I walked into the club foyer, which was painful, because it reminded me of Ryder.
“Hey, I’m Jenna Walsh. I signed up to play best ball with Ryder Curran. He won’t be joining me, so is there a spot available in shot play?”
There was something wrong or perhaps obscene about mentioning Ryder and best ball in the same sentence.
“I have an opening in a foursome. Do you have a handicap, Jenna?” the woman asked.
“Not really. It’s high—really high. I’m a beginner, but I know the rules of the game.”
“You will fit in this group just fine. We like to have a mix of skill levels and they need someone like you. You will need to head out right now. You foursome tees off in about fifteen minutes. You will know them as the three ladies waiting by the cart who are looking for a fourth.”
“Great and thanks.”
I lugged my golf bag out to the cart. I was paired with three ladies who seemed to be triple my age. I imagined that each of them had spent quite a bit of time on the links as they had leathered skin. Playing in the tournament with three strangers wasn’t what I had envisioned when I signed up with Ryder. But I had no exams to worry about—nothing else to do. Therefore, I decided to make the best of it. One of the women noticed me and waved me down.
“Hi, I’m Jenna.” I suddenly felt very young.
“We found our stray, girls. I’m Fran. These gals are Nora and Liesel. We hope you will bring us some good luck”
“I’m afraid I’m just a beginner. I was supposed to be playing with my golf instructor. He was unable to attend, so I figured I’d play anyways.”
“It isn’t the first time a golf instructor has stood up a student. We will show you a good time. You have an awful lot of experience in this foursome, if you know what I mean.” Nora winked.
Great! They were like my mother.
It turned out they did have a lot of experience. Nora had been married forty years and her husband had just retired. He was driving her nuts. Liesel was a widow and she was struggling to date a seventy-five year old. Fran was happily married to a recovering alcoholic. They cared little about golf. They used the time to chat, which I did as well. I was doing superb. I wasn’t ready for the LPGA, but my score was respectable. Ryder would’ve been very proud. As much as the others kept me occupied, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“I don’t know who your golf instructor is, but he should know what an excellent student you are. That ball sailed perfectly out of the bunker,” Fran commented.
“Yeah. Ryder would be pleased.”
“Don’t tell me that your golf instructor is Ryder Curran. We all love Ryder. He keeps his eye out for us ladies. He never complains about our slow play and he’s always ready with a compliment. I heard he was doing some private lessons. He’s young, very nice, and eh em—hot. Don’t blush. I may be an old married lady, but I’m not dead yet. He must be about your age, perhaps a year or two older.”
“He is actually quite a bit older, he just looks young,” I said softly.
“I see. I can tell by the look on you face that there is more to the story, Jenna. You don’t have to share. We all have a story and it’s everyone right to keep theirs private.”
“No. You three ladies have never been stupid enough to get in a predicament like mine.”
“I can only speak for myself, but you would be surprised,” Fran said.
“Well…I love him, but we don’t stand a chance,” I said. I knew I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. I was expecting a lecture from her.
“I have been married to Max since I was twenty-two and things went according to plan for the first couple of years. His job was great and we had two lovely children. We even bought our dream house. We never had a fight and everyone considered us the perfect couple. Then tragedy struck. Our daughter got sick and died of cancer. Max went into a depression and he started to drink. It took us a long time and numerous public embarrassments before we turned it around. I love Max more now than the day I married him. We are much stronger as a couple. I’m sure that you have heard this before, that it’s how a pair deals with the bad times instead of the good that shapes them. It was easy to be happy when we had no obstacles before us. When Max and I were tested, we proved our strength. You can learn from my story or consider it just the musings of an old woman, but I wish you luck, Jenna. If you see Ryder, and I know you will, tell him Fran from the Fearsome Foursome said hello.”
“Will do.”
We received a ribbon after the tournament. Everyone got one, but I was proud of my accomplishment. Before heading home, I decided to grab an iced tea at the clubhouse.
“Hey Riko. I’ll have an iced tea,” I said as I walked in. I took a seat at the bar.
