by Frank Martinet
It was mid-July when she moved into the little house next door to me. I could hardly believe my good fortune, though, of course, I didn't actually get my hopes up that anything would happen. She was as far out of my league as an astronaut to an ant.
Her name was Ashley. She was twenty-four, impossibly gorgeous, and taught second grade. The first time I saw her she was dressed in dinky shorts and a tank top, which revealed her ridiculously slim body. Everything about her was petite, from breast to butt, and she came across as incredibly feminine. It might have been her elf-like face, open and beautiful, with flawless teeth that beamed at you in such a welcoming manner you felt privileged to be alive.
It was nearly 100 degrees that day and she was covered with dust and dripping sweat as she lugged boxes into her new home. Her long brown hair was done up in a cute bun at the back of her head, leaving her face bare, and she actually blushed when I stared at her. She apologized for how she looked.
"Sorry, I'm a mess. I've been packing and driving this truck since five this morning. My name's Ashley."
"Are you kidding?" I said. "You look better a mess than I do when I've spent a whole day getting ready for a date!"
She laughed, and after a little polite protesting, accepted my help in unloading her things.
"My name's Steven," I told her.
"Thanks, but you really don't have to do this. I'm a modern, independent woman. I can do things on my own."
This was said in a mocking way that implied that while it might be true, she wasn't beyond accepting assistance from the male species. We chatted as we lugged boxes, and I learned that she'd moved here from Omaha as she'd just accepted a teaching job at Arcadia Elementary.
"My boyfriend still lives there, but he's going to visit all the time."
"Really? That's a four-hour drive." I set a box marked 'Dishes' on the kitchen counter. I wondered why he wasn't helping her move into her new place.
"I know, but Sam's got a really good job at a Home Depot and he didn't want to leave it, so we're doing the long distance thing, at least for a little while. He's hoping he'll get promoted to manager."
"And you ended up way out here in the boonies?"
Ashley shrugged and her wry grin made me happy. "It's all I could find. With the economy so sour, teaching jobs are scarce, and there are tons of experienced teachers out of work in the city. I'm just out of college and this is my first real job, so I had no chance there."
"I suppose they'll take anybody they can get out here," I said. Then realized that might come across as insulting. "Oh, I didn't mean that in a bad way. I'm sure you're a terrific teacher."
"Oh, no offense, you're totally right. They're desperate for anyone that's willing to move out here. They don't pay much, but I need the experience. I figure if I do it for a year, maybe I can find something closer to Sam next year."
We went back out to the truck for more boxes. "At least living here's dirt cheap," I said. "What's Monty renting you this place for? If you don't mind my asking."
"Seven-fifty, plus utilities. And it's furnished!"
"Not too bad," I said, thinking that the dump wasn't worth more than six. It had been empty for six months and I knew Monty had been desperate to rent it. No doubt he'd jacked up the price when he saw she was from Omaha where even a shack would rent for a grand. She probably thought she'd gotten a good deal. "You can afford that?"
"Barely." She flashed me one of those charming smiles that made my heart turn upside down. "I may have to live on Top Ramen for a while."
Without thinking I muttered, "It looks like you already do."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh! I'm sorry. It's just that you're so skinny!"
"Really? Oh thank you, that's so nice!"
I thought, I didn't mean it as a compliment, but I didn't say anything out loud. I started to pick up a big box marked 'Bedroom' when Ashley rushed over.
"I'll take that one," she said. I was so distracted by her breasts nearly falling out of that tight tank top as she bent over and lifted the box, amazed at the deliciously deep valley between the mounds, that I didn't even protest. She hurried off to the little room at the back.
I watched her go thinking that despite her tiny figure, she sure made those skimpy shorts work for her. She didn't have much bulge in her butt, but what she did have was shapely and damned cute. I could feel an erection stirring and it made me blush.
She was just darling, and so sweet, too. Unfortunately, I could already tell that like most women, she saw me as a nice guy, not a sexual being. I'm short and dumpy, with a face as memorable as a ball of clay with glasses on it. Women like me. We get along great. They just don't think of me as a man. I'm sure it's some vibe I unconsciously send out.
I wondered what Sam, her boyfriend, looked like. I guessed he was as handsome as a model and a total hunk. Probably an arrogant jerk, but that didn't matter since at least he looked good. I was sure they made a sickeningly good-looking young couple.
When she returned, looking sexier than ever in her casual attire, I asked, "How long have you and Sam been together?"
"Almost a year."
"So it's pretty serious?"
"Oh yes! Sam's wonderful."
Ashley's eyes got a dreamy look as she said this, and I knew I didn't stand a chance.
