Big Bad Neighbor: A Single Dad Next Door Romance

by Tia Siren

  ''Coach, I'm free this evening,'' Cora said. Cora was one of the most beautiful cheerleaders at Westchester College, and she'd been trying to get Coach Warren to take her out for months. He was beginning to get fed up with it. At thirty-nine, he was almost twenty years older than her. For him it was clear. She was a student at college and he a sports coach, and it was unethical for him to take her out. Not that he didn't sometimes sit in his apartment and dream about the girls that cheered his football team on. But as far as he was concerned that's all it would ever be, a dream.

  He'd divorced five years earlier. He and his wife had decided it wasn't working and gone their separate ways. It had all been very amicable, but it had left him afraid of commitment. He'd had a couple of flings with female lecturers, but as soon as they'd begun talk of a future together, he'd cut them out of his life. He kept telling himself that he didn't need a wife because he was already married to football.

  ''Come on guys, what time do you call this?'' Sam said as his team began to idle onto the pitch for Friday evening practice. ''Three times around the pitch,'' he shouted. He hated tardiness, and they were going to pay for it.

  ''Do we have to, coach,'' William Mayes asked. He was the alpha male of the team He was the one that got all the women and all the attention.

  ''Mayes, if you don't get on with it, I'll bust your ass. Clear?''

  ''Yes coach,'' he said as he started to jog.

  When William got to the far side of the pitch, Sam heard Cora shouting at him. ''Hi William, fancy coming to my place after practice?''

  Sam's players respected him. He was hard but fair, and after the serious business was done, he enjoyed a joke as much as anyone. But lately something was eating at him, and it made him ill-tempered.

  Eventually, the team completed three laps, and Sam met them in the middle of the pitch. He split defense and offense and asked them to carry out various drills. He stood aside and watched ash they carried out what he'd asked them to.

  ''Lizzie you are useless. Honestly, you couldn't dance your way out of a paper bag,'' Cora said.

  Sam looked across at the cheerleaders and wondered why Cora had it in for Lizzie. Okay, Lizzie sometimes found it difficult to co-ordinate with the others but aesthetically Lizzie was by far the best of the bunch. She had the shapeliest legs and the cutest ass and the biggest breasts. All in all, she was very pleasing to the eye. Lizzie also wasn't stupid; she'd finished high school Cum Laude and was doing very well in her law studies.

  After practice, Sam kept his players in the dressing room while he lectured them on the merits of being on time. He went through the team for the forthcoming game on Sunday and gave a rousing motivational speech about the history of the college team and how they shouldn't let that be tarnished in any way.

  The cheerleaders were getting impatient outside. They'd gathered around the changing room door waiting for the boys to come out. Some of them had serious boyfriends in the team; others were just waiting around on the off chance they may get laid.

  ''Lizzie, how come you never have a boyfriend?'' Cora asked. ''You aren't a Lizzie Lezzie are you?''

  ''Shut up Cora,'' Lizzie said. ''Just because I don't sleep with every man in town, like you.''

  ''Lizzie Lezzie, yes, that has a ring to it. That's what we're going to call you from now on. Do you like dancing with girls Lizzie Lezzie?'' Cora said.

  ''Leave me alone,'' Lizzie said. She left the group and headed back to her student lodgings alone.

  ''What a nerd,'' Cora said. ''She can't dance, and she can't get man.''

  ''Are you talking about Lizzie?'' William asked.

  ''Yes. From now on she's called Lizzie Lezzie.''

  ''Why?

  ''Because she never has a boyfriend,'' Cora said.

  William slung his bag over his shoulder and laughed. ''That's a great name for her. She's a real nerd.''

  Roger, the tallest man on the team, came out of the changing room. ''Who's a nerd?''

  ''Lizzie, you know, the weird cheerleader,'' William said. ''Cora reckons she's a lesbian. Lizzie Lezzie she's called her.''

  ''No way is she a lezzie,'' Roger said. ''I bet I can get her into bed.''

  William, Cora, and the others looked at Roger as if he was from another planet. ''No way on this earth,'' William said.

  ''Wanna bet?'' Roger replied.

  ''Sure, what's the bet?''

