The Neighbor #4 (The Neighbor Romance Series - Book #4) (6 page)

“I’m sorry, Sayler. I have never asked much about
your job or school. My life has been Ryder centric.”

“I understand. My life is mundane in comparison to
yours with lover boy. Give me the 411.”

“How about we first order some grub? I don’t see a
five dollar blue plate special. What do you suggest?”

“The local shrimp and grits are amazing. Or the
Wadmalaw
onion and spinach omelet is good. They make their
own seven grain bread here—yum.”

“Hmmm.”

The server came to our table.

“I will have the onion and spinach omelet with an
order of Applewood smoked bacon. I’ll have coffee, too, please. Black and
keep
it coming.”

“I will have an egg white scramble with John’s
Island tomatoes and I will have a raspberry green tea,” Sayler ordered.

“Did I miss something? Where are the fat and
calories?”

“It’s my new thing. Rem’s second Coffee Shack is
going to include some healthy food options. I’m doing a little research and it
tastes good too…after you get used to it.”

“I guess I’ll eat for both of us then.”

We laughed and I filled her in about the Ryder drama
and my meeting with my mother and the dean.

“I can’t believe your mother Jenna. Sex with Claude
must be great.”

“Ugh. Don’t bring that up. I don’t want the image in
my head. I turn the volume up to avoid hearing them in the room next-door. I’m
beyond living at home.”

“You never know how things might work out. You might
be shacking up with Ryder next door.”

“One thing at a time.
I move the rest of my shit out of the dorm today and Max is planning to help me
out.”

“So you’re basically in a holding pattern? That can
be a bitch. Did you ever find out who spotted you and Ryder?” Sayler asked.

“No, I haven’t given it much thought. That is Max’s
sort of thing, so I’m sure he’ll have some ideas.”

“I have to get going to work. I can’t even believe
those words are coming out of my mouth,” Sayler said as she paid the check.

“It isn’t your words that shock me. It is the fact
that you just paid for my breakfast. Thanks, Say.”

“No problem. Keep me posted.
Luv
ya.”

****

After breakfast, I was off to campus to collect the
remainder of my things. I had borrowed Claude’s SUV.

The deciduous trees were bare and the sky was grey
outside. It wasn’t a stellar day and
I
was hoping it
would improve, along with my mood.

I pulled up to Leach Hall. It hadn’t been a bad
place to live. Perhaps I would call the place home again, but for now, I had to
focus on moving out.

“Max, you’re right on
time
,”
I said as I walked into my former room. “Is Kelly here?”

“She had an early class but she let me in to get
your shit staged.”

I looked at the mess. It was depressing, but I
looked to Max to make it tolerable.

“I see Kelly has moved things around a bit.”

My
bed had been combined with hers to make a double bed. I wasn’t pissed at Kelly,
but it was unsettling. It made my suspension real and somehow permanent.

“Yeah, I helped her move the beds together. It’s
more comfortable that way—” Max paused. “That’s what Kelly said.”

“Yeah…Okay, Max, let’s get this thing started. Did
you borrow a dolly from maintenance?”

“I sure did. I’ll load the boxes and you wheel out
your bike. By the way, did you ever ride this thing?”

“No, but I had the bike so I figured what the hell.
I read that two things you should bring to college are a bike and a tennis
racket. I never used either.”

“No. You just used your mouth instead.”

I punched Max in the arm.

“My extracurricular activities are none of your
business. Speaking of—how is Valerie?”

“Shut up. What the hell is this?”

He held up a purple drawstring bag in which I kept
my personal research project. It contained lotions and essential oils.

“Just throw it in the backseat of the SUV. It is a
work in progress.”

As I packed up my books, I got a little weepy. My
dream to make something out of my life was in those books. I goofed off like
many freshman, but at least I had a purpose. I felt like a rudderless boat or a
ship without a sail.

“I think we’re packed up, Jenna. You should turn
your keys in to the RA and make a quick exit. This place is full of memories
for you. It’s time to figure out what you’re doing tomorrow, next week, or next
year. Make new tracks girl.”

“Are you going to be okay at this school without
me?” I said.

“Oh, I’ll manage. It won’t be nearly as fun, but
I
’m hoping you will be back. Before you take off, I have a
question.”

“What’s that?”

“Which putt-putt course did you visit?”

“The Seven Wonders which isn’t far from campus.”

“I thought so. I was curious when I saw Rozi from human
sexuality class scribbling on a tablet from the Seven Wonders.”

“Is this going somewhere, Max?” I asked.

“Professor Flynn is boring. Can you imagine making
human sexuality boring?”

“Get to the point, Max.”

By this time, I was curious.

“I asked if she had been there. Rozi appeared
nervous when I inquired, and Valerie and Rosemary
were also
flustered. She said she had, so I asked when. She was smart enough to say she
didn’t remember, but her partner Rosemary was quick to give up the date and
approximate time. I put two and two together and bingo. It was the same night
you were there with the professor.”

“That bitch with the ratty hair saw Ryder and
I
? She’s the one who made the report to the dean. It is good
to have that information, but what the hell do I do with it? Thanks a million,
Max. Right now I have something more important on my mind, but this certainly
answers a lot of questions.”

“Are you going to pay me? I helped you move, and I
did your detective work,” Max asked.

I laughed as I walked to my car and then called back
to Max, “Keep in touch, Max. Thanks again.”

****

I went home and took a shower. I had decided to take
control of the situation. Knowing that Roz was the tattletale was easy to
disprove. She
would be seen
as a jealous young woman.
Ryder and I had been careful other than that one time. A celebratory embrace wasn’t
enough to fire Ryder. As far as my suspension went, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass
about South Carolina as long as they cleared my record.

