Page 12 of Faking it with my Off Limits Neighbor

“That you were living next door.” He looks worried, and I suspect that he wonders if I think he chose that house on purpose.

“Yes. I know,” I say, wanting to put him at ease. “Milly told me.”

“Yes,” he says knowingly. “My little sister has a lot to answer for.”

There’s a long silence. I could agree, but I’d be doing it for the sake of filling the quiet. Strangely, I’ve always been quite comfortable with silences in conversations. Nearly everyone I know feels the need to fill them, but I’ve always felt that there was no point in meaningless conversation. It was one of the things Troy told me he liked about me when we first started dating.

Maybe he can’t tolerate it any longer because he says, “If this is going to be too awkward, I can move.”

I shake my head and frown, as though his presence next door has not put me through utter turmoil since his arrival. “Don’t be silly,” I hear myself say. “We’re both adults, Troy.”

After a moment's silence, he nods. “Well, as long as you’re sure.”

I nod. “Of course.”

Inside, however, my mind is giving me full-on face slaps for not having the guts to tell him how I really feel. To tell him that him moving somewhere else would make my life far easier, thank you very much.

You are a coward, Charlie Woods.

Yes. Yes, I am.

6

Troy

It’s been a few days since my welcome home party, and my phone now has a bunch of new numbers in it. I received multiple offers to catch up with the guys. I’ll be sure to take them up on them when I finally get settled. It’ll be nice to have friends again.

It was strange to see how different they were after all these years. Especially Dave Kilburn. Somehow, I always thought he’d be fighting fit for the rest of his days. He told me family life and his joinery business have kept him too busy to keep up with sports. I told him it was a poor excuse. He laughed and agreed.

I’m just washing my breakfast dishes when I hear a knock at the front door. I stride through the house and open it to my always-energetic sister.

“Hey.” She steps into the house once I pull the door open wide. Looking around, she says, “Wow, Troy. It could do with a bit of cheering up in here.”

Milly’s not wrong, but I’ve been too busy ordering things I need for the restaurant as well as trying out new recipes to decorate. “I’ve been here less than a week, Titch. Give me a break.”

“Sure. What shall I break? Your arms? Your legs?” she teases with a wide grin.

“You’re hilarious,” I sneer. “Let me get my coat.”

I’m taking Milly to see the restaurant. While Mom and Dad looked it over before I bought it, I have yet to see it. Milly was working the day my parents were there, so she hasn’t seen it, either.

We jump into Dad’s truck. I maneuver out of the driveway—unable to help but throw a glance in my next-door neighbor’s direction, not that she’s anywhere to be seen—and head down the road.

I haven’t seen much of her since the party, and I get the funny feeling that this is just the way Charlie wants it. At least the conversation between us at the bar seemed to break the ice a bit. I actually made her laugh, which, I will admit, was a surprise.

“Are you excited?” Milly gushes while I drive us across town.

I nod. “Of course.”

And I am. Really excited, actually. I’ve been tempted to go and see the restaurant by myself in the last couple of days, but I promised Milly she could come with me. She’s the manager at the big chain hardware store and couldn’t get the time off, so I’ve occupied myself with other important things, like ordering stock.

“Me, too,” she continues energetically. “And now that all your friends know that you’re back, you’ll have your first customers when you get opened.”

I haven’t really had the chance to thank Milly for the surprise party, and this seems like as good a time as any to do it. “Thanks for that, Titch. It was pretty cool what you did.”

“Well, I knew you wouldn’t want a fuss. But I also knew all your friends would want to see you and welcome you back home.”

My questions about Charlie are on the tip of my tongue. My new neighbor has never been a good liar, and I know she wasn’t telling me the truth in the bar. Her honesty was actually refreshing when we first started hanging out. She was this sweet, innocent girl that I didn’t really know how to be myself around. The usual girls who the guys and I hung around with were caked in make-up, vain, and serious attention seekers.

---