The Other Guy: A Textdoor Neighbor Romance

by Van Wyk, Jennifer

  “Hi,” she says like she did earlier.

  “Hey, yourself.”

  “Is this okay?” She gestures to herself and I nod.

  “More than.”

  “Alright, you two. Get outta here. Remember. Have fun! Stay out late. Make dumb choices. Drive fast and take chances.”

  “You got it.” Sierra walks over to her uncle and kisses his cheek. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too, girl. Now go on. Have a good time.”

  “We will.”

  I place a hand on her lower back as I lead her to my Jeep, open the passenger door, and help her in before climbing behind the wheel. The second I shift into drive, she asks, “Okay, where are we going?”

  I glance at her, already feeling like I know the answer to the question I’m about to ask. “Ever ridden a bull before?”

  “Uhh, can’t say that I have.”

  “First time for everything.”

  Her voice is full of nerves and her eyes tell me she’s not sure what she just got herself into. “We’re… riding a bull?”

  “Patience, Sierra. Patience.”

  She harrumphs and sits back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. “Fine. But please tell me you’re going to feed me.”

  “Of course. I have a reservation at a steakhouse. That good?”

  “I suppose,” she teases then nudges me with her elbow. “Of course that’s okay. A big ol’ steak sounds great. But I’ll warn you, if you order your steak to be done anything over medium, we’re breaking up.”

  “I’m offended that you’d think I’d order anything more than medium-rare. And breaking up? Did I miss something?” It’s my turn to tease her. As far as I’m concerned, we’re together.

  “Oh! I didn’t mean…”

  “Relax, I was just kidding.” I reach over, resting our linked hands on the console. “I know it’s soon, I know we still have a lot to learn about each other, but I like you and hope you like me the same. It feels like this could be something… I’m okay with taking it as slow or fast as you’re ready for. So let’s just take it one day at a time. You good with that?”

  She sighs and bends down, kissing the back of my hand. When she rights herself, she looks over. “Absolutely.”

  “Good. Now, steak first and riding the bull later.”

  “Can’t say that I’m not nervous but it’ll be an experience.”

  “That’s for sure.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  SIERRA

  “I love this place,” I say, looking around the steakhouse. It’s a chain restaurant but the food is always delicious. Their rolls and cinnamon butter alone are worth the wait. “I didn’t know they took reservations.”

  “I called in a favor. Otherwise it takes a few hours to get a table on a Saturday night.”

  “That’s because of these,” I say, taking a bite out of the yummy warm yeast roll.

  “I’m glad you approve. I was a little worried taking you here instead of some lesser known place.”

  “No, I love it here. It’s one of my favorite restaurants and I haven’t been in a long time.”

  “Good.”

  After ordering Cokes and our meals, ribeye for him and sirloin and shrimp for me, both with loaded mashed potatoes and salads, we can’t resist ordering their onion bloom. A signature appetizer that I would bet is ordered by at least fifty percent of their customers each night.

  “I want to know more about you,” I tell him, dunking a piece of fried onion in spicy sauce and plopping it in my mouth.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “The story,” I tell him with a challenge. By the way his one eyebrow ticks up, he knows what story I’m talking about.

  Without any hesitation, he launches in to a story that has my stomach churning by the third sentence. “My parents met when I was sixteen. Mom and I moved to Liberty from Arizona when I was thirteen. My biological dad wasn’t a good man. He used words, not fists. Well, he did until he didn’t, anyway. One night he got home from school and for whatever reason, he decided that words weren’t enough. I interrupted, thankfully, and Mom and I left.”

  “Oh my gosh,” I whisper.

  “Yeah. It was bad. Mom wasn’t going to put up with it, though. She was lucky, a lot of times it takes more than once for someone to leave. But since I witnessed it, I think she saw it for what the potentially dangerous pattern that it was.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “A pattern that wouldn’t have ended with just one night. Vince, that’s his name, he went off the rails that day. It wouldn’t have ended. Anyway, we moved to Liberty, but the fear was still there, you know?”

  “I’m sure,” I add softly because I don’t know. For as weird as my parents’ marriage was, they were never violent with each other.

  “A few years later, my dad, James, I mean, walked into Mom’s classroom because he was there for his niece. He took one look at Mom, her name is Carly, by the way, and he was determined to stick around. Then he met me and he became even more determined.”

  “Because you’re awesome.”

  “Exactly.” He grins. “Oh! Another part to my story, because you’re so invested and I know you’re dying to hear more,” he jokes since I haven’t moved and am leaning close.

  That shakes me out of my stupor and I sit back a little, continuing to munch away on our appetizer. “Go on,” I encourage him.

  “I brought Mom to a boxing gym so she could learn self-defense. It was the only thing that would help her to feel like she wasn’t helpless. She gained her confidence back. And when Vince showed up in Liberty, she had the courage to stand up to him.”

  I gasp. “He came there?”

  “He did. By then, she was with Dad and he knew everything that had happened. In front of a cop, Vince admitted to stalking her then tried to beat the crap out of my dad.”

