Lonely Neighbors

[xxerikamariexx]

Erika had been married for three years now and she loved her husband. He made her happy but his work was beginning to take priority. Erika thought she was his priority, but as of late, it didn't feel like that. Her husband was a surgeon and worked long hours. Erika poured herself a glass of wine and sat down on her patio. It was their third anniversary and he was working, again. He didn't even send flowers this time. She looked into the next yard and saw her neighbor. She knew that his wife was a lawyer and was gone from home most of the time. She felt her eyes swell up with tears, knowing her husband forgot their anniversary. She wiped her eyes so her neighbor couldn't see them.

ooc: send a sample PM. Thanks!

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

Michael had received another text from his wife saying that she would have to work late again to help put the final touches on this latest case. The case was such a big deal, that it seemed to consume not just her time, but most of the other partners as well. He understood that her job was important to her, but sometimes he thought she would rather work 24-7 than come home to him. He knew it was wrong to think that way. He also knew his wife loved him, but since making partner she has had more responsibilities which required more time.

"Oh well, there goes my surprise for the night. Might as well make the most of it." he said with a sigh. He turned on the television to what ever game was on and went outside to light the grill to cook the steaks he had planned for a surprise dinner. He was about to head back in, when out of the corner of his eye he noticed his next door neighbor Erika sitting by herself on the patio with a glass of wine. "Look likes she is home alone as well tonight." he thought to himself.

He walked over to the fence that separated their yards. "Hey Erika, how are you doing? " As he got closer, he noticed that her eyes were a little red from what seem to be crying. " Is everything ok?" he asked out of genuine concern.

 

[xxerikamariexx]

Erika's husband Scott was a surgeon and most nights left her alone for his work. And when he got home, he was too tired to conversation, let alone any form of intimacy. Erika was frustrated because Scott had been the absolute love of her life but lately it was like he had chosen work over her. Erika knew she was getting older, she wasn't the same twenty something Scott married but Erika didn't think she was unattractive. Maybe age did do a number on her.

Erika heard a soft voice of a neighbor. She looked up to see Michael. He was one of the friendliest neighbors on the street. "Oh hi Michael." She forced a fake smile. "Everything is fine...how are you?"She asked softly. She was miserable and she at least hoped the people around her were more happy than she was.

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

Looking into Erika's eyes, he didnt believe her for a sec. He knew that Scott was a surgeon and been working late for quite a while now. "Poor thing, it must be getting to her. I know how she feel" thinking to himself.

"I am good. I was planning a romantic night for Sara and myself, but she texted me a little while a go and said she was sorry, but she wouldn't be home till real late. So now its just me and the tv."
"Where is Scott, isnt this suppose to be your anniversary?"

 

[xxerikamariexx]

"I don't know what hurts more, the fact that he's not home or the fact he didn't remember." She said softly. Scott had been the love of her life but now, he didn't look twice at her. It was if she was hideous or something. It was as if he loved his work more than he loved her.

"Sorry about Sara.." She said. If anyone understood how she felt, it was probably Michael.

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

"Oh thats ok." he said, though on the inside it was starting to get to him too.

"Tell you what. Seeings how we both got dumped tonight, why don't you come over and have dinner with me. I would hate for all the planning I was doing to go to a complete waste." " Besides that, I hate to eat alone and would love the company." he said.

He hoped that by saying it that way she would take the offer and not feel it was done out of pitty. After all it was true that he did hate to eat alone, but he felt sad for Erika and thought she could use the company too.

 

[xxerikamariexx]

Erika didn't exactly what to eat alone either. She was feeling pretty shitty about herself at the moment and just really wanted the company.

"Are you sure Michael? I don't want to put you out or anything?" She said softly. She figured having some company would be good for her since her husband left her alone most nights and tonight was turning out to be no exception.

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

"Nah!" he said with a wave of his hand. "It will be no trouble at all. If you have enough of the wine from that bottle that you started left, why dont you bring that as well. Like I said, I hate to let things go to waste." He said with a little wink.

He turned around and started to make his way back to the kitchen to start to get things ready. He turned around before going back up the stairs. "See you in a little bit." Inside he felt good, not only to have some lovely company, but also that he was able to bring a smile to that pretty face.

 

[xxerikamariexx]

She smiled at him softly. "Yeah, see you in a bit." She said as she went inside her own place and changed. She had to fix her makeup because she had been crying and probably look like a real hot mess. She fixed her makeup and grabbed the bottle of wine.

Once she was ready, she went over to her neighbors and knocked on the door softly. She was lucky to have a neighbor like Michael. He was always extremely friendly to her and she needed that.

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

As he went inside, he turned the tv off and turned on some light jazz music. He went to the table to light the candles and then went back to the bedroom to change into something less casual and freshen up.

He just started to walk back to the kitchen when her heard the knock on the door. He opened the door for Erika and offered her to come inside.

"Welcome, you look great by the way. Just set the bottle on the table and make yourself at home. I was about to put the steaks on, how do you like yours cooked?"

 

[xxerikamariexx]

"Hey..thanks for inviting me. You look wonderful." She smiled as she came inside, setting the wine on the table. She hadn't been inside his place before. "Nice place you have here." She said. "As for my steak, medium is good for me." She said to him as she heard the light jazz music playing. This was making her feel better already, just what she needed.