  ''That I can screw her before the end of this semester,'' Roger said.

  William shook Roger's hand, and the bet was placed. ''We'll invite her to BJ's after the game on Sunday. We'll get her drunk, and you can have your way with her,'' William added.

  The group walked across the football pitch to the campus, leaving Sam shaking his head. He'd heard their ridiculous bet and felt sorry for Lizzie.

  *****

  ''I've never seen such a shower of shit in all my life,'' Sam bellowed at the top of his voice. ''Call yourselves football players. You're all nancy boys; that's what you are. I'd have done better sending out a group of eleven-year-olds.''

  Sam didn't often lose his temper, but he had never seen a team under his management play so terribly.

  ''Roger and William. You were pathetic today. You'd better play better in the next game, or you'll be off the team. Now all of you get out of my sight.''

  The players drifted out of the dressing room, leaving Sam to contemplate what a rotten day it had been. When he'd tidied up, he locked up and walked across the pitch to his car. This had to be the worst team he'd ever managed, he thought. If they didn't start playing better soon, his job would be on the line.

  He put his bag in the car and started to drive home. But faced with the prospect of an empty apartment after such a heavy defeat, he decided to stop by BJ's.

  When he pulled up outside, his mind flashed back to all the glorious hours he'd spent at BJ's celebrating season after season of great footballing success. Those days seemed a long way off now. That was back in the days when kids were fit, before computers and ridiculous games like Play Station. Kids played out in the street, rode their bikes and were fit. Sometimes he despaired when he saw the freshmen turning up to their first practice. What it all meant for the future of the USA, he didn't know, but he didn't think it was positive.

  ''Hey Sam, great to see you. You haven't been in here for ages,'' Jodie said.

  ''There's been no reason to celebrate. That shower of shit over there couldn't play, even if their lives depended on it,'' he said nodding in the direction of William, Roger, Cora and the gang who were sitting around a huge pine at the rear of the bar.

  ''No, I've heard they are pretty hopeless,'' Jodie replied.

  ''That's an understatement.''

  ''So who you lovin, these days?'' she asked.

  ''I'm single. I haven't got anyone special.''

  ''Too bad, a lovely guy like you all alone. If I weren't happily married, I'd ask you on a date.'' Jodie was quite pretty but not Sam's type. She was a bit plump and had pink hair, the result of a magazine article she read that said pink hair was hip.

  ''Hi coach,'' Cora said as she came up to the bar to order another round of drinks. ''What brings you here?''

  ''This is the place we used to celebrate our victories, although you wouldn't know much about that. All we seem to do these days is lose.''

  ''Well, it's not all about winning is it?''

  Sam looked at Cora, and if he hadn't been such a gentleman, he would have slapped her. ''It is, actually, all about the winning. Why else would you bother?''

  ''To have some fun. To meet people.''

  ''Jesus Christ. What an attitude. We are talking about college football. It's serious. If you want to meet people and have fun, why don't you go to the beach.''

  ''Er....okay coach. Whatever you say,'' Cora said keen to stop his rant.

  ''And don't talk to me in that tone. You are very good at winding me up Cora. Your attitude is all wrong, and you prance around as if you own the joint. You need a darn good hiding.''


  Cora quickly paid for her drinks and went back to the others at the table.

  ''What an ass-hole,'' she said.

  ''Who? William asked.

  ''Coach. He's a misogynist. He just spoke to me in the moist terrible way. Nobody has ever spoken to me like that.''

  ''Come on Cora, have a bit of sympathy for him. He's a small time football coach, he's got nothing else in his pathetic life,'' Roger joked.

  ''His life's pathetic and so is he,'' Cora added.

  ''I quite like him,'' Lizzie said.

  ''You would. You don't seem capable of getting any other man,'' Cora said.

  ''Cora, that's unfair,'' Roger said. ''Have another drink, Lizzie. Ignore her; she's just being a bitch.''

  Lizzie smiled and took a glass of beer and a shot from the tray Jodie had just placed in front of them.