Riko smiled at someone behind me. I turned my stool around to find a clean-shaven smiling Ryder.
“Make it two iced teas, Riko. We will take a seat over by the window. You can send it over there if this lady will agree to join me.”
“Is that an invitation? If it is, then you should be ready to start apologizing.”
I followed Ryder to his favorite table. He was wearing a pair of cream-colored pants and a muted yellow button down. He looked a hell of a lot better than the last time I saw him. Although I had to rethink that, because at one point he had been shirtless.
“Me apologize? You threated to let your hound shit on my lawn,” Ryder joked. “I acted like an ass Jenna…I cringe when I think about some of the things I said. Of course, I care about your future.”
“You can’t talk to me that way ever again Ryder. Words are abusive. My ears were ringing – you may well have knocked me up the side of the head.”
“I would cut off my own hand before I would raise it to your beautiful face. I really just wanted to carry you to my bedroom last night.”
“Your new room?” I asked.
“Oh, I lied about that. I was reaching for anything that may have been hurtful. I did think it was hysterical when you fell on your ass though. Those were some nice panties.” Ryder smiled.
“Really funny…But are you really selling your house and leaving town?” I asked.
“I’m taking things one step at a time, Jenna. I want to hear what the doctor has to say before I make any decisions and I will definitely consider you when making those plans.”
“Then it makes sense if I go to the doctor with you.”
“No, Jenna. It’s something I have to do by myself.”
“That makes no sense, but whatever, I will respect your decision. It’s getting dark, Ryder. Can I ask you as my golf instructor to walk me to my car?”
“I suppose I can do that. Nice ribbon by the way.” Ryder smiled.
As we were walking out, I noticed Fran and the other women. Ryder gave them a smile and I winked and Fran gave me thumbs up.
“So, Ryder, it looks like we’re continuing the sham that we’re golf-instructor-slash-student. Is that the story you’re going to tell the dean? I’m meeting with him with my mother tomorrow.”
“Yes. If all they saw was a kiss at putt-putt then we could explain that as an overly jubilant celebration. I would worry about our night in my office if I was in an updated building, but the Canooth Building has no key card system and it’s not on the university camera network.”
“I think that Meadows would have a heart attack if he ever had a camera on us that night.”
Ryder threw his arm around my shoulders when we were safely in the parking lot. “Yes he would.”
It was dark and nearly empty, as most of the tournament participants had departed. His hand slipped down the arch of my back before being firmly planted on my ass.
“I missed you, Ryder. I missed this,” I said.
“Me too,” he said as we arrived at my Sol.
Ryder pushed me against the cold metal. He kissed me passionately and pressed up me hard against the door.
“When is the last time you did it in the backseat of a car?” Ryder said against my lips.
He grew hard and his body pulsed.
“I haven’t had a lot of sexual partners, but I have always managed to find a bed. But I have a busy day tomorrow. We’ll have the car and many other places to explore in the future. I will leave you pondering where those places might be.”
I had to peel him away from me. We stood at arm’s length with hands clasped.
“I can’t believe you’re turning me down. If this is payment for my horrible behavior last night, I will never raise my voice to you again.”
“I’m not punishing you. I don’t have the evil heart to do shit like that. We’ll make up for it—we’re going to explode in each other’s arms sometime soon…” I let the idea hang in the air.
“Fine, I’ll let you go. I don’t want to, but I will. Be sure to drive safely.”
“I always do. I’ll give you a jingle tomorrow when I’m finished with Mean Dean.”
I kissed Ryder goodbye. My prize ribbon sat on the passenger seat next to my phone, which blinked constantly with messages from Ryder.
Chapter Five
Sleeping again in my childhood room was odd. I felt like an adult in some respects and a little girl in others. The cadence of my mother sleeping in the next room was soothing, except when Claude was around. In those cases, I inserted my ear buds. I was even a little comforted by the sounds made by Potato. The familiarity made me feel safe. On the other hand, there was Ryder next door, and with him, I felt every bit an adult. I wasn’t really a college student since I had been suspended. It made me feel confused and scared and banished me into some sort of limbo.
