The Outlaw Next Door Read online

  “I know you do! But I don’t.”

  “Hey, is he still out there? Take a photo of him and send it to me quickly,” Allie said as an idea formulated in her mind.

  “Are you crazy? I mean, I would – but if he catches me I’ll be mortified. No way, I’m not taking that chance.” Jasmine pictured herself having to explain to him what she was doing, and she felt embarrassed just at the thought of it.

  Allie laughed. “Well, okay then, but I think that I need to come and see him soon. Dinner at your house tomorrow? That will give you another day to spy and get details.”

  “Dinner sounds good. And yes, hopefully you can catch a glimpse of him then. Bring pizza.”

  “Ha! Aren’t you supposed to cook if it’s at your house?”

  “Not if you are the one who just invited yourself over! Also, I’m not sure if you want to take a chance on me cooking – we all know how that has turned out in the past.”

  “Fair enough! Okay, pizza it is. I’m not cooking either. You and I should stay as far away from the kitchen as possible. See you then. Oh, and now that you’re single and ready to mingle – do you want to double date with me some time?” Allie asked in a voice that had suddenly turned casual – almost too casual. When Allie was this flippant with her words, it meant that she was actually trying to disguise a hidden agenda.

  Jasmine groaned. “Double date? With whom? I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”

  “I’m not. But Marc asked me out!”

  “Marc! Why the hell did you not tell me? These are important details that your best friend should immediately be told about. Haven’t you read the friendship guidelines lately?”

  “Well, we were too busy conspiring against your neighbor. Also… I’m kind of nervous about it to be honest.”

  “You’re nervous? Why? You’ve liked Marc for ages now. There’s no reason to be nervous. It’s not like he’s some new guy in your life.”

  “Exactly! That’s what makes this so much harder. He’s been this guy that I’ve liked but I never thought would ever like me back. I guess I kind of put him on a pedestal or something, and now I’m scared that I’m not going to be good enough for him. Or that he’s not going to be the guy that I’ve made him out to be in my head. I still can’t believe this is happening, Jas.”

  “No way! Don’t be silly – I promise you that you don’t need to be nervous. Not about Marc. I told you Marc liked you. It was so obvious. So he finally plucked up the courage to ask you out? Good for him. And you are definitely good enough for him. Probably too good for him. But in my opinion, you’d be too good for anyone. Don’t you dare think otherwise. There’s no way that I’m going on a double date with you and Marc. At least, not for your first date. That would be so weird, Allie.”

  The funny thing was that Jasmine had been out many times with Allie and Marc – but never with them on a date. That one little element changed everything, and she didn’t want to make it more awkward for them than it probably already was.

  “Okay, fine. But if it goes well, then will you consider a double date for the second or third one? I need you by my side. Life always feels so much safer with you by my side.”

  Jasmine laughed. “You don’t need me! You’ve got this, Allie. Trust me, you’re probably going to regret saying that to me because you’ll want him all to yourself. But yes – I will if you want me to. Maybe the third date. But it all depends on who you are going to try to set me up with. But anyway, we’ll discuss that when the time comes.”

  “Okay – I’m holding you to that. See you tomorrow!”

  Jasmine peeked out the window again, but the new neighbor was now inside. She wondered what he was doing. Was he waiting for the rest of his family to join him? Or was it just him? Was he unpacking? Or was he sitting on top of a pile of boxes, thinking about all the work he had in front of him? Jasmine giggled to herself – why was she even thinking about this? Instead, she thought about her conversation with Allie. She was happy for Allie. Allie had liked Marc for almost a year now. The two of them had flirted with each other on and off with neither of them being willing to make the first move. Jasmine had worried that they’d forever stay in the friend zone if one of them didn’t do something. Marc was one of their college friends that they had kept in touch with. Back then, he’d been in a relationship, and he and Allie had just been friends. It had been obvious to everyone that he was more suited to Allie than to his girlfriend, but nobody had said anything. It was up to Marc to figure that one out for himself, and Allie hadn’t ever admitted to liking him then. What was the point in admitting that she liked someone with a girlfriend? When they’d finished college, Marc had gone overseas, and they’d all lost touch for a while. Then, about a year ago, Marc had returned. Tanned, single, and with eyes only for Allie. Jasmine had watched with growing frustration as the two of them flirted with one another. But Allie was convinced that Marc didn’t like her. Eventually, even Jasmine started to wonder what was going on. But finally, he’d taken the plunge.

  Jasmine made herself a cup of hot chocolate and sat on her favorite couch in the living room. It was the sort of couch that should’ve been thrown away years ago. It was covered with a big crocheted blanket that Betty had made her, simply to hide what it really looked like underneath. But Jasmine couldn’t bring herself to throw it away. It may look bad, but it was still the most comfortable place to sit. Also, it had huge sentimental value for her. It had been her favorite couch when she was still living at home, and when she had moved out, she’d begged her mother to let her keep it.

  “You want the couch? This one? Really? But Jasmine, it’s in a terrible state. Let me buy you a new one. I know you have always loved this couch, but you’re moving into a new house now, so don’t you want a new one? If it’s about the money, I’d rather buy you one. It can be my moving-in present to you,” her mother had said.

