Unedited and subject to change…

  One Look Back Preview

  The locker room is loud and chaotic, all my teammates shouting and reliving the last few hours of our final high school baseball game. The state finals. State Champions. That’s what we are now. Riding the high of all that means to our small town. Especially those of us seniors who have left blood, sweat and a few tears on the turf as we played together the last eight years. At least for those of us who started when we were just fourth graders. For a few lucky ones, their baseball careers won’t end on the field tonight. They’ll go on to play at smaller colleges and even a Big Ten school.

  The one lucky enough to be courted and recruited by the Big Ten school? My best friend since second grade. Tyson Mathers and I have been practically inseparable since the day we met. The only thing opposite about us, the color of our skin. Well, that, and the fact that we’re built totally different. Where I’m 6’3” and 225 pounds, he’s 6’0 and 170 on a good day. That’s why during football season I’m a center and he’s a running back. He’s got the speed. I’ve got the size and muscle. We’re a good team no matter what sport we’re playing, but baseball? That’s where we dominate. I catch whatever he pitches, reading each other to damn near perfection because we’re best friends off the field, too.

  “We did it, B. We fucking did it!” he hollers.

  “Heck yeah we did!” I grin at Tyson as he reaches out and pulls me in for a hug. We slap each other on the back and push away to continue our celebration with everyone else.

  “Party at Johnson’s field?”

  “Obviously,” I smirk. “His dad left a path to the back of the field so w
e would be hidden.”

  “Like the cops won’t know?” He laughs but knows that doesn’t matter. The cops of our small town won’t touch us. Not tonight. Not after we brought the championship to our town. Giving us another year of bragging rights. As long as no one drives drunk and we keep the party there, they’ll turn a blind eye to the festivities. Benefits of living in a small town, I guess.

  I shrug as I strip down out of my uniform, holding my jersey in my hands for the last time. Staring down at it, a million memories play out of spending my summers at the ballfield. I’m a boy of summer through and through, loving the feel of a glove on my hand and a ball cap on my head. Always covered in sweat and dirt, stains that my mother perfected getting out of my uniform. I’ll miss this. I’ve worn number 14 since I was a freshman, eager to play with the big boys. Now I am one. Or was.

  I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Tyson’s dark eyes boring holes in me. The bad part about having a best friend for most of your life? They know too much. Even when you’re being an emotional sap.

  “You know you could have taken one of the offers.”

  I shake my head and toss my dirty uniform in the bin with all the others. “Nah. I’m done. College ball wouldn’t be the same without you guys.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  He’s right, I don’t know that. But I have a pretty good idea. My dad went on to play college baseball for a few years and hated every minute. Hated might be a strong word, but he definitely didn’t enjoy it, from the way he tells it. Not because he didn’t love the game. Because the love of the game wasn’t as strong when his brothers weren’t on the field with him, playing for the town they love and have grown up in. When I’m crouched behind home plate, I don’t have to worry about my boys doing their job just like they don’t have to worry about me doing mine. I can’t imagine killing myself for someone I’ve only just met or gaining that camaraderie. Maybe it’s weird, but I loved playing baseball with the same guys I grew up with. Who I met in tee-ball. That’s what made it fun. It wasn’t about the wins or losses. It was fun. End of story.

  We make our way naked to the showers, no modesty left between us, turn on the spray and make quick work to get cleaned up so we can load into the bus. We’ve got a party to attend. And I’ve got a girl to see.

  After we are back in our regular clothes, we walk out to the bus. Parents and a few of our classmates are standing by, waiting to greet us and follow the bus home. A line of cars, trucks, and SUV’s heading to the same destination for the same purpose.

  To celebrate the win.

  I break away from Tyson when I see Lizzy. I fell in love with her about a year ago, but we met our sophomore year when her family moved to town. Next to her stands her best friend Adeline who I’ve known since preschool.

  They’re dressed like twins. Short jean shorts, tight t-shirt that proudly displays what team they’re rooting for, and flimsy rubbery flip flops. But that’s where the similarities between the two end. Where Lizzy is tall and thin, her bright red hair pulled into a ponytail on top of her head, Adeline is over a foot shorter than me, with long blonde hair and curves that the guys in high school couldn’t help but comment on. I’ll admit to catching myself looking a little too long a time or two, but my heart belongs to Lizzy. Adeline and I have only ever been friends. She calls me her brother.

  “You did it, babe!” Lizzy squeals as I lift her into my arms, burying my head in her neck. “I was so nervous the entire time!”

  I set her down and kiss her soundly on the lips. “You were? No faith in us?”

  She scoffs and lightly shoves my shoulder. “You know that’s not it. I just know how badly y’all wanted this. I’m so darn proud of you guys. You kicked butt.”

  I grin and kiss her cheek.

  “Thanks, Liz.”

  “Boys! You’ll see everyone back home. Time to load up,” Coach calls out and like obedient little soldiers, trained for the past four years to listen when our coach speaks, we start filing onto the bus.