  “In front of a cop?!” I shout incredulously then shrink down when I see people turn their heads in our direction. “Sorry. In front of a cop?” I ask quieter.

  “Never said he was a smart man.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “Prison. Would have been out by now but he didn’t spend his time wisely. Wasn’t a model prisoner, I guess.”

  “Holy shit.”

  “There’s my story.”

  “It’s… well, it’s a story, that’s for sure.”

  He chuckles and it’s deep and husky and incredibly sexy. Everything about him is. His black shirt fits him perfectly. Not too tight but form fitting enough that it showcases his strong build.

  Our salads are delivered and we dive in. I’m already starting to feel full but the food is too good to resist. I know I’ll be miserable when we leave but at least we’re getting exercise after this. At least, I assume riding a bull is exercise. Though I’m still a little confused by that part of the evening, I’ve never been one to shy away from an adventure.

  Over steaks and creamy mashed potatoes loaded with cheese and bacon, we talk about everything and nothing. Places we’ve visited or want to visit, sports we played and music programs we participated in during high school, friendships, and family.

  Both of us are technically only children, even though he considers Lily his sister now. The difference is that he now has a very large extended family and aside from Kyle, I don’t have any other family. It’s never felt like I was missing anything in my life, but that could be because I’m a private person.

  “I gotta tell you something and I don’t know how you’re going to react, but I like where this could go between us and I don’t want secrets.”

  I set down my knife and fork to give Jack my full attention.

  “What is it?”

  “You met my cousin at Balance the other day.”

  “I did?”

  “You did. And the reason I know this is because I had dinner with her older brother and my brother-in-law last night.”

  I turn my head to the side. “That’s your secret? That you went to dinner wi
th your family? You told me that already.”

  “Yeah. I think I need to explain my family a little bit more.”

  “Okay?” I fidget with my napkin in my lap, trying not to squirm.

  “So, uh, Harper, she was your waitress at Balance, right?”

  I nod.

  “That’s my cousin. She took your picture.”

  I scrunch up my nose. “No, she didn’t,” I say with a chuckle.

  “Yeah, she did. My family… they’re very involved in each other’s lives. And that’s a very mild way to put it. And don’t worry, I yelled about it last night because I think it’s bullshit that she’d do that. But I want to apologize to you because it’s not okay.”

  “Why did she take my picture?”

  “Because the entire family knows that I’m interested in you and is taking it upon themselves to butt their big fat noses in the middle. Grady, my cousin, and Drew, my brother-in-law, they think you’re beautiful, which I obviously agree. But I’d have liked to have the chance to introduce you to them myself.”

  “Wow.” He wants to introduce me to his family. It’s not really that much of a surprise or even unexpected, but hearing it makes it so much more real. But also hearing that his family thinks I’m beautiful is a nice little ego boost.

  “I know you don’t have a lot of family and trust me when I say, I get that. Before my mom got together with James, it was just the two of us. They have never had a lot of boundaries, especially when it comes to each other. It’s overwhelming when you’re not used to it, and they often time forget their manners. Like taking a picture of someone without their permission.”

  I sit quietly for a few seconds but can’t find it in me to be upset. Not really. It sounds like she didn’t take my picture maliciously or to make fun but because she was excited for Jack.

  “It’s okay.”

  “What?”

  I shrug and place my hands back on the table, picking up my fork for a large bite of potatoes. Once I swallow, I explain. “It’s not a big deal. I’m glad you told me, of course. Here’s the deal, though. I can see that was hard for you for a couple reasons. On one hand, you don’t want me to think poorly of your family because you love them and understand where Harper was coming from. On the other hand, you respect me enough to tell me. I’m not upset, especially since they said I was beautiful,” I add with a smile and he chuckles, shaking his head and resumes eating again. “Plus, this could be fun.”

  “Fun, how?” he asks, finishing off his steak.

  “I can totally mess with them now.”

  He throws his head back and laughs, deep and husky. His “Oh, yeah, you’ll fit right in.”

  * * *

  “This isn’t exactly what I expected when you asked if I’d ridden a bull before.”

  “I know. The look on your face when I asked was priceless. Though the look right now is, too. What’s wrong, Sierra? You’ve never been on a mechanical bull before?”

  “No. I haven’t.”

  “Chicken?”

  I narrow my eyes and throw my shoulders back. “I didn’t say that.”

  “Uh huh. Come on. Let’s put our names in.”

  “Can’t I watch a few people go first? Or, you know, get really, really drunk? It seems like an activity that should only be participated in while rip-roaring drunk.”

  “So you can pee your pants while you fall off laughing?”

  “At least I’d have an excuse. What does it say about me if I pee my pants and fall off while I’m completely sober?”

  He laughs as he takes my hand in his and guides me through the crowded room. I notice women do a double-take when they see him and the look of disappointment when they take in our linked hands. I can’t help but want to smile in their direction and stamp MINE across his forehead. But… well, that doesn’t make sense because that would be on his own. Where do I want to stamp it? Either way, I wrap my other arm around his bicep and lean in closer, preening when he aims a happy grin my way.

  Oh, yeah.

