The Boy Next Door

by Heather D'Agostino

  The Boy Next Door

  H. D’Agostino

  Prologue

  May 2016 - Graduation Party

  Over the past three years both girls had grown close to Patrick. It was quite obvious to everyone that he and Katie had a thing for each other. Neither one would admit it though. Other than hanging out in groups with friends, they’d never been on a date. They’d flirted and stared at one another, but neither would take action. Hannah had asked Katie about it one afternoon, and Katie had finally confessed that she thought she was in love with him. He doesn’t seem to want me though she had told Hannah. He’s never tried to kiss me, or told me how he feels. Katie had thrown herself into her studies and figured if Patrick really wanted to be with her, he’d tell her. Now here they were graduating from high school, and they were still just friends.

  Katie had made her way over to hang out with Patrick after receiving the news that she would in fact go to Columbia University in the fall. Hannah had stayed behind to talk with their mom, Melanie, in hopes of giving Katie some space to tell Patrick how she felt. Katie had chickened out so many times already that Hannah wondered if they’d ever get together.

  ***

  Hannah walked in the back door to see Katie sitting on the couch and Patrick sitting on the floor playing video games. She shook her head as she eyed them and made her way over to flop down next to Katie.

  “Did you tell him?” she whispered as she leaned in closer.

  “Tell me what?” Patrick turned around and cocked his head to the side.

  “I got in,” Katie smiled proudly. “Columbia. I got in.”

  “Wow, congratulations,” he smiled and reached back to rub her knee and give it a gentle squeeze.

  She blushed and shoved at his arm, “So where did you decide to go?”

  “Well, I don’t mean to brag, but I’m going to Harvard, decided last week,” he rose up off the floor and puffed his chest out.

  “Wow Harvard, huh,” she rolled her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me last week?”

  “I didn’t want to make you feel bad in case you didn’t get in,” he grinned. “Wait here, I got you something.”

  He jumped up and ran out of the room, almost tripping as he headed down the hall. Katie watched his retreating form and sighed to herself. He was even better looking than when they first met, if that was possible. At eighteen, his shoulders and chest were broader, and his muscles even more defined. All the hockey and running he did kept him in top shape. The way his jeans hung on his hips and that messy mop of blond hair made him down right irresistible. Hannah noticed Katie staring and shouldered into her.

  “You’ve got it so bad. Just tell him how you feel. You’re leaving in two months for school,” Hannah shrugged. “What have you got to lose?”

  Katie‘s eyes bugged out. “I can’t. He sees me like a sister, Hannah. I don’t want to ruin our friendship.” She sighed and dropped her head into her hands, “It would never work.”

  Just then Patrick reappeared with a box in his hands, “Here. It’s your graduation present.”

  “But I didn’t get you anything,” Katie whined.

  “It’s ok, I wasn’t expecting anything,” he lifted his arms and then rubbed a hand across the back of his neck.

  When he did this, his shirt rose, and a small amount of skin revealed itself at his waist. Katie suppressed the groan that was rising in her throat. Does he know how hot he is? When she took the box and opened it, she found an oversized Columbia hoodie. She couldn’t hide the goofy grin that spread across her face as she lifted it from the box.

  “I thought when the weather got bad that you might like to have that to wear to class,” he smiled at her and shrugged his shoulders.

  “Thank you, I love it,” she hugged the soft fabric to her chest and grinned back at him.

  The sweatshirt was a few sizes bigger than what she normally bought for herself. She held it up in front of her and looked at, it puzzled.

  “What size is that?” Hannah giggled.

  “I bought it to fit me,” Patrick blushed. “You seem to like to borrow my things when you’re over here. I thought maybe I might get some of mine back if you had one of your own.” Patrick grinned and wagged his brow.

  Hannah looked at Katie and then back at Patrick. Sensing that there was more to this conversation than what was actually being discussed, Hannah excused herself. “I’m gonna head home. I need to help get ready for the party. I’ll see you later, Patrick,” she waved as she walked out the back door.

  “Yeah, see ya,” he waved.

  After Hannah left, Katie sat back down on the couch and Patrick joined her.

  “Thank you, really. I love it,” she smiled and again hugged the hoodie to her chest.

  “I’m glad,” he looked at her, and then down at his lap.

  He slid himself in her direction and placed his arm behind her. When she looked up at him, she felt a wave of nerves and desire pulse through her. Was this it? Was he going to confess his feelings or lack there of? She rubbed her palms up and down on her jeans, silently praying that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

  “I was wondering…” he fumbled for words.

  “Yes?” she looked at him, pleading for him to tell her how he felt.

  “Well…” he sighed and shook his head.

  “What? What is it?” she leaned forward almost touching her forehead to his.

