Behind Closed Doors

Jamie

I live in the cutest street.  Quiet little cul-de-sac and my parents Pat and Frank live a few doors down.  The house next door to me has lain empty since the family moved abroad.  Gone without trace, or so I was told.  Yet, there was excitement in the street at the prospect of someone new moving in when a removal van turned up and offloaded some items.  There wasn't a lot going into the house, so in my head, it was someone who was just starting out in their first forever home.  It wasn't until a few days later, my mouth went dry at the sight of a stunning woman outside washing her car.  I tried to take my eyes off her, but I was entranced, and I had no idea why.

I'm out, I have been since I was in high school, but now, at thirty, with my own property, a good career in marketing, I couldn't complain.  But there was something intriguing about the woman washing the car and then it hit me.  I had a one-night stand with her a few weeks ago.  Well, I hope this wasn't going to be awkward between us when she realises who she has moved next door to.  I shook my head; I knew my memories would betray me and I remember her being sizzling hot in bed.  There was something about her aura that drew me in that night and despite looking hot as hell right now washing her car, I'm being pulled in again.

I stood back from my window and headed straight to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.  It was unusually hot for this time of year and after seeing my one-night stand whose name I can't remember, had me hot under the collar without even speaking to me this time.  She was so confident that night and blew me away in many ways.  Stepping out into the back garden, I soaked the flowerbeds, ensuring not to feed them too much.  I've never been good at keeping plants, but these guys have endured my company for the past few years.  "Jamie??"

"Out the back Mum!"  I knew she would pop around; she is one to gossip and I'm hoping that she isn't going to try and find out too much about our new neighbour.

"How are you doing kiddo?"  No matter how old I get, I think she will always call me kiddo.

"Doing alright Mum, what about you?"

"Better now that lockdown has been lifted.  This past year really sucked with the pandemic."  I nodded my head.  I knew the dent it had made in a few people's pockets, how people struggled with their mental health, how isolated I felt, even though my parents lived in the same street as me.  We would be out at eight o'clock every Thursday evening, clapping for all the key workers that were keeping the economy going and looking after our vulnerable people.

We had been in lock down since March and now that they have started lifting restrictions, we felt that we were getting back to some sort of normality.  I'm lucky I've had a good paying job that allowed me to have good savings.  When I heard of other people struggling, it broke my heart, but I just had enough to ensure that I was going to be alright and to support my parents aswell if needs be.  "Yeah, it's been a strange year, that is for sure."

"Have you spoke to your new neighbour yet?"  Ah.  Here we go.

"No.  Not had the opportunity yet."  I'm not going to say that I had gone out to a friend's gathering, met her, hooked up with her and hadn't seen her since.  My Mum has never been a fan of one-night stands, but each to their own.

"She seems lovely.  Quite quiet and soft spoken.  She said her name was Ty."

"Ty?"  I searched my brain for that name, and I couldn't place it.  Maybe she gave me a false name when we hooked up, after all, we never planned on seeing one another again.

"Yes.  Not sure what it is short for, but she was on her way out when we got talking, safe distance apart though, we are still being cautious over the damn virus."

"Hmm."  It was annoying me.  I couldn't place her name at all and I'm normally good at remembering people's name. But Ty?  I'm sure that wasn't the name she told me that night a few weeks ago.

"But anyway, your father and I are going out for a meal this evening to get out of the house for a while.  We were wondering if you would like to join us?"  Bless my Mum, always inviting me places whenever I have down time.  Looking at her I could feel my heart sink, noticing that she is getting older and no, I'm not going down the route of thought, I can't allow it.

"I will pass Mum.  Thanks though.  You and Dad should enjoy a romantic dinner out."

"Pft! Your father hasn't got a romantic bone left in that body of his."  We both chuckle and sit out on the bench enjoying the sun rays.  "Right, I best go, or he will storm the house wondering what you and I are plotting these days."  Mum stood up and gave me a smile and let herself out my front door.  Smiling to myself, I grabbed my book and sat outside in the sunshine for a while longer.  I don't know how long I was emersed into my book, but the ringing of the doorbell brought me out of the trance read that I was in and I popped it down on the bench and went to the front door.

"Hey, I was wondering..."  I was frozen to the spot.  It was Ty, my new neighbour, my fleeting but yet hot one-night stand.  "It's you."  Her eyes went wide, and I started to give her a small smile.

"Yeah.  Come on in.  How can I help you?"

"Uhm..." her voice is soft like my Mum said.  Mind you, the last time I heard that voice it was a lot louder, if you can read between the lines.  "I was going through some things in the shed next door and since I tidied the garden the other day, I noticed a hole in the hose.  I was wondering if you had a spare hose or watering can?"

"Ah.  I don't think I have a watering can since I hooked the hose up to the outside tap these days.  I can let you borrow my hose, and you can return it at your earliest convenience.  How does that sound Ty?"  Her eyebrow arched up and a smirk creeped up on her face. 

"You don't remember my name, do you?  Not that I mind Ty, it's what I go by these days."  Well, my face started to go a little crimson in embarrassment, and I nodded my head.

"I think my Mum threw me by calling you Ty, it didn't register in my head that being your name though."
"Hmm.  Well Jamie..."  I can see she never forgot my name, how embarrassing.  "I introduced myself to you as Tina, so not too far off."  Her eyes wandered over my body and I watched her taking me in.  "But I do prefer Ty like I said, so, how about that hose?"  I smiled and nodded my head gesturing her to follow me out into the garden and I unhooked the hose reel and disconnected the hose from the tap.  I can't believe I forgot her name; I hope that she doesn't hold this against me.

"Well..."  I handed her the reel with the hose attached to it, "Give me a moment I will take off the adapter from the tap."  Ti nodded her head at me and I could see that she was looking around the garden, thankfully I had tidied it and smiled triumphantly to myself.  "Here you go."

"Thanks, I do appreciate it Jamie."

"How have you been coping this year during lockdown?  Nice to be free isn't it?"  Her eyes locked on to mine and I could see the pain buried behind them but Ty just gave me a smirk.

"I can't complain.  I hooked up with a hottie a few weeks ago.  Shame she doesn't remember me."

"I do remember you.  That night has been etched in my head.  Just because I'm shit at remembering names...Do not hold that against me, neighbour."  I wagged my finger at her as I was talking, and she laughed.  It was soft but throaty and in turn it made me smile.  We both turned around at the same time and went to pick up the reel that Ty had put down and our hands brushed and the electric shock that happened made us both jump and Ty shook her hand.  "Bloody hell, that was a sore one."

"It wasn't half."  We smiled softly at one another and I could see her eyes searching and with the reel in her hand, the adapter in her back pocket, I knew she was ready to leave.  "Like I said, return it when you want."  Before I knew it, she had stepped closer, with her spare arm she pulled me against her and kissed me on the lips.  It was one of want, desire and just as quick as it started, before it could ramp up into anything hot, Ty pulled away.

"Sorry.  I shouldn't have done that."  Before I could speak, she had spun on her heels and left.