I was just starting to mow the lawn when I noticed the moving van pull up next door. The house had been empty for quite some time and I hadn't even known that it was sold. The crew moved quickly and unloaded the van full of belongings before I finished the front yard. I was young and my house was left to me alone when my relatives moved away. It was a lot to take care of as a single guy, but it was nice, clean, safe, and the right price. I hadn't thought much about neighbors but I was curious to see who was moving in. I worked a lot and was really only home to sleep at night and on the weekends. Being busy doing the lawn I hadn't seen the new owners go in or out, by the time I finished the front lawn, the movers were gone, but I could tell there was activity going on in the house.
In the driveway was now a nice new Jeep SUV and a Mercedes Benz, both sparkling clean. I was glad to see that. The house was empty for a while and getting a bit overgrown in the summer heat. Nice, shiny, obviously well cared for cars probably meant new owners that would take care of the house. I was happy for that. I had noticed that sometime during the previous week, the maintenance company had come to clean and open the pool and the jacuzzi. I thought it odd since no one was there but I figured it was being cleaned up for sale. The previous owner had rarely used the pool but being cleaned up for the week, coupled with the summer sizzle made it awfully inviting not having one of my own.
Perhaps it was a family moving in and the pool was being readied for the kids. As the sun dimmed and darkness fell over the area, the heat continued to scorch. I had a small balcony off of the second floor master bedroom of my house. Being elevated and open, even on hot nights it would be nice to sit out there and capture what little breeze there was drifting through the neighborhood. Having done a lot of work around the house, I was ready to get cleaned up. I would take a nice cool shower, then put on a pair of shorts and a thin t-shirt and I would sit on the balcony to enjoy the peace and quiet of the evening.
I wanted to greet my new neighbors but not on the first day. I figured they were plenty busy to be worried about entertaining a young neighbor so I figured I would run to the store in the morning and grab a small housewarming gift as a welcome. That was the plan...I put my feet up and glanced over at the pool next door. Lit up at night, the emerald water was so welcoming. I just imagined diving in to that perfect water. After all the hard work during the day, it would have felt nice. Just then I noticed him walk out by the pool. The reward of a beautiful pool is certainly worth the amount of work that goes into a day of moving and unpacking. As he walked out around the pool I could get a better look from the glowing pool light. He was shirtless, slim, clean cut, and wearing what looked to be a plain white speedo type bathing suit. I guessed him to be about 15, maybe 20 or so years older than me and just about perfect as he dipped a foot in the pool to check the temperature.
While I didn't mind the suit at all and I had a perfect view from my balcony, I thought it a little odd choice for a family man. Again, I guess I just assumed that it was a family that had moved in...at least until I saw another guy walk out holding two glasses of wine. Slightly taller than the first guy and with darker hair, the other guy was also wearing just a speedo...a little bolder in what looked like zebra stripes. The way they acknowledged each other and looked at the house in a congratulatory way made me think. When I saw them give each other a hug, my heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Were these my new neighbors? I was getting excited at the thought.
I was young and inexperienced, but I had thoughts about men and what it would be like. I never really acted on it, but I knew what I liked and what the ingredients were that made up my fantasies as I laid alone in an empty house at night. Being shy and unsure, the idea of an older, experience couple had been the thing that would set my daydreams alight. I imagined being shown the ropes by two willing, eager, yet patient teachers who reveled in the thought of breaking in a new toy. I never really wanted the one night stand thing, but sort of a discreet, semi-regular, ongoing thing for mutual fun. What I saw next door in front of my eyes was just about exactly what I had conjured up in my thoughts, dreams, and fantasies. I couldn't believe it.
I knew I had to get a better look as I just couldn't resist. I would sit in the dark on the balcony to keep the bugs away, but as I got up to go inside, I made sure to make a little noise in the hopes that they would at least hear me and be aware of my presence. After a few minutes I decided to pretend like I was going into my backyard shed to get something. I put the rear light on and tried to be obvious about it. I didn't want to wait until morning to meet these two, hopefully, new neighbors but it was too late to go knocking. I walked back to my shed and pretended to be getting something when I heard a "hello". I turned and became instantly flushed to see the first guy standing at the chest high fence, lighter hair and gorgeous blue eyes looking at me intently.
"I'm Steven" he said. "Hi, I'm Michael" I offered back as we shook hands. His handshake was firm but welcoming at the same time. I asked if he was the new owner and Steven said yes. I said that was great and I am excited to have someone next door as the place had been empty and too quiet. I said I missed the pool and how great it was to see it glimmering again. I told Steven how the previous owner used to let me swim now and then when they weren't home but I said not to worry, because I would never ask that of him, I just was glad to see it shining. Steven smiled and said that my swimming days didn't have to be over.