Green Eyed Monster

A Good Neighbor

Christmas was only a couple of weeks ago. Lola didn't come over. She went to Canada as planned. Trevor and I went to my mother's for the holidays. Trevor covers me well. Any questions asked about Lola, he answered. He boasted about her and Solomon's ski trip and all the wonderful things they do together or that he does alone with Solomon. I sat listening, seemingly indifferent.

Pinky and I made amends. After the holidays, she and I go out for drinks. She had finally approached Lester, and he hurt her feelings. He thought he was being gentle, but his words were just cruel towards Pinky. Like I said, his ex-wife looks like a model. Pinky is so off his type meter that he could do nothing but reject her. However, he tried to say he's not attracted to plus-sized women kindly. She seems to be over him, but she's been dieting a lot lately. Too, she's been wearing her weave. It fits her well. I'm glad, because she looks much better and has a lot more confidence.

After we order margaritas, Pinky asks, "Are you still going for a promotion?"

    "Ehh, I don't think so. I think I'm ready to start dating. Suppose I'm working 16 hours a day; that would be impossible. I have a nice little nest egg. I don't want to work more, but mingle more."

Laughing Pinky asks, "May I mingle with you?"

    "Definitely! In fact, let's practice tonight."

Sipping our drinks, we start scanning the room for prospects. Pinky says, "Ooo, six o'clock is hot!"

    "Ugh, too old!"

    "Oh, you're Mrs T now. Gotcha!" she teases.

We flirted all night and exchanged our phone numbers with several prospects, but neither of us felt any attraction to these men. Pinky's super excited to do it again. I calm her down, then send her home. 

Now that I'm running my bath water, I open my balcony doors, and I hear whispering. I look towards Mrs. Tolbert's, but her home is pitch black. Clearly, she's asleep. I then look to my other neighbor's home, the Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins is outside on the phone, talking in the dark. 

Mr. Ivey Hopkins is an investment banker. He and his wife, Terri, are the Joneses of the neighborhood. They're probably in their mid to late 30s. They seem like the ideal couple. They travel the world, and their home is immaculate. Their children are well-kept. They walk in sync. They talk in sync. They may seem perfect on the surface, but wisdom and life have taught me better.

I hurry and shut off my tub faucet, then eavesdrop on his conversation. I hear him say, "But when? It's getting too close for comfort!... Huh? Of course not! And I want to keep it that way! You promised it'll only take three months, but it's been six! Get it together or I'm bailing out...Is that a threat?... I thought not. You have two weeks!"

It's then Terri calls out, "Ivey? Honey, where are you?"

He had lit a cigarette, so he dropped it to the ground and stomped it out, saying, "I'm out back, Terri."

She meets him outside, wraps her arms around his neck, then kisses his lips, asking, "Why are you out here?"

    "Needed a smoke."

    "Baby, I thought you were only going to Vape from now on."

    "I know, but it's not the same. I'll try again tomorrow."

    "Oooh okay," she says in a sexy baby tone. She continues, "The kids are asleep."

    "Are they now?"

    "Mmhmm."

He starts kissing her neck, causing her to giggle as they head inside.

I'm in the tub, consumed with who Ivey was speaking to and what he may have been talking about. Is he into some illegal stuff? Not our neighborhood unicorns!