Read The Neighbor #3 (The Neighbor #3) for Free Online

across the fence.
    “Come on son ,
let’s go inside and grab some lunch,” Ryder said to the little boy.
    A simple three-letter word sent me into a
tailspin and immediately sobered me up. I had thought my fit was bad before. As
I had emptied the golf clubs all over my dorm room, I did to my mother’s
kitchen drawers as I stomped inside and Sayler followed. Cutlery went flying
and a whisk hit Sayler in the face. The silver, which was never used, lay on
the floor. I wadded up cheap paper towels as I had in the high school bathroom
and threw them to the ceiling.
    “Well, I see you are reverting back into a
child. You have given new meaning to the tantrum.” Sayler concealed her
laughter. She thought my antics were funny but she refused to give into my
juvenile behavior.
    I was wet and embarrassed, standing in my
mother’s kitchen, which I had destroyed.
    “I look pathetic huh?” I said.
    “Yeah. Well, now we know for sure that Rydy -Pooh
has been hiding a family. That is his kid and we probably saw his wife or
baby-mama earlier. The truth hurts, especially when we can’t do anything about
it.”
    “I hate it when you’re right Sayler. It’s not
often. I wish it was never because this one hurts.”
    We started to pick up my mother’s kitchen,
which was a mess. The yard was not much better as it had been our battlefield
for the tomato war.
    “Sayler, I just didn’t think this would happen
to me. I had my eyes wide open,” I said.
    “Not wide enough. He took advantage of you. He
played you like a cello.”
    “What if it was his sister? I know she has a
daughter and maybe she has a son too. That would make perfect sense,” I said. I
was grasping at straws.
    “Who calls their nephew son and why would he
keep a date with his sister secretive?” Sayler answered.
    “I guess I owe it to Ryder to tell him I know
the truth.”
    Sayler looked at me sternly. “No, Jenna. You
owe it to yourself to tell him to go to fucking hell.”
    “Thanks for being here when I needed you. I
know Ryder’s schedule. He meets three other guys for golf every Sunday
afternoon. I will be at the country club when he finishes his round and he’s in
for a big surprise,” I said.
    “Is it safe to leave you alone? I am afraid of
which room you will tear apart after I leave.”
    “I will be fine. I will have my mother cook me
up something for dinner.”
    “Are you high? Your mom doesn’t cook.”
    “I know, but she is going through some sort of
rejuvenation, renaissance, or she is just crazy. She even has her eyes on
Claude the neighbor. In general, she hasn’t changed much.”
    “Right. Do you think we will get that way as we age?”
    “God, I hope not.” I laughed and gave Sayler a
hug goodbye.
    It took a couple hours to clean up. It was
therapeutic in a way. I didn’t linger in front of the kitchen window, but I
stole the occasional glance. I could see the lights were still on, which
indicated that Ryder and the boy were still home.
    I tried waiting up for my mother. I thought
she must have taken the scenic route with Claude. I was actually waiting up for
my mother, which was weird. Before I fell off to sleep, I checked my phone. I
had a text from Ryder.
    Miss U nxt W/E?
    Yeah right. I put my phone face down with the
ringer and vibrator off and went to sleep.

 
    Chapter
Six
    I woke up early on Sunday. I was still pissed
at my mother for not telling me about Ryder sooner. My relationship with her
could not compare to what was going on with him. I decided to accept her the
way she was and make nice.
    I was going to the country club, so I dressed
accordingly. I wore a pair of khakis and a pink, sleeveless polo. I lay in bed
for fifteen minutes with cucumbers on my eyes to reduce any evidence that I had
been crying. The 3-4 tumblers of cheap wine I’d had did not help me look
refreshed.
    I found my mother at the kitchen table.
    “Good morning, Mom. You were out late last
night,” I commented.
    “Keeping tabs on