We finished unloading the rest of the boxes - the U-Haul had been only half-full - and then Ashley announced she was making the return trip to Omaha.
"I have to take the truck back today. A one-way rental was outrageous. Besides, my car's back there."
"How come your boyfriend didn't help you move?"
"He had to work."
"He couldn't take a day off?"
Ashley looked horrified. "Oh no, he's up for that promotion, remember? I didn't want him jeopardizing that by taking a personal day."
"I see," I said, though I didn't. Any job that was at risk because of a single day off didn't seem like a job I'd want to have. "So you're making the trip twice in one day? That's a lot of driving."
"Yeah, and I'm a mess. I really should shower and change, but I'd better get going."
"Don't you need some lunch?" It was after one and we'd been working for two hours. "Why don't you come over to my place and I'll make us some sandwiches. You like tuna?"
"Sure, but you don't have to do that."
"My pleasure. It'll take me a few minutes to make it. You can take a quick shower if you want."
"Well, thanks. I think I will."
I went back to my place and as I fixed us lunch, I tried not to imagine that less than 100 feet away a beautiful woman was standing naked with soapy water streaming down her creamy skin. My thoughts must have slowed down my sandwich-making, because she appeared before I was finished. She'd changed into a different top, this one pink instead of white, but she wore the same black shorts.
"Hmmm, that looks good. I'm starving."
I hastily cut her sandwich in half - on the diagonal, of course, I'm not insane - and pushed her plate over to her. Then I cut up a giant dill pickle and split the slices with her. We ate at the kitchen island, perched on bar stools, and for a few minutes I was deliriously happy. It was like a dream having such a gorgeous woman sitting across from me. She was so dainty and neat, taking small bites of her sandwich and nibbling on the pickle.
"So what do you do, Steven?" she asked.
"I'm a QA Engineer. I work from home, freelance, for five or six main clients."
"Really? What's a QA Engineer?"
"I test software. I make sure it works the way it was intended, that it meets certain specifications, that it's easy to use, and so on. It's more sophisticated than it sounds. There's a lot of work involved."
"So you're a computer guy."
I'd always hated that label, but I shrugged. "I guess so. I just like working for myself. I'm not a good corporate citizen, you know? The whole nine-to-five thing just sucks."
"I wish I could set my own schedule," Ashley sighed. "Schools start so damn early! But that's just the way it is."
"Have you always wanted to be a teacher?"
"Yeah, I think so. I love kids and watching them learn and grow is amazing."
We finished up with some fresh melon, which I'd cut that morning, and then Ashley had to get back on the road. She paused at the door and took out her phone.
"Hey, we should exchange contact information, just in case."
"Good idea," I said, pleased. We traded phones and entered in our data, and then swapped them back.
After she was gone, I could still smell her in my house. I wondered if I'd just imagined her. She was too good to be true. But there was her entry in my Contacts, email and cell number, so she had to be real. I hoped.
I didn't see her again until the next afternoon, when she drove up in a small red Rabbit a few years past its prime. The street I'm on is virtually deserted and when I heard the car, I peeked out the window. Seeing Ashley, I had to go out and say hello.
"I wondered if you were coming back," I said. "I thought maybe I'd scared you away for good."
"I stayed overnight in Omaha."
At her boyfriend's place, I thought bitterly. Out loud I said, "I thought as much. Safe drive?"
"Sure, everything went fine. I'm just sick of that road!"
"Yeah, it's not the best. I bet it gets old quick."
She was carrying two suitcases, so I grabbed them and helped her into her house. She looked around the place, which was filled with boxes. "Great. Now I've got to unpack!"
"Want some help?"
"Oh thanks, but this is definitely something I have to do on my own. I'll never find anything again if I don't put it away myself."
"Okay, but if you need anything, I'm right next door."
Over the next couple of weeks, I saw Ashley almost every day. I'd wave at her when she drove off, and she stopped by a few times to chat. We had dinner together twice. Lasagna at my place, delivered Chinese at hers. (She confessed she was a terrible cook.)
Our relationship was casual, and certainly not intimate, but I found it enjoyable. I wanted more, of course, but it was clear to me that Ashley had no interest in that direction. She often confided in me about her boyfriend, mentioning little arguments they'd had or telling me how great he was. It was stuff that she never would have told me if she'd thought of me as boyfriend material.
I accepted that; it was the normal way of things. Such a beauty would never go for a guy like me and I was foolish to dream of it. I resolved to get whatever pleasure I could from a loose association with her, and just be grateful she'd talk to me at all.
Speaking of her boyfriend, I should have mentioned that I did get to meet Sam.
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