3
Susie
* * *
Hook, line, and sinker. I know right off the bat that my plan has worked. My sexy neighbor can’t stop looking at my luscious breasts or my curvy figure. He’s even more gorgeous up close. His eyes are blue, and he’s got a slight shadow around his chiseled jaw. His jet-black hair has a few strands of silver, although it only makes him look more mature and commanding. He seems utterly massive up close, towering over me with his muscular physique. I almost forget my plan, in fact, because he’s just so mouth-watering.
But then he speaks, and that deep voice has in me in thrall.
“I’m Brady. Nice to meet you.”
I stick my hand out across the space between our two yards. He takes it, and avoiding eye contact, shakes it. There’s a slight pause before we both try to speak at the same time.
I giggle and he sheepishly smiles, then rubs the back of his head. “I was going to say that I’ve met your parents already. Nice people,” he comments, going back to pruning his flowers.
I feel myself deflate a little. He’s so disinterested, and it’s obvious. He’s already gone back to gardening, although he looks handsome doing it. Those tiny blooms are a stark contrast to that huge, muscled form.
Unfortunately, all the confidence I had a mere 0 seconds ago seeps out of me instantly. Of course he wouldn’t be interested in me. If Brady’s already talked to my parents, then he must know how old I am. Which is too young.
To avoid looking awkward, I start watering the roses in the bush below me.
“So Brady, what a nice name. Welcome to the neighborhood. Any connection to Sergeant Brady from Homeland?”
He stops pruning his flowers and leans on the fence, looking directly at my breasts. Then he pauses and looks up at me. I practically melt into his blue eyes. They slightly darken as a hard look crosses his face. Then with a jerk of his head, he shakes off whatever feeling just passed through him.
“No, that’s just a TV show, and I think it’s Sergeant Brody, and not Brady. But I am a military guy.”
“Military?” I ask with a smile. I sit down the watering can and cross my arms under my breasts, making sure they sit up high on top of my arms. “Where have you been?”
He raises his arms up again and rubs the back of his head uneasily. He looks away for a second and I take in the way his arm flexes as he stretches. His chest is smooth and there is a not one hair on his whole torso. I trace his body all the way down with my eyes, past his sculpted abs, and to the small trail of hair that disappears beneath the waistband of his boxers. My mouth goes dry as I imagine what lies beneath.
“Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries that I can’t disclose,” he says, chuckling slightly. He returns his eyes to me, humor framing his eyes.
I liked seeing this slightly gentler side of him, and smile back while shading my eyes from the sun.
“Oh okay, are they like top secret or something?” I ask, raising my eyebrow playfully.
He chuckles again. “Something like that. So what’s your story, Susie?”
I smile coquettishly.
“Nuh uh, you’re not turning the conversation away from yourself so fast. But as for me, I’ve lived in Remford my whole life. I’m only child, and it’s nothing special. I’m going to be a senior soon, and I’m looking forward to college. Pretty boring compared to you, Mr. Military Man. I’m assuming there are stories behind all of these tattoos of yours?” I ask archly, nodding to his chest.
I watch his breathing change as he takes a step back from me. He looks down and I see him tense up again.
“Uh yeah. Nothing I want to really get into at the moment,” he says in a terse voice.
Then, Brady looks off into the distance and I suddenly feel very childlike. This is not how I expected this to go at all. But then of course, what did you expect? I just told him I was still in high school. Brady doesn’t want to go to jail, although I just turned 18 so it’s actually legal. Maybe I should mention my age, I think to myself.
I open my mouth to speak when he breaks the silence. “Yeah I’m actually headed back to Afghanistan in a couple of days.”
I close my mouth, stunned. My eyes grow big with disappointment. My shoulders slump and my head drops.
“Oh really? But you just moved in?” I ask with confusion.
He shrugs. “Yeah it sucks, but that’s how the American government works. Besides, I’ll only be gone for fifteen months. I’m keeping the house. You could help look after it for me. You know, make sure Mr. Joe down the street doesn’t chuck an ankle weight through the window during one of his walks.” We laugh together and it’s nice actually. This guy really does have a sense of humor.
I nod, smiling. “I can definitely do that. I don’t trust any man that wears shorts that tight. Plus, he looks to be about seventy, which makes it really weird.”
Brady laughs a little harder and makes a check mark motion.
“Okay, so Susie from next door hates tight shorts. Got it. I won’t be doing that then.”
I laugh along with him. “Well, on that age and body type, it doesn’t seem right. But I don’t mind them on myself,” I say flirtatiously, turning to the side and playfully patting my butt. “What do you think?”
An intense look flashes across the soldier’s handsome face. He slightly bites his lip and then looks at the ground. It’s a moment before he says anything. But when he does, his voice is normal.