Chapter
Seven

My
college stuff was moved into my mom’s garage. I felt like throwing my fucking
bicycle in the trash. It wobbled on the back of the SUV during the entire ride
down I-26.

I had a terrible headache and it was nearly
impossible to get Ryder off my mind as I was living next door to the man.

I thought that I had figured out where I needed to
be. I went in the house to have a conversation with my mom

“Are you finally finished? Sorry I didn’t help more,
but my feet are killing me after spending the day in those heels. What’s up,
Jenna?”

“I have to ask your advice,” I said.

“Well that’s a first. I love to give advice,
although no one ever takes it,” my mother said.

“I wonder why Mother.” I smiled. “Ryder has an
appointment with the doctor today. He is finding out the status of his cancer
after his rigorous course of chemo and he told me not to come. He wants to do
this alone, which I happen to think is bullshit. I was talking to a woman at
the golf tournament and she says that a couple proves their strength through
times of adversity. I feel like this is pretty damn adverse and we’re ready to
face it together.”

“What if his cancer has progressed? I know, and you
do to, how sneaky cancer can be. Are you ready to stand by him as I did for
your father? It takes every bit of energy one can muster. It’s a backbreaking,
24-hour commitment. You have hospital visits to coordinate, vomit to clean up,
and you may have to shepherd him through death. Ryder appears to be a strong
man, Jenna, but you have to prepare for the worst. Standing by your man is easy
when the sun shines but it doesn’t always shine darling.”

“So, you’re throwing the decision back at me?”

“That’s what I’m doing. I do have one additional
thing to tell you. In all the craziness that went on here when you shattered the
window, I noticed one thing. Ryder looked at you in a way I rarely see. I have
personally only had a man view me that way twice. The first time was with your
father. Unbelievably, before he got sick he was a romantic. The second time was
with Claude. I have been a mess for five years. You have raised me, Jenna.
I
’m back on my feet now and I give you permission to grow
up. Go after Ryder, if that’s your choice.”

I gave my mom a big hug and ran up to change.

“Thanks, Mom. You have fun with Claude. I’m going to
stand by my man, whether he likes it or not,” I said as I raced up the stairs.

I pulled on my skinny Jeans. Ryder’s favorite color
was yellow so I grabbed a yellow cashmere sweater with a plunging neckline. I
had high leather boots, which I rarely wore but they made me look long and
lean. Ryder would love them.

I had read his pill bottles and I recognized the
name of the doctor. He was in the same group as my father’s oncologist. I
Googled the directions and jumped in my car. I drove like a racecar driver. I
was determined to meet Ryder in time. I couldn’t believe I had hesitated to be
with the man I loved. I was sure I was making the right decision.

I knew the brick building well from going to visits
with my father. It didn’t hold the best memories, but I was determined to
change that. I parked my car next to Ryder’s Lexus. I ran up the steel stairs,
which were difficult to manage with my boots.

I noticed the woman at the reception desk.

“Hello, I recognize you.” The woman remembered who I
was and knew my father had died.
“Jenna Walsh—correct?”

“Yes, I’m not here about my father—obviously.
I
’m here regarding Ryder Curran. I believe he has an
appointment with Dr. Borski.”

“Are you related to him?”

Think fast.

“I’m his wife.”

“Well, congratulations! Yes, Ryder has already
checked in. He is waiting in Suite 208.
One floor up.”

“Thanks.”

I didn’t take the elevator. I bounded up the steps
two at a time and nearly broke my neck. I entered the office to find Ryder
sitting among six other patients. Who knew what type of cancer each of them
had, but they all looked afraid. Ryder was stunned to see me. I received looks
from all the others.

“Ryder.”

“Jenna, what are you doing here?”

Ryder acted calm. What he wanted to scream out in a
raised voice was probably—
Jenna, what the
fuck are you doing here?

Ryder stood up and approached me. All eyes were upon
us and he spoke in hushed tones.

“I told you I would tell you the results after my
appointment.”

“We can face this together, Ryder. I will find out
eventually.”

“This isn’t an appropriate place to have this
argument.” He looked uncomfortable.

“Too bad, and I don’t care if all of these people
are beginning to wonder what we’re doing whispering in the middle of the
doctor’s office,”
I
said.

“Ryder, you can go into see Dr. Borski now,” a
nurse’s assistant said, standing at the door.

“I’m going to make a scene if I don’t get my way,”
I
lied and then smirked.

“Fine, let’s go.”

****

We sat together in Dr. Borski’s office. It wasn’t an
exam room and it wasn’t sterile, but clubby in atmosphere. I expected the
doctor to offer Ryder a cigar. Dr. Borski was about sixty-five and he was very
distinguished. I thought he was going to be a stuffy doctor who didn’t mind
giving folks bad news. He proved me wrong immediately.

“How’s it going, Ryder? I have to apologize for
passing your case over to my colleagues for the past couple of months. Mercy
Corp called and I went running,” Dr. Borski said.

“I was handled just fine, Rick. This is my very good
friend, Jenna.”

It was a surprise to
be introduced
as anything but his golf student.

“It’s great to meet you, Jenna. The only person I
have ever met is little Sammy. That kid is a firecracker. He insisted on being
here for Ryder’s first chemo. By the time he left, he knew more than some
residents and nurses.
I
’m glad Ryder brought in his
very good friend
to this appointment. It
is the type of news one wants to share.”