  I kiss Lizzy one more time then turn to Adeline who’s waiting her turn to congratulate me. She nudges me with her arm and says, “You did great. Congrats, Beau.”

  “Thanks Addy. You see how I laid out number 29 when he tried to get across my plate? That was for you,” I tell her and wink.

  “Aww, thanks. You know how much I love a guy who shows friendship with brute force.” She rolls her eyes.

  “Of course I do.” I flex for her and she laughs, shaking her head. I’ve known Adeline even longer than Tyson. We met in preschool when another kid stole her chocolate pudding snack pack and made her cry. I pushed him when we went outside for playtime and he landed on his hands and knees in the dirt. He cried. I got in trouble. But I never apologized for bullying a bully.

  I turn to see Lizzy and Tyson talking as well, no doubt her telling him how great he did. Scrunching my eyebrows together when he leans down and whispers something to her. Holly nods and spins away, practically skipping back over to me.

  “What was that about?”

  “Nothing,” she chirps.

  “Nothing? He whispered something to you.”

  “It’s a surprise.” I look closely at her then relax when she bites her bottom lip. “Relax, Beau. It’s nothing bad.”

  I look at Tyson and back to Lizzy, knowing my eyebrows are scrunched. It’s not that I don’t trust either of them, but they have never really had a friendship outside of me. “What kind of surprise?”

  “For me to know and you to find out.”

  “And Tyson?”

  “Well yeah, he’s helping me.”

  Coach yells at us to get our asses moving so I say a quick good bye and promise to meet up after we get back to town.

  The bus ride home is no quieter than the locker room was earlier. The adrenaline still coursing through our veins creating an energy around us that’s hard to ignore. It takes just over an hour to get back to the high school and unload all our gear from the bus and not much longer to drive out to Johnson’s field to get the real party started.

  Lizzy and Adeline are waiting for us by the bon fire, both already holding a red cup filled with keg beer.

  “You poured these yourself, right?” I ask them both when I get near and they confirm, easing my concerns. Tyson and I pour ourselves a cup as well, the first time drinking anything with alcohol since before the season started. Neither of us want to risk getting caught and kicked off the baseball team so we’re careful during the season. But now that it’s over, all bets are off. We have just a month before we leave for college and I plan to enjoy every minute of it.

  The beer flows and music blares from a car that is decked out with some insane speaker system. Everyone is in a good mood, dancing and messing around the bon fire. Flames lick the night sky as we sit on large pieces of wood and old chairs. The distinct scent of marijuana wafts around us and I look around for Lizzy, knowing that she’s probably in the middle of it.

  It drives me crazy but I’m not about to tell her what she can and can’t do.

  I lean over to Adeline who’s sitting next to me and ask, “Liz?”

  She nods and shrugs. “Probably. She was saying that she was hoping… someone would bring some tonight.”

  “Great,” I grunt.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Not your fault. Just frustrating.”

  “I know.” Her voice is sad and quiet. Then she leans closer. “Have you noticed she’s been a little… off lately?”

  I turn to look at her and notice that she looks nervous. Not something I’m used to with Addy. She’s confident and sure of herself but right now she’s fidgeting and her eyes are darting around. “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know, I guess. She’s just different. I’m a little worried about her.”

  I’ve noticed as well but haven’t had the guts to confront her. She’s been disappearing and quieter than normal but I originally thought it was because of her parents’ recent divorce. But maybe i
t’s more than that.

  I look around and can’t see her anywhere. “I’m going to go find her.”

  “Want me to come?”

  “Yeah,” I murmur, tossing my now warm beer on the ground and then the empty cup into the fire.

  We walk into the barn and come to an abrupt stop when we spot a couple making out so hot and heavy it’s damn near uncomfortable to witness. Even in the shadows, it’s not hard to see what’s happening. The guy’s hand is down the front of the girl’s shorts and he’s attacking her chest like a man starved just as he pushes down her top exposing her naked breasts. Addy gasps and darts behind me then starts giggling uncontrollably. She grabs the fabric my t-shirt and buries her head into my back. “Oh my gosh, Beau! We gotta get outta here!”

  Reaching behind me, I grip her arm and try to stifle my own laughter. The couple doesn’t even notice we’re here, they’re so caught up in each other. They must be from one of the neighboring towns, because I don’t recognize either of them. Even though I know I should move, it’s hard to tear my eyes away. I’m an eighteen-year-old guy and it’s basically a live porn show.

  “Shh,” I hush Addy who can’t stop giggling.

  “I can’t… Beau! Let’s get out of here!”

  “You don’t wanna stay and watch?”

  “They’re about to have sex!”

  “Well no shit,” I whisper back. “That’s why we should stay. Come on, Adds. You can’t tell me that you don’t wanna.”

  “Shut up, Beau! I don’t want to watch someone else have sex!”

  I turn around and look down at her but her eyes are glued to the floor show. I tilt her chin up to look at me. “Why? Worried it will turn you on?” I have no idea why my voice comes out as husky as it does. The way she’s breathing heavy as me feeling out of sorts and what’s happening behind me has nothing to do with it.