Read Online The Good Neighbor by Kimberly A. Bettes - Free Book Online Page A

of a racing engine startled me
awake. I figured it was some damn punk teenagers, but when I ran to
the door and threw it open, all I saw was that red-haired guy’s car
turning the corner at the end of the street.
    I looked across the street at his house, and
then the house beside his. Owen’s house. I saw no signs of life
over there, but that wasn’t saying anything. Unless Owen was on the
porch, which he usually was, I never saw signs of life there.
    I closed the door and stretched. I’d been
waiting for those two morons to go inside so I could go next door
and see the brown haired broad who wanted me. But those sons of
bitches had sat out there all night long. I’d been sitting on the
couch, peeking through the curtains, waiting. I thought the
red-haired guy would be going to work, but he never did. The two of
them sat on Owen’s porch all night, no doubt talking about me. Or
the broad next door to me.
    I walked into the kitchen, kicking cans and
bottles out of my way as I went. It was getting harder and harder
to remember a time when I didn’t have to kick trash out of my way
as I walked through my house. It was starting to seem like a whole
lifetime ago. The roaches didn’t even scatter the way they used to.
Hell, I used to not even have roaches. The house was clean. It
smelled good, I smelled good, and everything was neat. Looking
around now, there were no traces of any of that. It really was no
more than memories from another lifetime. A lifetime I would never
again know or be a part of.
    Before I fell into the well of pity that was
headed my way, I leaned over the sink and looked out the window,
searching the broad’s yard. I didn’t figure she’d be out yet. It
was still pretty early, which made me wonder where the red-haired
guy was going at such a time.
    I imagined her in bed, sleeping soundly.
Probably naked. Naked and waiting for me. Waiting for me to come
into the house quietly, sneak up the stairs, slowly pull back the
covers, and slide into bed beside her without waking her up. Then,
she’d want me to pull her tight against me. I could almost feel her
breasts in my hands as I thought about it. I imagined her to smell
of flowers of some sort. It wasn’t something I liked, but I could
overlook it. I smiled as I imagined the things I would do to her.
Some of them, rough. Others, even rougher.
    I felt the bulge in my underwear. I had to
stop thinking of her now. I wanted to save everything so I could
give it all to her.
    I grunted as I realized it would have to
wait. I had no idea if Owen was home or not. I wanted no
interruptions when I was with the broad, so it would have to wait
until I knew where those two idiots were.
    I was tired from keeping watch and waiting
all night. I’d sleep today, and then tonight, I’d wait for everyone
to go to bed. Then, I’d go next door, where she’d be naked, waiting
for ol’ Bernie Bear.
     
     
     
14 Jill
    I heard Andy speed away. I had no doubts that
Owen was with him. I wasn’t sure what they were trying to prove,
but I didn’t really care.
    I held my hair back with one hand and
steadied myself with the other. When the heaving finally stopped, I
pushed myself away from the porcelain bowl and fell against the
wall. My forehead and the back of my neck were damp with sweat. My
hands trembled. My stomach gurgled.
    I waited a few minutes to be sure I wasn’t
going to be sick any more. When I was fairly certain I would be
okay, I got up and took a careful, slow, cold shower. It made me
feel better immediately, but I still wasn’t myself. I was positive
I’d be able to get through the day once I ate breakfast. Just in
case, I had dry toast and water. I didn’t want to push my luck.
    I left Andy a note telling him I loved him
before I headed out the door to work.
    Thinking it was a fluke that I’d been so ill
earlier, I assumed the worst was over. It was a sudden onset of
sickness. I didn’t have the flu or anything. I just woke up sick.
But I felt better