  “No, it’s not about the money. I can afford to buy a new couch. But I love this couch, mom. And it will always remind me of home. I’ll buy other new things for the house, but having this couch will make me feel a little bit like I’m at home with you.”

  Jasmine had been excited to move out, but she’d always been a bit of a homebody. She’d moved out for a little while during her college years – she and Allie had become roommates for some time – but other than that, she’d always been at home. She was excited to move out but sad at the same time.

  “But, Jasmine, it’s all sunken in. It’s in a bad state.”

  “I know it’s sunken in – that’s from my bottom!”

  The couch really was sunken in from years of sitting on it, but that was part of the reason why it was so comfortable.

  “Do you really want it? Because I was actually saying to your father that it was time we got rid of that thing. We only kept it because you used to use it all the time. But quite frankly, it’s quite an eyesore.”

  She could hear that her mother was still trying to change her mind, but there was no way that she was going to let it go so easily.

  “I want it!”

  Her mother had sighed then. “You really are a sentimental sod, you know that?!”

  “I know I am. But I can’t help myself – I get it from you,” Jasmine had said, and her mother had laughed because it was nothing but the truth.

  Jasmine and her mother were like two peas in a pod. They even looked the same. Jasmine was just a younger version of her mother. She’d looked in the mirror before for traces of her father, but other than a few characteristics, she was all her mother. She considered her mother, along with Allie, to be her best friend. And it was true – every time she sat on the couch, she thought of home.

  But now, she thought about Brendan. He hadn’t liked the couch. Far from it. He had thought it was disgusting. At least her mother had been nice about the whole thing. She’d even commented on how much better it looked with Betty’s blanket covering it. But not Brendan; he simply couldn’t see past it. Then again, he’d hated the blanket, too.


  “When are you going to get rid of this couch? This thing is horrible, Jasmine. It’s unsanitary. You should throw it away, and the blanket. That blanket looks like it belongs in the house of a grandpa or something. It’s not very cool-looking,” Brendan had said.

  “Hey, Betty made that for me! It’s special to me, and anyway, I think it’s beautiful. And the couch is not unsanitary. That’s not nice of you to say. It’s been cleaned, you know. It just looks this way because it’s so old. But just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s dirty. I bet you it’s still cleaner than most couches. How often do you see people getting their couch cleaned? Anyway, are you calling me dirty?” she’d responded.

  “You know I’m not. But it’s so horrible.” Brendan had said, pulling a face.

  He was a good-looking guy but he had this face he pulled that made him unattractive. Once they’d broken up, she thought of that face often – it made it easier to think of the bad things rather than the good. There had been a lot of good, too, but that was not worth thinking about.

  “Aw, don’t speak about my couch that way.”

  “Jasmine, it’s not a person. It’s a couch. And it’s foul.” He had taken his fingers and blocked his nose.

  “No, it’s not. Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s staying.”

  “What if I made you choose? Between me and the couch?” he had asked.

  “What? You can’t be serious. That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “Well, what’s the answer?”

  “I choose both of you.”

  “No, you have to choose.”

  “Come on, Brendan, don’t be silly. I’m not choosing between you and my couch. The couch is a part of my past, and you are a part of my future. It’s the best of both worlds.”

  “So, in other words, you wouldn’t choose me,” he said, sounding more and more like a petulant child.

  “That’s not what I’m saying. And anyway, how would you like it if I made you choose between me and your PlayStation?”

  “What? That’s not the same thing. My PlayStation is not some old, weathered-looking eye-sore that makes the entire house look dirty.”

  “Ha! You’re so mean. Well, you love your PlayStation just the same as I love the couch. So in that way, it is the same thing. Go on then, I want you to choose. Do you choose me, or do you choose the PlayStation?”

  “Don’t be absurd. We’re having two separate arguments here.”

  And that had gone on and on and on until he’d walked off in a huff. That exchange had been near the end of their relationship – when a few arguments had started to seep into their once-perfect rapport. Jasmine had loved Brendan and believed that she was going to marry him. For the most part, they had gotten along great. She’d fallen hard for him, and he seemed to love her right back. At least, he’d certainly told her that he did. He’d told her that he wanted to spend his whole life with her, and she had believed him. What reason was there not to? These little arguments were few and far between and only occurring after being together for a while. They were only natural, she kept telling herself.

  Of course, it turned out that those little arguments were nothing compared to what was about to happen between them, when Jasmine discovered that her apparently perfect boyfriend was not the man she had always thought him to be. The couch argument had only occurred because the two of them had considered moving in together, and he wanted to have some part to play in what their house should look like. While she was annoyed at the couch situation, she also understood where he was coming from, and she was excited that the two of them were finally talking about taking things further.

  “I think he’s going to ask me to marry him,” Jasmine had confided to Allie one night.

  “Really? How do you know?”

  “Well, I don’t really. I don’t actually know – but I just get this feeling. He’s just been acting really cagey lately. And we had a huge fight about my couch the other day.”

  “You had a fight about the couch? How does that relate?”

