Her Big Neighbor

I try to stop the shiver that his voice causes to go down my spine. I am not entirely successful. “Not really,” I say. “Mom is starting a charity and she’s having this big party here in a couple weeks to kick things off. So she’s decided that now is the time to purge everything in the house that’s been collecting here for our entire lives.” I smile, because when you put it like that, it is a little funny.

Edward smiles too. “That explains all the trash then.”

I look over at the pile, which is almost higher than the fence. It’s been piled like that for days. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think that you’d be able to see the trash. None of it has fallen in your yard, has it?”

He’s still smiling, and I swear, I’m more dazzled by his smile than the sun shining in my eyes. “No, not at all. I only meant I was curious why you were throwing away so much. That’s all.”

“Oh, okay.”

We stand in silence for a moment, and I feel the need to clear the air. Say something, anything, before I throw myself at him. “This morning. I’m sorry for staring.”

Something deeper enters his gaze. Something a little sharper. His voice is soft. “I don’t mind if you do.”

I hear the sound of the door open behind me. “Julia?”

I blush even though I’m not in any kind of compromising position whatsoever. “Over here, Mom.”

She peeks around the corner and her eyes immediately focus on Edward, her mouth turning down in distaste. “You were taking a while,” she said. “Just checking.”

“Just a little chat with the neighbors,” Edward says lightly.

Mom doesn’t take the bait. She stalks inside without another word, and I give Edward an apologetic smile. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

I swallow, distracted by a lone drop of water slowly gliding down the columns of his throat to his collarbone. “What were you saying?”

“That I don’t mind if you do.”

“Do what?” The words are out of my mouth before I remember what we were talking about, and then I do. Oh.

Edward leans a little closer. “Stare.”

“Why—”

“Dinner is ready, Julia!” My mother’s voice calls, followed by the sharp slap of the screen door shutting. I bite my lip in frustration. We just finished cleaning the office. There’s no way in hell that dinner is ready, because we already made a plan to order pizza. She just doesn’t like me talking to Edward.

I smile at him again. “I have to go.”

He nods like he understands. “Hopefully I’ll see you soon.”

“I’d like that,” I say, before turning my back on one of the most glorious sights in the world and heading inside. Fuck, I want to climb that man like a tree. I think it would be a fun climb.

Mom is waiting just inside, arms cross, tapping her foot, the stereotypical vision of a disapproving mother. “Did you change your mind about ordering pizza?”

“No,” she waves a hand. “It’s on its way. I just wanted you inside.”

Called it. “Why?”

“I saw the way he was looking at you. I don’t like it. Be careful with him, Jules. Don’t get involved.”

“Mom, he helped me take out the trash, and we were talking for five minutes. I think you’re reading a lot into that.”

She frowns. “That’s all it takes for them to get their hooks into you sometimes. I know you haven’t had a lot of experience, but they only think with their dicks. No matter how good you think they are, they’re only looking for the next thing. Never forget that.”

I would very much like to know what Edward’s dick thinks of me. And if I have the chance to find out, I’m going to take it. But Mom is still looking at me like she’s expecting me to agree with her. I don’t.

After a long day of sorting and being interrupted with my thoughts of Edward, not once but twice today, I’m done. “I won’t have a chance to forget it,” I say. “You certainly won’t let me. Now can we set the table for dinner?”

“I’m just trying to protect you, sweetie.”

I sigh. “I appreciate that, Mom. But I’m an adult. I can make my own choices. Including whether to date someone.” Making my way into the kitchen before she can stop me, I breathe a sigh of relief. I’ve heard the same thing since I was a kid. Men are scum. Only think with their genitals. Nothing more. But that hasn’t been my experience, and I don’t want to live my life with that kind of vitriol. Mom can be as bitter as she wants about dad leaving her for someone else—that’s her right, and I’m sure that it sucked.

I’m sure it’s one of the most painful things that she’s ever experienced. But it’s not my heartbreak, and I’m not going to carry it for her. If I’m going to live here, and help her, she has to understand that. I set the table with two plates and napkins, and when my mom comes into the kitchen ten minutes later, she acts like nothing in the world is wrong.