The Neighbor #4 (The Neighbor Romance Series - Book #4) (7 page)

Ryder put his face in his hands and sighed. I moved
my chair closer to his and placed my arm around his back.

“Ryder, there is no evidence of cancer in your body.
Your blood counts are normal and your scan is clear. You are cancer free,
Ryder.” Dr. Borski smiled.

Ryder stood up and put his hands in the air. He
lifted me off my feet and squeezed me like a python. Then he kissed me hard.

“Did you hear that baby? We are going to celebrate
like never before. I couldn’t have gotten through this without you...”

Ryder whipped his iPhone from his pocket. It was his
cancer phone. He threw it on the plush office carpet.

“Would you like the pleasure?” I looked at Ryder.
“Go for it. You’re wearing the boots for it,” Ryder said and Dr. Borski nodded
in agreement.

I jumped up and down, destroying Ryder’s stupid,
second phone. After a few moments of celebration, Ryder and I sat down again.

“I don’t remember having so much fun telling a
patient he or she was cancer free. It has been a long road and you deserve
every fortune that comes your way. Check with Irene on your way out. She’ll
make an appointment for you in about six months.”

“Thank you, Rick. I couldn’t have done it without
you and your team.”

“And thank you for helping the kids with cancer
already. They look forward to the free golf clinic you and your buddies put on
every year.” Dr. Borski opened the door for us to leave.

We made it to the parking lot. It was my turn to
push Ryder against the car. I pushed my body close to his and he never felt
more virile. I tossed off his golf cap.

“You won’t need that anymore. You have plenty of
years ahead to collect a million caps.”

“You’re right… You know, when I saw you walk into
that office, I didn’t know whether to hug you or strangle you. But now, I just
want to put my cancer free head between those thighs and linger a very long
time.”

“Easy there…”

He grinned. “Pop the lock Jenna...your backseat is
waiting.”

“Mm.
It is
tempting,
Ryder, but I have other plans for you
tonight.”

“Really…Well, I’m going to surprise Sammy tonight.
He has been so worried, the poor kid. I’m going to drive out to his mother’s
house, which will take some time because I’ll hit rush-hour traffic. I’m
gonna
take him for ice cream and I won’t be home until
late. As much as I hate to delay our celebration, I must.”

“I would hate to stand in the way of a dedicated father.”

“Would you rather I wasn’t one?” Ryder asked.

“Of course not.”

“Good. I will be home late so I will call you in the
morning.”

“You know where I’ll be.”

“I will be thinking of you as you lay all snuggled
in your bed.”

“I’ll be dreaming of us.”

Before getting in my car, Ryder gave me an explosive
kiss. He pulled my head back and jammed his tongue hard in my mouth and I
quickly pulled away.

“Ryder, we don’t want anyone to see.”

“Fuck it, Jenna. It’s a little late.”

I hopped in my car and headed home. On the way, I
stopped at the mall.

****

I walked past the concrete archway. I detested the
mall so much that it made me itch. Clothes were cool, and I loved them, but I
think I had a mall allergy. Sayler stopped shopping with me years ago when she
could no longer deal with my anxiety. There was nothing pleasurable about the
process. The lighting sucked and, when combined with the boxes with mirrors
they called dressing rooms, it only made it worse.

I had a view of the other shopper’s feet, which was
weird. It made me envision them naked as they put on a pair of jeans that were
too tight. If I heard another person sneeze, I would picture boogers flowing
out of their noses. They would wipe the snot on the clothes that I might try
on. The place was like a petri dish in a lab—full of germs.

I was in the habit of spending too much money that I
didn’t have. Bring on the plastic. My panicked state caused me to buy a whole
lot of shit that I didn’t need and rarely wore. I would have to avoid the
changing rooms and eyeball stuff. If it looked cute, I would buy it.

All that made online shopping my refuge. My computer
shopping carts were loaded.

I loved it.

That day I was shopping for Ryder. It would be worth
it. In fact, I wasn’t itchy and I felt serene.

I headed to the sports outlet first. I got him an
engraved divot tool. I didn’t know if the one he gave me brought me luck, but
it was a comfort. This one
was engraved
with his new
birthday: the day he was born into a healthy life.

My next stop was the lingerie store. I felt the
panic coming on. Trying on undergarments was out of the question.

“Hello. Can I get a room started for you?” A woman
excessively made up with a measuring tape around her neck asked and approached
me.

“I was wondering if you have some things in back,
which haven’t made it to the floor yet.
I
’m looking
for something in a petite. I just want to look over some things to purchase. I
won’t be trying anything on.” I gave the woman clear instructions.

“I can measure you in back so we will have your
exact size.”

“I don’t need to be measured. I know my size,” I
said.

“We hear that all of the time but a woman’s body
changes according to her monthly cycle, age, and life in general. It is a good
idea, if you aim to look and feel your best,” she said.

“Very true.”
I relented and made it through the ordeal as quickly as possible.

I walked out of the mall with my packages. I
repeated to myself the words
cancer free,
cancer free.
Even a trip to the mall was unable to dampen my spirits.

Chapter
Eight

I bounded in the door to find Claude and my mom
relaxing at the kitchen table. I had disrupted the mood once again.

“Hey guys, excellent news! Ryder is cancer free,
according to his recent tests. I’m going straight to bed because my honey and I
will be celebrating tomorrow!”

“I’m so relieved…I was unable to celebrate that type
of cancer news with your father. It must feel amazing. Congratulations to you
both, and we will throw him a party after you and him get this school thing
figured out.”