  He likes it that I’m claiming him.

  Just like I like that he’s making sure every guy in here knows I’m with him.

  I’ve never been a jealous person before so this is a little new to me, wanting to make sure that all these women staring at him know he’s taken. By me.

  He settles us at a high-top table and I look around.

  “It looks like a cowboy threw up in here.”

  He takes his eyes off me for a moment to look around. “Well, it’s a country bar so…”

  “Ahh. That makes sense. I like it, though. It’s not hokey, y’know?” I add on because the expression on his face makes me a little nervous, like I just offended him.

  That seems to make him relax again. “Yup.”

  “Plus, you already know I love country music.”

  “So you’re saying you like it here?”

  “Absolutely! It’s wonderful,” I practically squeal. Maybe I’m overcompensating just a tad.

  “Okay, okay. I get it. You’re worried you hurt my feelings when you said a cowboy threw up in here.”

  “Kind of?” I stretch my lips out and show my teeth. “I’m sorry, it was kind of a dick thing to say.”

  “Not at all. It’s true. I took you to a cowboy steakhouse and now this. Apparently I was trying to show you I’m all man,” he says, joking, puffing out his chest and dropping the tone of his voice.

  I giggle. “I didn’t even think of that. But yeah, you took me to Texas in Michigan, didn’t you?”

  “I guess I did. And here I thought I had such a great date night planned.”

  I lift my butt off the seat and stretch across the table. I brace myself with my hands on the table and kiss him. “It’s been perfect and I have no doubt the rest of the night will be also.”

  A waiter comes over, placing a coaster in front of me then Jack. It’s cardboard with the logo of the bar on it and I have the crazy desire to steal one so I can remember our first date. First of many, hopefully. “Can I get you two something from the bar?”

  Jack orders a beer and I do the same.

  “With an orange wedge,” he adds and winks at me.

  For some reason that makes my stomach warm. He remembered that from the first night we met.

  “You got it.”

  “Thanks. And where do we put our names in for the bull?”

  He points to the corner. “Right over there. Do it now, though. It fills up pretty quickly.”

  “Great. Will do.”

  After he leaves, I turn to Jack. “You’re not going to let me outta here without trying it, are you?”

  “If you really don’t want to, I won’t make you. But I think you’d have fun.”

  “I’ll make a fool of myself.”

  “So? When will you see these people again? We drove an hour to get here, remember?”

  “True,” I say, chewing on my lip.

  “Besides, making a fool of yourself isn’t a bad thing. That means that you don’t take life too seriously.”

  “Fine. I’ll do it.”

  He throws a fist in the air. “Yes! You’ll have fun. I promise. Or, at least, you’ll have fun looking back at it.”

  “Oh, great,” I say and roll my eyes.

  “Be right back. I’m going to go put our names down.”

  “Okay.”

  I watch him walk away and people watch. Couples and groups of friends, a bachelorette party that looks like they’re three sheets to the wind but having a great time. I hope they get on the bull. Even never seeing someone ride it, I know watching a person drunk off her ass on there would be hilarious.

  Our waiter delivers our beers and I thank him, digging a ten out of my wallet and handing it to him. “Keep the change.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be back to check on you in a bit.”

  Jack returns just as he leaves and glares at me. “I was going to pay.”

  “I can buy a round of drinks, Jack.”

  “I know that, Sierra, but that
doesn’t mean you should have to. I invited you out tonight.”

  “And I accepted because I wanted to go on a date with you. It’s ten bucks. I think you can let this one slide,” I tease, gripping his shirt to pull him close and kissing him on the lips.

  Apparently that’s the trick that works to ease him out of a grumpy mood because he deepens the kiss, swiping his tongue against mine and leaning in close, one hand on the back of my seat and the other around my waist. His moan vibrates through my chest and I wrap my arm around his neck, tilting my head to get a better angle. His teeth nip and bite and his tongue twists and swipes and I wonder where this man has been all my life. Why I was so insistent on never having passion in a relationship because my gosh, even kissing him turns me inside out. The noise of the bar fades away and I sway toward him, almost falling out of my seat.

  When he pulls away much too soon, but probably smart considering I was seconds away from jumping out of my chair and wrapping my legs around his waist and clinging on tight, I notice a few people make catcalls. Normally, that would embarrass me but right now it doesn’t. I lift my fingertips to my lips, certain I’ll be able to feel them tingling. “Holy moly,” I whisper.

  He’s so close I can feel his breath when he says, “Yeah.”

  “If nothing else works, we know that sure does.”

  “Damn straight.”

  We untangle from each other and take large swigs of beer in an effort to cool off. But we don’t separate too much. Holding hands across the table, playing footsie under the table, leaning over the table so our faces are next to each other. The damn table is like our chaperone, keeping us from getting too close.

  “I forgot to tell you something.”

  “What’s that?” He leans back in his chair while his eyes stay locked on mine.

  “You know how I had breakfast with that lady this morning?”

  “Your new friend?”

  I laugh because it sounds like something a mother would say to her elementary school-aged kid. “Yeah. Mallory. She talked about kind of joining our businesses.”