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

"Thanks." he said as he grabbed the steaks and headed out to the grill. Michael then came back in and started to work on the side dishes and salad. "Hope your hungry. I have go baby potatoes in an herb sauce, steamed veggies, and your choice of cheese cake with strawberries or chocolate moose for desert."

Michael took a second look at Erika and saw how beautiful she looked next to the candle light. "What as Scott thinking not making time for her especially on this day of all days." once again thinking to himself. He decided to he would test the waters and see if she need to talk about things. "So if you dont mind me asking, how are thing going between the two of you."

 

[xxerikamariexx]

"Cheesecake is my weakness." She laughed softly as she got comfortable at the table. This was nice. She needed someone to talk to because lately her husband was never around and made her feel pretty shitty about herself. It was if he was married to his work instead of her. Hell, it was like he loved his work more than her.

"Honestly? Things are pretty miserable. He's always working and when he's home, he's too tired and uninterested." She shrugged softly. "I've taken a back seat to his work. It's been that way for awhile."

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

"I am sorry to hear that." Michael said as he walked over to the table to pour some wine for both of them. He then went outside to check on the steaks and put the finishing touches on the other dishes.

"I know what you mean. Sara has been like that too since she became a partner. I was happy for her, because I know she loves her job. But honestly the long nights begin to suck after a while." he said trying not to let his own pain show. "Have your tried talking to him?"

 

[xxerikamariexx]

She took a sip of wine, making herself comfortable. She saw the pain in his eyes, the pain she also had in her own. "It's as if we don't matter anymore. It's as if their work is more important. I was happy for him for awhile but the long hours turned into long weeks and when he's home, it's not even like he's home because he's still thinking about work or disinterested in me."

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

"Well then he is a fool for not seeing what he has waiting for him at home." Michael said trying to bring the conversation by to a more enjoyable level. "Just remember Erika that you are doing the best you can do and that a marriage is a two way street that requires both to keep it strong."

"Great now I am starting to sound like one of the TV daytime talk show host." He let out a laugh hoping to put a smile on her face and change the conversation. It was starting to hit close to home for him too, and he didnt want to do the to her.

He got up from his chair as the timer went off. "Well that means everything is ready. You sit right there and relax as I get everything together." he said as he walked out to the grill.

 

[xxerikamariexx]

She laughed softly as she got comfortable at the table. She poured them some wine and took a sip of her own. She just needed to unwind a little bit and this was helping.As she watched Michael walk away, she was noticing just how good looking he was. He was married but his wife must have been insane to choose her work over him. He was caring and so very good looking.

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

He noticed she was starting to relax and loosen up some. Michael got the plates together and headed back to the table. "Here you go madam," trying to sound a little fancy as he set the plate down. "One steak cooked as you said." Just before he walked to his chair, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder, gave it a sight squeeze, and said "I know it may not help much with what you are dealing with, but I am glad you decided to come over." he said with a smile. He then slowly removed his hand and went to sit down.

 

[xxerikamariexx]

She smiled softly as dinner was served. "This is helping me as much as it is helping you, believe me. It's nice to have someone to talk to." She said, being very honest. It was nice knowing there was someone she could talk to, who'd actually listen. As they ate together, she couldn't help but notice how attractive he was. His wife, Sara, must have been out of her mind to pick work over this man.

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

She had such a beautiful smile. It actual made him mad that Scott could cause such a lovely and very attractive woman to be sad. She was right though, it did help having someone to talk to who did understand what was missing. Though out dinner, Michael could stop taking glances of her. First it was the eyes, then the face, the hair, then further down. At one point, he actually thought he was on a date and not in his own house.

As he noticed that she was nearing the end of her dinner, he asked "So are you ready for some cheese cake or do you want to wait a moment?"

 

[xxerikamariexx]

"We can wait a minute." She smiled, drinking some wine. She couldn't help but stare at him. He was such an attractive man and Sara had to be out of her mind to rather be at work right now. She wasn't even thinking about her own husband because in front of her was a charming, good looking man,.

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

"Not a problem." he said a he gathered the plates and took them back to the kitchen. As he was walking back, a new soft set of jazz had started on the radio. "I really like this one, care to dance while we wait on desert?" he said as he held out is hand. What he thinking, he is married and here he is basically flirting with his neighbor. But at the same time, he wanted to feel close to someone even if was just to dance.

 

[xxerikamariexx]

"I'd love to." She smiled as she got up and wrapped her arms around his neck and began swaying to the music. She liked being so close to him, it felt good. Maybe it was because she was lonely but she liked having a man so close to her, especially a good looking man like him.

 

[BigTXTeddyBear]

Wow, it had been so long since he felt this good. He had his hand around her waist, gentle holding her close as they swayed to the music. With her arms wrapped around his neck, he lowered his head to her shoulder. When he inhaled, the scent of her perfume was intoxicating. Her hair felt like silk against his cheek. He could also feel her chest pressed up against him. As they continued to dance, it took very thing he had to control himself, but he could feel himself growing a little. His hands started to slowly glide up and down her back. "Hope your are having a good time?" he asked, even though he could tell that she was.

 

[xxerikamariexx]

"I'm having a real good time tonight, Michael. I hope you are too." She whispered softly, pressing her beautiful body against him as they danced. She knew it was wrong because they were both married but it had been so long since she and Scott were intimate and she wanted to feel sexy and wanted again