  “I know that you have your party tonight. I’m coming, of course, but I was wondering if you would want to go swimming afterwards. Dad opened the pool last week, and the heater’s had time to warm the water. I thought you and Hannah might want to come over...Matt’s going to be here, too.”

  Katie looked defeated as she slumped back away from him. “Sure, that sounds like fun. I’ll have to ask my mom, though. She wanted my help cleaning up after everybody left.”

  “Sure, I can help too,” Patrick slid back, creating space between them.

  As he was doing this, Katie couldn’t help the lump that was forming in her throat. He really didn’t have feelings for her after all. All this time she had thought that something might come of them, but she had been sorely mistaken. All he would ever see her as was the girl next door. The girl he liked to pick on. The girl who he would never have romantic feelings for...

  Katie pulled herself out of her musings and moved to stand. “Well I better head back. Mom needs me to help set up the tables and chairs in the backyard.” She began walking toward the back door and tossed over her shoulder, “Party starts at three. See you then.”

  Seeing that it was now or never, Patrick jumped up, shouting, “Wait!” He jogged over to her.

  Katie froze mid-stride just as Patrick grabbed her by the shoulders and whirled her around to face him.

  “Wait,” he begged.

  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them to lean forward. Before she could respond, Patrick had crushed his mouth on to hers. Katie was taken completely off guard as he began to move his lips against hers. This was what she had been waiting for. He did like her! He wanted her!

  Patrick’s tongue snaked out and ran along the seam of her lips seeking entrance, which she gave willingly. She sighed as she felt its velvety softness caressing hers. A slight moan escaped her as he pulled back, breaking the kiss. Both stood slightly dazed at what had just happened.

  “I’ll see you later,” he mumbled as he gave a soft peck to her lips.

  “Yeah, later,” Katie sighed as she turned and exited his house.

  Chapter 1

  2 weeks later…

  “So he hasn’t said anything?” Hannah questioned.

  “No, he hasn’t even come over to bug me,” Katie sighed. “I don’t know what it all means
. I mean, he kissed me. Not just a little kiss, but a real heart-stopping, panty-melting kiss. The kind you see in the movies. Then…we go swimming and he acts like it never happened. What does he want from me?”

  “I have no idea,” Hannah shook her head and wrapped her arm around Katie’s shoulders. “Have you asked Mom about this?”

  “Are you kidding?” Katie squeaked. “First off, Mom wants me to be this pure, innocent little girl, and I’m growing rather tired of it. I mean…I don’t want to be some skank, but a little positive attention from a boy would be nice.”

  “Katie,” Hannah giggled. “What exactly are you wanting to do with Patrick?”

  “Nothing that I haven’t done before,” Katie sighed as she flopped back on the bed. “Hannah, have you not noticed how hot he is now? I mean, those muscles that flex when he’s out working in his yard. Last week I saw him mowing his grass and I all but died as I watched him pushing that mower around without his shirt.”

  “He is a lot better to look at now that he’s grown up,” Hannah laughed. “I remember when I first met him. He was good looking then, but obviously still a boy. He’s got the body of a man now,” she sighed. “You just need to go over there and tell him how you feel. I mean…he’s just too dense to see it, I guess.”

  “I am not going over there. If he wants to be with me, then he’s going to have to come over here.” She rose from her prone position on the bed and made her way over to her desk. “So, you still want to go camping for July fourth?” she pulled out her desk chair and plopped down. “I’ve got to confirm our reservations with the campground, and check with the guys.”

  “I can’t believe Mom and Dad are actually letting us go somewhere overnight with boys. What did you do before you asked them to get them to say yes?” Hannah laughed.

  “Well, Mom says that next year when we’re away at school that she won’t be able to keep tabs on us then, so she might as well start trusting us now. Besides, when have we ever done anything that would cause them to not trust us?”

  “Guess you’re right,” Hannah huffed. “But seriously, what’d you tell Dad?”

  “I didn’t,” she giggled. “Mom said she’d take care of it.”

  “Uh oh,” Hannah sighed.

  “What?” Katie cocked her head to the side.

  “Well, if Mom’s dealing with him, we might end up with another brother or sister,” Hannah giggled.

  “Hannah you’re awful,” Katie spun around on the chair and reached to throw a pillow at her.

  ***

  “You mean to tell me that you kissed her, I mean really kissed her and you haven’t called her yet?” Matt tossed his hands in the air and flopped down on Patrick’s bed.

  “Yes, ok…I kissed her,” Patrick wiped his hands down his face. “I like her, A LOT.”

  “Well, she obviously likes you or she wouldn’t have kissed you back,” Matt groaned. “Are you going to ask her out?”

  “I want to, but we’re both going off to different schools soon. What then?” Patrick sighed.

  “If you like her and she likes you, I don’t see what the problem is. Go out with her, see what happens. At least this way you can get laid this summer,” Matt chuckled.