  BJ's was a place students and lecturers went after a hard day or at the weekend to get inebriated. It was full of neon signs and pictures of sports stars. Sam was most proud of his corner of honor. Joshua Clarkson, the owner of BJ's, was a big football fan, and when Sam's team had won the collegiate championship three years running, he'd allocated a corner to Sam's team. He bought a glass cabinet and filled it with photos of the team and the trophies they'd won.

  ''Good old days,'' Jodie said when she saw Sam was looking to his corner.

  ''Great days. Really great.''

  ''Don't be too hard on this generation Sam. They've got it far too easy, so how can they appreciate anything.''

  ''I suppose so. There are good kids in the team, but most of them are lazy. If they weren't, they could really go places.''

  Sam spent an interesting evening talking to Jodie and drinking more bourbon than was good for him.

  'You'd better leave your car here tonight,'' Jodie said when Sam had paid.

  ''Yes. The walk will do me good,'' he replied.

  As he was getting up to leave, Cora and her group were also preparing to leave.

  ''Oops, steady Lizzie, you stick close to me,'' Roger said as he put his arm around her.

  ''I think I'm a bit drunk,'' Lizzie said.

  ''Don't worry. I'll get you home in one piece,' Roger offered.

  When they reached the door, Sam pulled Roger back and pushed him against the wall. Roger towered over him, but Sam was muscle bound and too strong for the twenty-one-year-old

  ''Leave her alone,'' Sam said.

  ''Take your hands off me,'' Roger protested.

  ''Yes, leave him alone,'' Cora and William said in unison.

  ''Keep out of this,'' Sam said. ''If you don't leave now, you're both off the team.''

  William and Cora scowled and walked through the door. Lizzie stood still dazed by what was happening.

  ''Go home Roger and leave her alone. I know what your deal is, and it isn't in Lizzie's interest.''

  ''What the hell are you talking about?'' Roger asked as Sam squeezed his throat a little harder.

  ''The bet Roger. The bet you struck with William. Go home now or you'll never play football for me again.''

  ''You just assaulted me. I'm going to report you,' Roger said.

  ''Go ahead and I'll make sure Lizzie files sexual assault charges. Got it?'' Roger nodded, straightened his collar and left.

  ''What was all that about,'' Lizzie slurred.

  ''I just saved you from something you would have regretted,'' Sam replied.

  ''Er....what?''

  ''Lizzie, let's go. Come on.'' Sam said putting his arm around her to support her.

  *****

  ''Oh my God, where am I?'' Lizzie asked as she looked around the bedroom.

  ''My place,' Sam replied.

  ''Did we, you know, have sex?''

  Sam laughed. No, but you almost did. ''You were so drunk I brought you back here. Don't worry; I slept on the couch.''

  ''I've got a terrible headache,'' she complained.

  ''Coffee, bacon, eggs and bread will sort that out.''

  ''Just the coffee thanks.''

  ''Okay. The bathroom's next door and you can look in my wardrobe for a fresh shirt to get you home in. You dribbled down yours.''

  ''Oh Jesus. Did you undress me?'' Lizzie pulled the sheets up and was relieved to see she was still wearing her panties.

  ''I only took off your top layer. You were a real mess, Lizzie. Sorry, but I had to.''

  ''Okay. Well, thanks for helping me. I have no idea what I was doing drinking so much; I don't usually.''

  Sam rubbed his wet hair a couple of times with the towel he was wearing. ''You were set up. Roger was trying to get you drunk.''

  ''What? Why?''

  ''Do you want the honest answer?''

  ''Yes, I do,'' she said.

  ''He bet William that he could get you into bed.''

  Lizzie's mouth dropped open. ''Really? Of all the low life things to have done.''

  ''I knew about it and stopped it.''

  Lizzie slumped back against the headboard. ''Thanks, coach. What a lousy trick.''

  ''Come down when you are ready,'' he said. ''I'll put the kettle on.''

  Lizzie was pleasantly surprised how nice Sam's apartment was. He was a single guy and very much into sport, and she'd assumed he wasn't that domesticated. But his kitchen was spotless and full of the latest gadgets.

  '' Nice place coach,'' she said, sitting down at the breakfast bar.

  Sam smiled at her. ''Call me Sam. Coach is for the sports field.'' She looked fresh and very attractive. Her hair was still wet, and she smelled wonderful.''How's the head?''