I put the pillow over my head hoping to sneak in a few minutes of extra sleep, but the doorbell shattered my peace. I didn’t feel like a grown-up or a kid—I felt pissed off. Who was fucking stopping by at 8 AM? It seemed Claude had come in handy, as he answered the door. Unable to fall back to sleep and curious, I padded down the steps in my t-shirt and a pair of boxer briefs.
“What’s up, Claude?”
“It was a delivery sort of,” Claude answered.
“What is a delivery sort of?” I asked.
“The bell rang and when I answered it, there wasn’t a person in sight. But someone left behind this stuff for you and your mom. Oh jeez—does your mother have a secret admirer?”
I discovered sitting on the table in the entryway two lovely flower arrangements. My mom shot down the stairs when she heard my gasp.
“What are these? Claude. You sly fox. I didn’t know you were the romantic type,” my mom said.
“I’m not.”
I opened up the card addressed to me.
Good Luck!
Love,
Ryder
My bouquet of stargazer lilies and pink roses smelled divine. My day was made and I was still in my pajamas. My mother rushed to her arrangement, which was more like a plant but just as lovely. It was a lucky jade surrounded by delicate yellow flowers.
Show the dean what the Walsh women are made of!
Go Get Em,
Ryder Curran
“I officially approve of my next door neighbor, professor, golf instructor or whatever the hell he is. Claude, you can learn a thing or two from Ryder.”
I laughed. I was on cloud nine.
I dialed Ryder.
“You got the flowers,” Ryder answered.
“Yep and they’re beautiful. My mother loves hers as well. Thank you, and it was great that you remembered her.”
“No problem. You deserve flowers every day.”
“Sounds good to me. Get on it, Ryder.”
“Right. Remember that I’m unemployed at the moment. Shoved in amongst the flowers is my lucky divot replacer tool. I picked it up at Augusta when I thought I was gonna die. It carried me through a lot of bull-shit.”
“I got it. I will keep it in my shoe for good luck. Have you changed your mind about allowing me to go to the doctor with you?” I was hopeful.
“No. This is a solo mission, but I appreciate it. I know you aren’t exactly a church goer, but if you’re feeling godly, put in a good word for me.”
“Yeah, I will have a long discussion with the man upstairs. Do you think he’s aware of our antics? It must be against some of his rules.”
He chuckled. “Go eat breakfast, Jenna. We will talk about god another time.”
“I’ll call ya.”
****
My mother and I prepared for our meeting with Dean Meadows while Claude made us a breakfast. He made us some omelets with Egg Beaters that my mother had on hand. He filled them with frozen vegetables and some cheese. I wasn’t sure if the cheese was moldy in spots or if it was green onion. Potato ate most of my breakfast, as he tended to do.
When we were done, my mother ran up-stairs to change as Claude and I waited with crossed fingers, hoping that she would be presentable.
“I’m on my way down and I’m dressed to impress. Close your eyes and prepare yourselves,” my mother called out from her bedroom.
I heard my mom coming down the stairs. She wasn’t in tennis shoes or slippers, which was the first clue that something was different. I smelled my mother before she reached the bottom of the stairs. Her perfume was strong but pleasant. I could sense that Claude was nervous by the way he was tapping his shoe to the rhythm of Potato’s panting, which was fast.
“Ta da! Do you approve? Say no and I’ll smack ya.” I turned around and was stunned.
My mother looked amazing. If she was going for shock and awe, she nailed it. Her cornflower blue suit with black trim was chic and conservative. She finished her look with nude pumps, carried a black clutch, and a string of pearls hung from her neck.
“Mom, throw on a pill box hat and you look like Jackie O. How the hell did you pull off that look? How did you afford it?”