“Sounds great…God, I’m so happy. I’m either going to
sleep like a baby or be too excited to relax,”
I
said
and ran upstairs.

****

It was approaching midnight and I had not slept. I
had cycled through all of the mixes from my nephew. I had moved on to audio
books as I was becoming desperate. I was listening to anything that would put
me to sleep. I considered calling Sayler or Max, but it was late. I also felt
that I was becoming narcissistic. They had lives, too; it wasn’t all about
Ryder and me, which I often forgot.

I went to the bathroom a couple of times. The window
was boarded up,
but I managed to peer out an exposed
corner. There was no sign of Ryder. I knew he was having a good time with his
son and I was a little jealous that it wasn’t me, but I understood. Sammy was
only nine years old and he suffered along with Ryder throughout his illness.

I went down to the kitchen to grab a snack. I had
always heard that warm milk could help one be soothed to sleep. I figured a
chocolate chip cookie would have the same effect and it would taste better.

“Oops—my bad.
I didn’t think anyone was down here. What are you doing up, Claude?”

“Your mother’s geriatric dog was scratching at the
bedroom door. He has started waking me up for a late night walk. He can sense
when I’m here and he must know that I a softie. We have a cookie together
before I go back to bed, but don’t tell your mom.”

“Great minds think alike, Claude. My great wisdom
has led me to believe that a cookie might put me to sleep.”

“Let me know how it works for ya?
I
hope my presence in this house doesn’t make you uncomfortable, Jenna. I know
this is your home, and it was you father’s home, too. I have had my eye on your
lovely mom for a long time, but I waited until it seemed appropriate to ask her
out. Taking up jogging was my last ditch effort to attract her attention.”

“I feel the opposite, Claude. It is about time my
mom had a glimmer of light in her life. You shake things up around here. I’m
hoping everyone enjoys a little stability in
their
lives next year. Now that Ryder’s cancer has gone into remission, I won’t be so
crazy. The suspension matter feels less important now.”

“Cheers to that.”

Claude and
I
clinked milk
glasses. From next door, I heard Ryder’s garage door opening, making me tense.

“Did you hear that, Claude? It was Ryder’s garage
door. He’s home…This morning, I put my mother on the hot seat by asking her
advice so…now it’s your turn…if you want to.”

I noticed poor Claude start to panic.

“I don’t have any daughters, but I’ll give this
Dear Abby
thing a try. What is the
question?” Claude asked.

“If you were Ryder, would you prefer to be left
alone or have a surprise visitor?”

“Good news is always something you want to share. I
can’t imagine Ryder feels much like sleeping either. What do you have to lose?
It beats shattering another window to draw his attention. Go say hello, and
take him a cookie.”

“Thanks, Claude,” I said.

I quickly changed into my new bra and panties and
threw worn jeans and a t-shirt on top. I was ready.

****

I knocked on Ryder’s front door. At first, he did
not answer. I considered knocking on his bedroom window, but I thought I had
incurred enough property damage already. I saw the lights turn on as he made
his way to the front door.

The door swung open.

“Jenna, I thought it might be you.” Ryder smiled.

He was wearing light blue pajama pants and no shirt.
His pants were scattered with prints of golf balls and a drawstring secured
them at his wasp waist. He had a book in his hand and he was wearing his
glasses. He motioned me in, so I walked in the door and shut it behind me.

“I’m glad you thought it was me and not some other
woman.”

“Well, there is no other woman. Now that the Sammy
mystery has been put to rest, I would hope you know that.”

Ryder walked towards me. It took enormous restraint
not to jump into his arms. I put my palm to his chest to stop his advance.

“No, Ryder, we aren’t going to fall into bed. Not
yet anyways. I have a plan and it requires you to trust me.”

“Okay….” Ryder said tentatively.

“I’m going to gather some things for us. I will be a
few minutes and I would like you to wait for me in the car.”

“Sex in the backseat—finally,” Ryder guessed.

“No. It’s better and more imaginative. For once, I’m
the one with the secret.”

Ryder went to get his keys. After more prompting, he
finally did what he
was told and waited in the car
. I
gathered a few beach towels, a bottle of champagne and some Beats speakers that
we could attach to his phone. I put some blankets in a bag and I made sure to
pack the engraved divot tool I had got him. I also threw in a couple of golf
sweaters because it was cold at night.

Then, I jumped in Ryder’s car.

“Head north up 26 and take the 99E exit,” I barked.

“Where the hell are we going, Walsh?”

“It’s going to be epic. We deserve to let loose. For
too long we have both been in limbo. In this moment – right now, we don’t have
any excuses. The school shit doesn’t mean much when compared to the fight for
life you just won. Let’s celebrate the present.”

“All right…I’m driving but I have no idea where we’re
going.”

I turned the music up loud. We listened to a little
Coldplay. We could agree on their music. Ryder did not look or act his age, but
music made or age difference evident. I pretended not to like all of the pop
princesses but I would admit to an occasional Taylor Swift or Ariana Grande
tune. Ryder favored Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M., and Nirvana. The drive that I
had in mind was about an hour long.

“So, you know that I have always wanted to play 50
questions with you. But we always end up in bed or asleep in front of the
television. There is so much about you that I don’t even know.”

“That’s not what I had in mind, Jenna. I was hoping
for at least a hand job.”

“Pull over at the next rest stop and I will…get you
a cup of coffee.” I smiled.

I wasn’t normally a tease but I was having fun. I
purchased Ryder a cup of
joe
and we were back on the
road. I snuggled in against Ryder as he drove.