Page 15 of The Good Girl Next Door

I’m not sure what came over me, but when I saw him staring at my window that first night, it was like I lost control after closing the curtains. I pulled off my dress, let it fall to the ground, and well, he might’ve gotten a little show.

I hope he did…

I’ve never done anything like that before, but Silas is making me think and feel and do things I’ve never considered. He’s… changing something inside me. Or he’s waking a part of me up. I’m not sure, but it’s complicated and I’m not sure how to deal with it all.

Hence, the emergency book club meeting.

“I’m not going to tell you what to do. But, Prudence, seriously. If you like him, why are you torturing yourself? He’s clearly all in. I would absolutely die if a man like him wanted to read all of my favorite books. I might die of embarrassment if he read… Nevermind. He listens to your favorite bands. Goes out of his way to be with you every second of the day. Walks you home. Makes you laugh and… blush.”

I feel my cheeks and yup, scorching hot. Thanks, Sunbathing Silas. Not sure about that nickname either. I’ll get it.

“And,” she says, raising a finger as though to really drive it home. “He was seconds away from ravishing you in the stacks. Your. Fantasy.”

Oh… yeah. I’m not sure how I forgot about that. Silas’s lips hardly brushed my skin and it felt like I was going to explode. We were seconds away from kissing when some guy carrying far too many books jolted me out of my trancelike state.

“What more do you want, Pru? I’m not saying you have to marry the man, but not even give him a chance? Who cares if he’s on your dad’s team? Your dad’s a big guy, he can suck it up and deal with it. Because if Silas isn’t good enough, who is? Something like this doesn’t happen every day.”

Sofia glances off-screen and then sinks further down in her bed, pulling at the sleeves of her sweater.

I feel like such an idiot. Silas is the first man to have ever made me feelwanted.Truly wanted and desired and I’m resisting like my life depends on it.

“You’re right, Sofia. I guess I’m just scared. Silas is a whirlwind, and I’m afraid to get swept away and discarded. That’s why my dad protects me. He’s seen how some athletes treat women. The revolving door. He doesn’t want me to get hurt.”

“But that’s life, Prudence. Sometimes you have to get a little hurt. A life free of pain isn’t life.” Sofia pauses, stroking her arm as she looks off-screen again. She swallows and then turns back to me. “Regret, Prudence. That’s what you want to avoid. Don’t let your dad dictate what you want. What do you want?”

Silas.

I don’t even have to think. It shoots through me like an arrow—a long, curving path from deep inside me. Silas might have a troubling past, but who doesn’t have skeletons in their closet? Something they’re not proud of? My dad does, and he’s the best man I know.

I don’t know if Silas is the kind of athlete he’s trying to protect me against, but Sofia’s right. I need to figure it out on my own.

“Thanks, Sofia. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I grab the bottle of water I’ve been neglecting this entire conversation and take a long drink.

“You wouldn’t be dragging your tongue across an inked-up bicep, that’s for sure.”

And then I promptly spit half of it out. “Sofia!”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

I sigh because she’s right. She’s given me the push I needed.

“Okay, fine. I’ll give you that.”

“Let me know if you can taste the ink.”

Thankfully, I’ve set the water aside.

“Okay, enough with me. Tell me about your summer. What’s it like being back in your childhood home again? Seeinghimagain. He still lives next door right?”

“Yup,” Sofia says, sealing her lips. Her eyes dart off-screen again. She thinks I didn’t notice, but I did. I know what that window overlooks because she told me.

“I’m not ending this call until you give me the details.”

She’s been crushing on her older next-door neighbor since she was a teenager. And now that she’s back, and he’s still there… I think I might not be the only one with a long, hot summer.

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