  “Katie’s not like that, Matt. She’s special. Besides, I honestly can’t see her letting me get that close,” Patrick sighed and glanced at his phone.

  “So…are you going to call her or stare at that thing all day?” Matt grinned.

  “Shut it Mills. It’s not that simple,” Patrick groaned.

  “Oh I think it is,” he reached over and swiped the phone out of Patrick’s hand and moved to the other side of the room.

  “Hey, give that back right now,” he bellowed.

  “Not a chance,” Matt laughed as he moved farther away and began scanning through Patrick’s contacts.

  When he found Katie’s number, he clicked on the text button.

  IceKing: What are you doing tonight?

  BoSoxBabe: Hanging out with Hannah. Wanna come over?

  IceKing: No

  BoSoxBabe: Oh, ok.

  IceKing: I was thinking that maybe you’d wanna go out. Dinner?

  BoSoxBabe: ??? Why?

  IceKing: I wanna spend time with you.

  BoSoxBabe: Like a date?

  IceKing: sure…pick you up at six?

  BoSoxBabe: Ok, see you then.

  Matt tossed the phone in Patrick’s direction. “You can thank me later. She said yes. You have a date tonight.”

  Patrick stood stunned, “I can’t believe she said yes. I’ve been a total dick to her since the party.”

  “See, she likes you. I can guarantee that now. No girl would say yes to a date after being treated the way she has unless she truly likes you,” Matt shrugged. “I’m the ultimate wingman you know. You so owe me when we’re at school this fall. I’m going to look to you to meet some hot girls.”

  “We’ll see,” Patrick chuckled.

  ***

  “What was that all about?” Hannah cocked her head to the side.

  “Patrick…I think he just asked me out on a date,” Katie giggled as she handed her phone over to Hannah. “See,” she pointed to the text conversation.

  “So…what are you going to wear?” Hannah giggled. “It’s got to be something hot. We want him to see you as girlfriend material, not the girl next door.”

  “Ummm…that plan didn’t work so well with Zach, remember?” Katie rolled her eyes.

  “Oh, you mean your plan to keep him away? Yeah, I remember,” she laughed. “The way I remember it, you two were making out by the end of the party. Maybe you should wear that outfit,” she smirked.

  “Too bad it doesn’t fit anymore,” Katie sighed. “That was three years ago. I have hips now, and more up here,” she cupped her boobs and giggled.

  “Yeah, ok…I guess you’re right,” Hannah laughed and flopped backward again on the bed. “So…I’m thinking that cute eyelet dress you have would be nice with maybe a pair of sandals? What do you think?”

  “That could work,” Katie made her way over to her closet and began digging. “I thought I had a jacket in here that would look good with it too, but I think I let Sam borrow it.”

  “Well, I doubt you’re going to get it back, then,” Hannah sighed. “I never let her use anything that I want back. She has a tendency to keep things that she likes.”

  Hannah rolled onto her stomach and began flipping through a magazine as Katie sat down at her vanity.

  “Up or down?” she sighed as she picked up her brush.

  “Down, you have beautiful hair. It’s like silk. You should definitely wear it down,” Hannah nodded.

  “Ok, well unless you want to watch, you should leave. I’m going to get ready now,” she giggled as she rose from the chair and headed back to the closet.

  “Ummm yeah, I’m outta here. Seeing you naked is not on my list of things to do today. I think I’m going to go see what Joey’s gotten into and maybe give Mom a break. She’s been really tired lately with the pregnancy and chasing after him,” Hannah rose from the bed and walked out the door.

  “Close the door on your way out!” Katie called from inside the closet as she began pulling clothes out.

  ***

  After fighting with her hair for what seemed like hours, Katie was finally happy with the finished product. She made her way out to the living area and had a seat on the couch. She was early, but couldn’t help glancing at the clock every minute or so, wondering where Patrick was.

  It had been a while since she’d been on a date. Since Zach, there’d only been casual boyfriends. Nobody had held her interest long enough to pursue anything serious. She’d been hoping for quite some time that Patrick would finally notice her and think of her in a way other than his friend. Now that the time had finally come, she was a ball of nerves.

  How is this going to work? she thought. How does one go from being friends to being more? The more she thought about it, the more she thought she might be in o
ver her head. What would Patrick expect from her? She’d seen some of the girls who he’d dated over the years. She’d heard what other girls said about him at the ice rink. She knew after talking with some of them that he had done more than kiss. She wasn’t ready for all that and she knew it. She knew that if she decided to date him, they would have to have “the talk”. Worry about that later, she told herself.

  She ran her hand along the hem of her dress as she sat in quiet contemplation wondering if he would try to kiss her tonight. Did she want him to? “That was dumb,“ she mumbled. “Of course I do.” Before she could get herself anymore worked up, there was a soft knock at the door.