  ''The shower helped. Thanks for looking out for me. I'm my own worst enemy sometimes. I don't know why I hang around with Cora and the others. I guess I'm short of self-confidence and let them trample all over me.'' She took a sip of coffee and made a satisfied noise as it worked it's way down her throat.

  ''You're way too good for them. You are more intelligent and way more beautiful than any of the cheerleaders. You're not the cheerleader type.''

  ''And what is the cheerleader type?''

  ''Well, they are normally outgoing women who like being the center of attention. A lot of them sleep around and drink too much. You're not like that at all.'' Sam reached into a cupboard and took out a packet of cornflakes. Lizzie shook her head when he offered her some.

  ''How do you see me?'' she asked

  ''Wow that's a hard question. Let me see. You're very beautiful and highly intelligent.''

  ''Good start,'' Lizzie joked.

  ''You are sensitive, and you have a lot of inhibitions and for some reason, you don't choose to be friends with people of your own intelligence. You hang around with people who don't understand you.'' He turned on the gas and put the frying pan on the flame. ''For example, they bully you because you don't screw around. What kind of so-called friends are those?''

  Lizzie looked at him. ''How old are you Sam? If you don't mind me asking.''

  ''Thirty-nine.''

  ''And why aren't you married. You are far too handsome to be alone.''

  ''You're trying to divert attention away from what I was telling you,'' Sam said waving a spatula around.

  ''Okay. So I'm, insecure and don't choose my friends well. I heard you.''

  ''I don't like people bullying you. In fact, I hate it. You are worth a hundred times what that slut Cora is worth.''

  ''Wow. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you, Sam. That's made me feel so good.''

  ''You should tell yourself that a few times before you decided to hang around with her and those other pricks.''

  ''I've changed my mind, the bacon smells so good, do you mind if I have some?''

  ''Sure. There's plenty.'' Sam put three extra rashers in the frying pan and pushed them around with the spatula.

  Lizzie looked at him. He was about six feet tall and had the faintest signs of gray in his dark hair. He obviously still worked out because his upper body looked strong and there was no evidence of any of the fat that can creep up on people in middle
age.

  ''What about you Sam? Aren't you lonely without a partner?''

  ''Sometimes. I've had a few girlfriends, but after my divorce, I'm a bit frightened to commit again. It's so easy to get it wrong.''

  ''I guess. I'm only twenty-one, so I haven't had the chance to get divorced yet.''

  ''It's an exercise you can do without, I can tell you.''

  ''Did it hurt you?''

  ''We're getting into very personal stuff now,' he said taking a drink of orange juice.

  ''Sorry.''

  ''No it's okay. Yes, it was painful. We just came to the conclusion that we weren't suited. We didn't fall out; we just made a sensible decision.''

  ''What about kids?''

  ''Didn't have any. I wanted to, but she didn't. I should have asked her that before we got married, but I was young. She was also so hot; I guess I just followed my dick.''

  ''It's never too late for a man.''

  ''Physiologically no. But if I had a kid now, by the time he was at college I'd be sixty.'' Sam slid the bacon from the pan onto a plate and added a piece of bread. ''Here, eat.''

  ''Thanks. Well, I think you'd make a great dad.''

  Sam watched her eat. ''So what are you going to do about your friends now we've had this conversation?''

  ''I'm quitting being a cheerleader for a start. Maybe I'll join a legal studies group or something.''

  After she'd finished eating, Sam cleaned up and packed his bag for the day ahead. ''I can't offer you a ride, we walked home last evening,'' he said.

  ''No problem. Let's walk to campus together.''

  They left Sam's apartment and headed towards the tower that was Westchester's main building.

  ''You live so close to work, it's great,'' Lizzie said.

  ''I hate sitting in traffic, so being so close is really an advantage.''

  ''Sam I've really enjoyed talking to you,'' she said as they stood at a place where they would go their own ways. '' Can we do it again?''

  ''What?''

  ''Meet up and talk.''

  ''I'd like nothing more, but I don't think it's a good idea. You're a student, and I'm staff. It wouldn't look good.''

  Lizzie scowled. ''I suppose so. Well, coach, it was a pleasure.''

  ''For me too.''