  “It’s never been a big deal before. I think it’s because he wants to move in with me. Suddenly, he’s looking at my house differently. And I just get this feeling. He’s out now on some work thing, but I have a sneaking suspicion he’s out buying a ring. I know I shouldn’t hope for things when I don’t have evidence – but I know him well enough now. He can’t keep secrets from me.”

  “Jasmine! I’m so excited for you. How are you feeling? Wow, marriage is a huge deal,” Allie had said, her voice going all high-pitched.

  Jasmine knew this usually indicated that she wasn’t telling the truth, but for the moment, she had chosen to ignore it.

  “I know! I’m ready for it. I’ve never been all that great at being single. I mean, I’m fine by myself and all. But I’m just so bad at the dating game. The whole marriage and kids thing really appeals to me. It always has.”

  “And you’re happy?” Allie had asked.

  She’d never come right out and said it, but Jasmine had a sneaking suspicion that she wasn’t a huge fan of Brendan.

  “Of course I’m happy. You know I want to get married. Allie, what’s up? You don’t like him? Is that it?” Jasmine had decided it was time to just come out and ask her.

  The two of them were best friends, and they spoke about everything together. This was the first time something was strange between them, and neither of them wanted to admit to it.

  Allie had stumbled over her words. “What? Why do you say that?”

  “Well, what’s the truth? Because I just asked you a direct question, and you avoided it. And I know you well enough, Allie. Your voice went all weird when you told me that you were happy for me. I know that you don’t like him.”

  Allie had sighed. “Oh, Jasmine. I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t like him. I’ve just always had a funny feeling about him. I cannot place my finger on what it is, though. But maybe I’m wrong. He’s a nice guy, and he obviously makes you happy. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to say anything because I knew I might be wrong. I really am happy for you. And as long as he makes you happy, then that is all that matters to me. If you think he’s great, then I’m sure I will too.”

  “Are you sure? I hate that you don’t like him, though.”

  “I do like him. I’m just being stupid. And I am happy for you. Now, you better tell me when he proposes, okay? I want all the juicy details!”

  “I promise!”

  Jasmine had felt relieved after that conversation. Glad that the truth was out in the open. It was something that they could work on now that they were at least being honest with one another. Once Brendan proposed, she would prove to Allie that he was a good guy and that they were right for each other. She had put down the phone and decided to go for a walk. She’d already been for a walk that morning with Brendan but decided to go again. A walk always cleared her head. She was about half an hour into her walk when she decided to take a detour and walk in the park. And that small decision changed her life forever.

  Because there, on a park bench by the lake, was Brendan. He wasn’t at work like he had said he would be. Instead, he was sitting on the bench with a young woman that looked vaguely familiar to Jasmine. She’d crept up to them, using a nearby tree to hide, and peeked out as she watched them. The girl was someone that Jasmine had met at one of Brendan’s work parties. It’s okay, Jasmine had thought, breathing a sigh of relief, they’re just on a work break. That’s all. But they weren’t just on a work break. A few minutes went by, and then Jasmine watched in horror as the girl giggled and Brendan leaned forward to kiss her. The kiss was far more passionate than she had thought him capable of. He’d never kissed her in that way. She’d often wondered what sort of person she would be in a time like that. Would she watch and cry? Would she walk away and pretend that she hadn’t seen anything? As it turned out, she was the sort of girl that confronted the matter. The moment she saw them kissing, she had leaped out from behind the tree and screamed at him. And she’d w
atched as his face had gone red at being caught. That was why he had been acting so strange lately – he wasn’t about to propose to her; he was simply cheating on her.

  Jasmine now stroked the old couch, grateful that she had not given it up for a man who had given up so easily on her. Brendan had been the first boyfriend who had ever cheated on her. Well, that she knew of, at least. She’d always thought that she would know if a man was cheating on her. But she’d been wrong. She hadn’t suspected a thing. In fact, quite the opposite. She had taken his strange behavior as a sign that he was even more in love with her. And she felt duped and stupid at her ignorance. She’d made Allie promise to always voice her opinions in the future. Apparently, Allie was more adept at spotting liars than she was.

  Jasmine got up and went outside to fetch the newspaper which she had heard land on her front door mat. She glanced over at the house next door and could’ve sworn she saw movement at the window. She wondered how the new neighbor was getting along. She hadn’t heard any vans appearing, and there didn’t seem to be the appearance of a wife or a partner yet. She looked for a while and then went back inside. She sat back down and thought about whether or not she should take the plunge and go introduce herself. She certainly wasn’t being very neighborly just sitting on her couch all evening. But for some reason, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. She wondered if she’d be quite so hesitant had it been another old couple that had moved in. No, she’d go the next day. Give him time to settle in.

  She heard a knock on the door and jumped for the second time that day. Why was she so jittery? She got up, opened the door, and tried not to gasp. There in front of her was the new neighbor, looking even more handsome and rugged up close.

  “Hi. I’m your new neighbor, Eric. I thought I’d come and introduce myself.”

  She stumbled backwards slightly and hoped he hadn’t noticed. “Hi, Eric. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Jasmine. Would you like to come in?”

  Chapter2