She was wearing her hair down with a black band keeping it out of her eyes. Her unfortunate, orangey lipstick was replaced with a dusky rose. She had a clear coat on her nails, which replaced the tacky shade she usually wore. Claude didn’t say a word. His foot stopped moving and even Potato noticed her.
“I finally got around to cleaning out my closet. Of the bags of crap I had, the consignment store took a handful. The women at the shop treated me as a project. They became my stylists. When I went in yesterday to tell them I had a meeting with the dean, they came up with this. The suit is used, but it’s real Chanel.”
“Not used; repurposed. It’s the thing to do these days. I will leave you and Claude to whisper sweet nothings to one another. I’m going to get myself changed.”
I chose to look like a woman off the Gap website. I went for a nautical look even though it was out of season. I wore a navy maxi skirt and a navy and white boat neck sweater with three-quarter length sleeves. I threw on a string of pearls to accent it. I looked in the mirror—horrible, but perfectly appropriate.
I was ready to go downstairs, but I made one last stop in the bathroom. I walked to the window and knocked hard, hoping that he would hear me. Next door, I could see a sleeping Ryder. I knocked again. There was no response, so I took off my navy pump and tapped the glass—well, it was more than a tap because the glass shattered everywhere. I woke Ryder up. I read his lips as he jumped out of bed.
“What the fuck!” Ryder mouthed as he gestured with his arms.
My mother ran up the stairs in her Chanel suit with Claude closely behind her. My arm was cut and the blood dripping onto the floor. Potato was barking and Ryder suddenly was in the bathroom too.
“Are you okay Jenna? Should I call 911?” Ryder asked with clear concern in his voice.
“Oh my god. I don’t want to get blood on my suit. Claude get some towels. Quick.”
“Everybody relax. I’m fine. The cut isn’t deep. I don’t think I even have to change my sweater. God, I feel like a complete fool. Mom, I don’t think you have formally met our neighbor. This is Ryder.”
Ryder was standing in my mother’s blood stained bathroom in his boxers and his shirt inside out.
“I’m gl
ad to finally meet you Marnie. Jenna has told me wonderful things about you.” Ryder reached out and shook my mother’s hand.
I was exhausted already, and my day had not really begun. It was the first time Ryder had been in my home. It wasn’t as I imagined, but we all managed to have a laugh.
My mother and I left for our meeting, leaving Claude and Ryder to repair the window and sweep up the glass.
We drove my mother’s sedan to campus. We had quite a bit of drama already for one day. There was little that the dean could say that we couldn’t handle.
****
“Fancy furniture they have in here,” my mother whispered
“I know. Only the best for the dean’s office,” I said.
“You must be from the Walsh family.” The same secretary was at the desk.
“Yes, I’m Jenna, as you remember, and this is my mother, Marnie Walsh. I have been here before.” I stared the woman right in her puffy eyes.
“I will let Dean Meadows know you’re here.” The woman waddled to his door.
I don’t know if it was my crazy morning, the fact that I had company this time, or my reconciliation with Ryder, but I felt that I was on my game. Dean Meadows opened his door and nodded in our direction indicating that he was free to see us. He was wearing the only suit in which I had ever seen him. It was gray and ill fitting.
I walked into his office, making a conscious effort to walk as normal as possible despite the divot replacer in my shoe for luck. I was sporting a large gauze patch on my forearm. My mom looked great in her Chanel suit.
We took our seats in the stately leather chairs.
“Mrs. Walsh. I’m sure your daughter has explained the reason behind her suspension and we had the opportunity to discuss it over the phone. Do you have any questions? We always want to consult a parent or guardian when a situation as this occurs.”
“Yes, Dean Meadows. I’m aware that my daughter was seen celebrating with her golf instructor at the putt-putt facility. I have to be honest; I had a great laugh over the situation. You said you’re in the process of conducting an investigation. I would like to know how you investigate. The way an instructor and student celebrate varies, and it’s subjective. My daughter is passionate about golf. She’s dedicated and I can imagine a celebration was warranted.”
The Neighbor #4 (The Neighbor Romance Series - Book #4) Page 3