“Agreed. There’s a weight and age limit for sure for those shorts.” He chuckles again and then looks at me. The blue of his eyes sear me, and I shiver at its intensity.
“Um, I know this may be a bit forward since we just met. But I’m a huge supporter of the armed services, and wouldn’t mind sending you care packages while you’re deployed? Would that be something you’d be interested in?” I ask hesitantly. “Of course, you can say no. It’s no problem.”
He stares at me for a beat before nodding slowly.
“No, I couldn’t ask you to do something like that. We just met and I feel like that would be a huge burden.”
I bounce up and down slightly, pleading with my eyes.
“No, it’s no trouble at all,” I say. “It’s just some cookies and other baked goods. It’s no big deal, I promise. The Junior League actually works with a lot of veterans’ groups, so I know how much the cookies are appreciated when a soldier is far from home.”
Brady looks away again, still shaking his head no. Boldly, I reach out across the fence and touch his warm, sweaty, muscular arm. He tenses up like he’s going to back away from my touch. Then he relaxes and looks me in the eye. After a couple of second of silence, he gives in.
“Alright sure. Why not? I’ll send you my address overseas when I have it.”
He takes my hand off his arm and holds it for a second. The electricity that passes between us has me gasping, and my eyes flick to his. We stare at each other for a moment, our bodies calling to one another. I feel like I’m going to either melt or combust, the connection is so strong.
But the fantasy is cut short when he clears his throat and pats my hand, before gently letting it go.
“That’s really nice of you Susie. I appreciate it.”
I tilt my head to the side, puzzled. “No girlfriend or wife or anything?”
He shakes his head no, his expression shuttered.
“Nope, never been around someone long enough to get that serious,” he says with a wry smile.
I nod, understanding. “Interesting…”
“What’s interesting about it?” he asks, looking intently at me.
I shake my head. “Nothing, it’s just interesting that you don’t have someone steady. How old are you, may I ask?”
He grins.
“I’m too old for you.”
My cheeks blush because that’s the first verbal sign I’ve had that he’s thinking along the same lines at me.
“Come on, how old?” I wheedle with a coy smile.
He grins and finally states, “Thirty-five.”
“Thirty-five!” I say while pretending to wipe my forehead. “Whew! Well, I’m eighteen.”
“I told you I was too old,” Brady says, a bit grimly this time. “I’m almost double your age.”
I smile prettily.
“Almost, but not quite.”
He stares at me, taking in my flushed, curvy form, before shaking himself. Then he smiles easily. “What about you, Susie? Someone special in your life?”
I shake my head slowly, while putting on a pout.
“No. There are a few interested people but nothing serious.”
“Why not?” he asks lightly.
I look around, suddenly feeling like I’m under a microscope.
“I guess no one has ever caught my eye like that. I don’t know, I just never felt that special spark with someone, you know? And I want it to be special and not humdrum and boring.”
He laughs and shakes his head. Then, he looks at me sincerely.
“Oh, to be so young and full of hope.”
Cocking my head to the side, I pout, confused at his statement.
“Are you not full of hope? Do you not believe that there’s someone out there to give you that certain feeling that you just can’t explain? The proverbial butterflies in your stomach?”
He shakes his head, smirking. “Kid, after thirty-five years of life, you learn a few things that you don’t know at sixteen.”
Taken aback, I put more space between us, offended.
“I’m not a kid, I’m eighteen! I told you!” I protest.
He laughs again. “Sixteen, eighteen, it’s all the same, little girl. Didn’t you say you were in high school?”
“Yes, but my parents held me back a year since I have a summer birthday. I’m one of the oldest and most mature women in my class!” I feel myself start to flush. I so desperately want him to know that I’m old enough for his attentions. We already get along so well, so why is he harping on my age?
Brady nods, showing off that charming smile.
“Okay kid, I hear you. Well, thank you again for the care package, but I’ve got a few more things to take care of since I’m leaving soon. Plus, I think I just heard your parents pull up in the driveway,” he says glancing at the front and then looking my scantily clad body up and down.
I inhale sharply, nodding. Jackie and Jim are so traditional that they would be scandalized if they saw me talking to this grown man with barely any clothes on.
Brady grins and then chuckles to himself again.
“Yep, a full-blown adult, right? It was nice meeting you, Susie.”
I merely roll my eyes and make my way back towards my house.
“Bye Brady. Good luck on your deployment if I don’t see you before you leave.” I wave at him then dash into my house and up to my room to change. But when I rush upstairs, my cheeks are flushed and my bosom heaving. Brady Firestone does that to me, and I don’t want it to stop, deployment or not.