The Player Next Door Novels & Stories

The bathroom smelled like lavender and citrus, the steam wrapping around me as though preparing me for the battle I was about to fight. By the time the clock struck 6 PM, faint vibrations of music traveled up the stairs. Bass thumped against the walls, growing louder. I could hear loud laughter and chatter from downstairs. I knew immediately that people were arriving. Alex’s so-called “friends.” My stomach fluttered, not with fear but with anticipation. I had overheard my mom and stepdad earlier at breakfast, giggling like teenagers about their little getaway. They wouldn’t be coming back tonight. That meant only one thing—Alex had the house, the pool, the night… all to himself and his crew.

Just like that. Beckett looks away. Back to them. Back to his world. The ache in my chest returns immediately. Sean notices. Of course he notices. He sighs. “You two are weird.” I nearly choke. “What?” Before he can answer, Colt’s voice carries across the hallway. Loud. Too loud. “Yo, Beck. Your neighbor coming to the game Friday?” My stomach immediately tightens. Beckett doesn’t answer. Tyler smirks. “What? Hoodie girl?”

A loud bang on his door caught his attention, rising above the din. He pushed to his feet and walked over to the music player, turning it down a notch. “Who’s there?” he yelled. “Your neighbor,” a cold, menacing voice returned, and it took Nico only a moment to recognize who that voice belonged to. He scoffed, running a hand through his hair as he strode to the door. He pulled it open to find Theo, the rude neighbor, standing there with the perpetual frown between his eyes. Nico coked his head to the side, his lips tilted up in a small smile. “What do you want? It’s somewhere around 4am, you know?”

If Jamie stayed where seniors didn’t usually bother to go, he’d be fine. He could do this. And maybe he should make friends with the guy in the room next door. The one who’d introduced himself yesterday, broad-shouldered and easygoing, mentioned he played a sport. That could be… useful. Just in case. Backup. Jamie nodded to himself as he tried to slow his breaths. Okay. Sorted. Everything would be fine.

I ignore her, crouching down, my fingers still dug in my hair as I bawl my eyes out. “Did something happen to Adrian? He moved out quickly last night,” the neighbor says again. This time her voice is softer. She sounds concerned. If only she knew I can’t form words; neither do I want to. Song I listened to while writing: Next To Me (Jordan Rodrigues)

I was on my second can when I heard footsteps down the stairs, and that was my cue to hide beside the fridge. “Are you sure I can’t stay the night?” I rolled my eyes at how cringy the woman's voice sounds, still probably trying to seduce my housemate. “You know I don’t do that cuddle BS.” Even without seeing his face, I know he was smirking at the girl right now, playing with her like she was on the palm of his hand. “Then maybe we can do this again some other time?” “We'll see." "Just call me when you need to spice up your life."

“You’ve got the brooding billionaire baby daddy on one side and the soulful, sexy neighbor on the other. Honestly? N*****x could never.” I threw her a look, but the smile tugging at her mouth made it impossible to stay serious. Later, after the babies were asleep and Clara had dozed off in the armchair, I stood by the window, watching the city lights flicker. Across the courtyard, Adrian’s balcony light was still on. I shouldn’t have, but I reached for my phone anyway. My fingers hovered over his contact name, Adrian (Next Door), and before I could talk myself out of it, I typed:

Before Sarah could respond, a sharp knock sounded on the wooden door of the room. We both turned our heads toward the entrance. "Who is it?" Sarah called out. Nobody answered, and no footsteps moved away from the hall outside. The quiet dragged on for a few uncomfortable seconds, making the air in the room instantly grow tense. Sarah shifted her weight, stepping in front of the bed with a guarded look on her face. "This is the Luna's room," Sarah spoke up again, her tone firm and authoritative. "Identify yourself right now or leave." Just as Sarah was about to call out a third time, a heavy throat cleared on the other side of the door, followed by a familiar, easygoing chuckle.

“Shawn meet Noah my neighbor next door and the new guy at school.” Shawn walked closer to him and stretched a hand out, Noah stared long at it almost as if he was about to place his hand in a snake’s mouth before taking it in his. “you look familiar, wait are you Noah King?” Why am I the only one that do not know him? And his name seems to carry power with it and he has the charisma to also go with the name. “yeah, I am.” He simply replied back. “would you like to join our team?”

Not like I was reviewing the book. Dang! I feel so embarrassed right now. But, I'm not mad. I promise you. but for now, Let's move to our next book.... WINNING WALKER. Thanks for all you do. But yeah, The Boynextdoor Is over. Like my counter people would say... DONE AND DUSTED.