The Player Next Door Novels & Stories

Totally boring. Then, of course, the universe intervened…I mean, as usual...urf! The address? “Lakeside Court, Number 14.” I pictured a normal house. Maybe a fancy kitchen. Maybe someone who knew how to tip. What I did not expect was a miniature palace…you know, a small palace where you feel at home. Not kidding. The place looked like it had been copied and pasted straight out of an Integra influencer’s feed and then sprinkled with extra money. White stone walls, huge glass doors, the kind of pool that screams, yes, we swim here but only in money and touch of pride.

“Jade Adams with the exceptional results from her previous school actually forgot something.” “Well I didn’t forget about you and Briella,” I crossed my hands in front of my chest. His smile dropped, so did his hand. “Look, can we talk?” “No we can’t. We have nothing to say to each other.” “You say that but we keep getting into each other’s faces. You can’t say you haven’t noticed it too.” I forced a laugh. “We’ve been getting in each other’s faces because we attend the same school and we sit beside each other. And, just in case you’re forgetting, you’re my next door neighbor.”

I wondered. I walked slowly towards the window with my arms wrapped around me. I grabbed the window handles to pull them back to close it but I stopped midway when I noticed the lights next door. Who could that be? The house beside us was empty for over a year. I squinted and could actually see the inside of the room through the window adjoining mine. Like seriously, I could strangle the guy who constructed these houses like that. So damn close! Anyway, we finally got some new neighbours. What an odd time to move in though, I couldn't help but think. I just hope they would be nice. My parents could have some pals.

Steve nods at me as if to say hi but just keeps walking, still talking with my friends, passing me, like I don’t matter at all. … I’m sitting on my porch swing when I hear a car pull in the driveway next door. I keep my back to the house, hoping if I do, they’ll just disappear. “Hola, Emily!” Brenda calls from next door. It’s not her fault her son is a jerk, so I figure I don’t have an excuse not to reply to her.

Blake replied "There is a charity event tomorrow night, and I was wondering if you would come with me?" Blake asked "I don't have anything to wear to something like that," I replied "Then we will have to buy something. You are going to the mall with Blaire and my mom tomorrow afternoon. You can pick something up then. The event isn't until nine at night, so I am sure you have enough time to find something at the mall," Blake said "Okay," I replied We talked about everything, like our childhood and family. He told me that he used to play football in high school, which I could believe by how muscular he was. He was very popular in high school, being the Quarterback and all.

At least, appropriate to her. They'd been neighbors for three years, ever since she bought the condo next to his. When he came over to introduce himself and she learned he was a football player, backup quarterback for the city's NFL team, the Warriors, she blew him off. She had been ready to write him off as a muscle-bound jerk who used and discarded women and barely had room to fit himself and his ego in the same room.

Shorts and a t-shirt are over my body in a few movements. "I'm ready when you are," I yell out to Cutter as I head to my room and grab my bag. He wears a look of disgust on his face when I come back into the living room. "What's wrong?" "This piece of shit player4u is killing me at every opportunity." A belly chuckle works its way loose from my tight chest. "He's a thirteen-year-old from North Carolina." Disbelief flashes through his eyes. "Don't parents pay attention to what they're children are doing anymore? Why is he playing this game?"

Then, as the older girl is yelling, a man in a bathrobe comes running out of the apartment next door, calling out his apologies for his daughter scaring me. The first thing I see is a set of perfect abs, and I have a hard time pulling away from the sight. Wow, what a handsome set of abs. My eyes move up from the abs to the eyes of the tall, tanned man. He looks incredibly relaxed and handsome as he stands in front of me, but it takes me about five seconds longer than it should to put it together. I can’t help but gulp as I set down the girl in my arms. My boss…he’s my neighbor?!

When I was just looking at my cell phone a message popped up. When I opened the message, it was from the neighbor whose house was exactly next to mine. His name is Mike. Actually I did not know him much. When I used to be in home, I used to play badminton with my sister. One day when we were playing, Mike and some other of his tenant friends came and asked if they could join us. I actually did not know how to play badminton properly. My sister let them also play. So, I came to know him. We did not talk so much when we played. So, I was kind of surprised when the message popped up.

I smirk "What?" "Friends?" "Sure, it's not like i have an opinion in declining, it's raining" "Don't worry, i have an apartment close by" "You moved next door?" I flipped. "Nope, a couple of blocks down May street, roughly fifteen minutes from here" For a second i thought he was my next-door neighbor, which i doubt would be a good thing. "Oh ok, dinner?" I silently pray he declines my offer but the sweet son of a bitch incline.