Neighbors Read Online Free PDF Page A

“How do you know? You’ve only known me for, what, twelve hours?” I look up through my lashes. “I could be a horrible person.”
    “I doubt it,” he says. “You look okay to me.”
    Enough about you, my brain shouts. Find out about him. “What about you? How come you don’t have a girlfriend?”
    “ I did have one. She was a real doozie. It was great when we first met. We had a lot of fun and we enjoyed being together. Then I moved in with her and she changed. It was like Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde. I never knew what would set her off. A few times, I came home and found that all of my shirts had been ripped. She said she didn’t know how it happened. Then one day, I found most of my tools broken.”
    I gasp . “What did she say to that?” I lean over the table, interested in hearing what happened next.
    “ She denied it, but I found the hammer she used to pound them with. I packed up whatever she didn’t vandalize and moved in with my dad. He let me stay for a while, but I’m not comfortable with his new wife. I knew I needed a place of my own. Then I saw the sign for the house.”
    The waitress serves us our hamburger platters and drinks.
    “Oh wow. I hope she doesn’t find out where you live.”
    “Me neither,” he says, picking up the ketchup. “So, what are the other neighbors like?” I guess he doesn’t like to talk about himself either.
    “We ll, the Millers, the people you bought the house from, were nice. They had a little girl and a little boy. I think they have another on the way so they wanted a bigger place. As for everyone else, I don’t know much.”
    Dylan eats his burger while I fill him in on the little I know about the people I share a street with. Although I’m doing all of the talking, I can’t help but stare at his sexy mouth as he chews . A thought pushes in. I’d like to be his meal. Followed by a counter thought. Oh, don’t start that again. Remember, he’s not interested. Keep to being friends .             
    “A s long as there are no nutcases that live around here, I’ll be fine,” Dylan laughs.
    Our conversation moves to some construction projects he’s currently involved with.
    After lunch, I dri ve around the neighborhood and point out where the necessary vendors are located: the bank, the supermarket, the library, and the local fast food restaurants. When I glance his way, he doesn’t seem interested in any of it. He’s looking at me. I become self-conscious and wonder if I have some leftover lunch on my face. Nervously, I return his smile and show him the location of the post office. Then I drive back to my house and park in my driveway.
    “Thanks for the tour,” Dylan says.
    “No problem. Thanks for lunch.” I don’t want to look at him because I know my eyes will betray me, but I do look at him. As he walks around my car, I find myself admiring how well his jeans hug his behind. Too bad he isn’t interested. A mental vision of Tracy shaking her head in disappointment fills my head.
    “ It was my pleasure,” he says.
    Accepting that I’ll just have to be satisfied with a friendship, I remind him of my earlier offer . “Don’t forget…if you need help, okay?”
    A smile stretches across his face. He starts to cross the street then turns. “You know what? Maybe you can help. You said you were good at organizing stuff, right? I nod. “Maybe you can suggest how I can set up my closet so it won’t look like a disaster area. Wanna come in and take a look?” He doesn’t move as he waits for my response.
    My brain is screaming, Yes, yes, yes!
    When I say nothing, he says, “I found the coffee pot while I was unpacking last night. I can make you a cup.” His stare pleads with my wantonness.
    I kno w I should say no, especially since the message he sent earlier is clear that he’s not interested, but I don’t want our time together to end. “Sure.”
    He opens his door and moves some of the cartons so that I can walk in. Watching his