What Good Neighbors Do

Jack had just kicked back after dinner and flopped down onto the couch with a glass of whiskey, something which had become his usual evening routine since the divorce. He was about to turn on Netflix and look for something to watch for the evening when he heard a knock at the door.

He set the glass down on the side table with a light clink, pushing off the arm of the couch with a gentle sigh as he got to his feet and made his way to the door. As he opened it, he saw his neighbor, Rachel, standing there - long black hair and a bright smile, and in her hands, a small dish covered in tinfoil.

"Oh, Rachel. This is a surprise, how long have you been back from school?"

Rachel shifted her weight and felt herself grip the dish a little more tightly. She had worked up the courage to come over and try to get some one-on-one time with Jack, but now that she stood in front of him, she was second guessing herself.

She knew she had to push through though, there was no turning back now. She had always had a bit of a crush on Jack and now that he was single, this was her chance.

"Hi Jack! I just got back a few days ago." She held up the dish in her hands, extending her arms towards him. "I was working on my baking and had some extra brownies, would you like some?"

Her smile seemed a little shaky and Jack sensed some nervousness in her voice. She'd always been a sweet girl since her family moved in a couple years ago, though he didn't see her much while she was off at college. He gave her a warm smile of his own as he stepped back slightly and motioned in toward the house. "Oh wow, that sounds amazing, I'd love to try them. Do you want to come in?"

"I'd love to, I'm not interrupting anything am I?" she asked.

"Absolutely not, I was just about to sit down and have a drink. Can I get you anything? A glass of wine?" he asked, taking the tray from her hands and carrying it into the kitchen as she followed.

"A glass of wine sounds great, thank you!" she smiled, her nerves easing up a little at his warm welcome. He always seemed to have a knack for helping her relax although this situation was unique. She stood in the kitchen, hands clasped behind her back, as Jack got out a glass to pour her some wine and plated a couple brownies. He handed her the glass and moved into the living room, motioning for her to sit beside him.

"I'm sorry to hear about the divorce, by the way," she said, a little unsure if she should bring it up but wanting to offer her condolences. She took a quick drink from her glass, feeling the warmth in her stomach and the alcohol starting to loosen her up a little.

Jack offered a polite smile and a nod, "Thank you, Rachel. It wasn't easy but it's for the best. Sometimes these things just don't work out, you know?" He took a bite of one of the brownies, his eyes widening a little as he chewed. "These brownies, though, wow.. I wish my wife had been as good a baker as you," he added with a small laugh.

Rachel laughed as well, relieved that he liked her baking and feeling a bit more at ease. "Well, I'm happy to have you be my taste tester any time. And for what it's worth, I'd say your ex-wife let a catch get away. Just saying."

Jack caught a small blush growing on Rachel's cheeks - the alcohol, the nerves? Or maybe just a crush? She had always been friendly towards him but now that he was single, it seemed like she might be trying to take the next step.

He had to admit that she was attractive, as well - younger, fit, well put together. And clever as well, not just smart, but witty. He enjoyed their conversations but found himself wondering if it would be right to take things further.

He then shook his head lightly, taking a sip of his whiskey. He must be overthinking things. She's probably got plenty of guys her own age that are interested in her. He was just letting his imagination get away from him again. What would she want with a guy his age?

"Well, all I can say is that she would thoroughly disagree with you on that one," he said with a chuckle. "How about yourself, seeing anyone these days?"

Rachel hesitated for a moment in her head, then decided this felt like a good time to start nudging things in the direction she was hoping they'd go.

"I'm not, no. There is a guy I have my eye on, though, so we'll see," she said, then lifted her wine glass to her lips, taking a bigger drink this time and using the opportunity to peer over the edge of the glass and see if he caught her meaning.

"Yeah? You should just go ahead and ask him out, he'd have to be a fool to not at least give you a chance."

He did, in fact, find himself wondering again. He was picking up on the cues but worried his recent loneliness (and the alcohol) might be making him misread the situation.

Rachel bit her lip gently, wanting to ask him out on a date right then and there, to take his suggestion and just be blunt about it. But before she could, he spoke again.

"Are you still painting?" He asked.

Her face lit up a little at this - both from the fact that he remembered it and at the opportunity it presented.

"Oh, yes!" she said, as she moved closer to him on the couch, their legs touching, and pulled out her phone. "Here, let me show you one I just finished," she said, scrolling through her pictures.

Sitting side by side, Jack realized he could feel the warmth of her body next to his, the alcohol flowing through him. Jack took a swig of his whiskey, then looked over as she held her phone for him to see.

"Here we go. I just finished this last week. Does it look familiar?"

Jack studied the painting for a moment. He could tell she was talented and was really growing as an artist. The scene showed a waterfront, trees and a mountain in the distance, a small park bench near the water. He realized he did recognize it.

"Wait, that's Endside Park, right? That's the river and that's the memorial bench that's down there?"

Rachel beamed as he recognized it. "Yeah, it's one of my favorite spots. I like to go down there and sit on the bench when I've got a lot on my mind." Like making a move on my newly divorced neighbor, she thought but didn't say.

"Yeah, I remember walking down that way shortly after you guys moved in next door. I saw you on the bench, stopped to say hey, and we sat there and chatted for a while."

Jack didn't realize it, but that was when Rachel first solidified her crush on him. The physical attraction was there early, but she felt a connection that day that had stayed with her since.

"I was really nervous then, you know. We were new to the area, I was about to start my second year of college, and everything felt so new and foreign. But you helped me a lot. Made me feel really welcome here. I don't think I ever properly thanked you for that." She took a sip of her wine then set the glass down, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear and looking slightly up at Jack. "So... thank you."

Now it was Jack's turn to blush a little. He was just trying to be friendly, like anyone would do. He didn't realize it had impacted her so much. "It was nothing, honestly. It's what a good neighbor does."

Rachel looked directly at Jack now, seeing the greying at the temples of his hair, the age lines starting to show on his face, his clear hazel eyes.

"No," she said, a little softer than before, "I mean it. Thank you, Jack." And then it happened. Before she even realized what she was doing, Rachel placed a hand on his thigh, the other on his cheek, and leaned in to kiss him.

Jack felt the warmth of her lips against his, her hand on his cheek, and his breath caught in his throat. A brief moment of hesitation before giving in to what was clearly building inside of him, and then he slid his hand to the back of her neck and returned the kiss.

For a brief moment they were entirely lost in each other. No thoughts, just sensations. Skin on skin and lips pressed together. After a moment they broke the kiss, and Rachel suddenly felt self conscious. Like she went too far and crossed a boundary.

"Oh my god, I- I'm so sorry Jack, I don't know what came over me, that was stupid of me," she started rambling. Her head was swimming, a mix of desire and confusion and guilt, and she quickly rose to her feet and started making her way toward the exit.

Jack rose as well, following after her. He wanted to console her, to let her know that he wasn't upset, but it was difficult to get a word in as she quickly tried to escape the situation. "Listen, Rachel-" he started, but she just kept talking.

"I really appreciate the wine and you inviting me in, I'm sorry again. I have to go but I'll tell my parents you said hi." She spoke nearly non-stop from the moment the kiss broke until she was out the door. She was afraid of what he might say and decided to try to just prevent him from saying anything.

Jack just stood in the kitchen as she exited his house, stunned and a little unsure of what just happened. He raised a finger to his lips, still able to feel the sensation of her lips pressed against his, and found himself wondering if that was her or the wine talking.