**Note, all stories are purely fictional and not based on any real life scenario, person or place. Do not duplicate or re-post without writers permission.**
Aaron putzed around his new backyard, beyond excited to finally own his own home. To provide for himself, his sexy wife Taylor and his two daughters: Raiya, 19 and attending community college and Caitlyn 18 and just about to finish high school.
Having children before you turn 21 will set you back, being divorced with two kids before 25 will provide a challenge that only a decade of hard work and dedication will resolve. Aaron had worked hard, kept his head down, put in the extra effort and punched his way out of debt and poverty and finally, in his late 30's owned his own house with his new wife, also a divorcee. 'Second times the charm,' they both loved to joke as they made copious amounts of love and dreamed of a future together.
To put it simply, Aaron's life was wonderful, his daughters, while somewhat conflicted from the divorce, spend half their time with him and both treated his new wife - their stepmom - with respect, kindness and familial love. While his ex, Marie, never quite went away due to her penchant of dating the absolute worst men around. Aaron found that over time his daughters began to see through the smokescreen she'd created and respected his absolute refusal to insult or diminish her household while focusing on spending his half of their 50/50 custody being the best father he could.
After graduation his eldest daughter Raiya had chosen to go to the local university and live full time with Aaron and Taylor. Caitlyn had implied she would like to do the same after graduation. With a full heart and a full household they had moved into a new home, a modest half duplex in a relatively new subdivision and immediately become good friends with their exceptional neighbors.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end and the Hallmark movie couple with their two adorable young children next door had decided to move. Luckily for Aaron and Taylor they had kept their newest neighbors apprised of the offers and the people moving in. The couple felt excited when they were told that the new residents next door would be a newly retired couple with a small dog. All things that checked boxes in both their minds.
So with a smile and a basket in hand Aaron and Taylor knocked on their new neighbors door and dropped off a welcome gift to their new neighbors, not more than 6 weeks after having moved into the neighborhood themselves. They had hoped to bring their daughters along but their oldest was away visiting friends and their youngest was staying with her biological mother this week. So that greeting would have to wait.
The door was opened by a demure, well put together woman in her early 60's that introduced herself as Kathy while turning and shouting for Thomas to come meet the neighbors. Moments later Aaron found his hand engulfed in a massive palm and gripped aggressively by the significantly larger, older man. 6'4, stocky while sporting a fine head of hair for his age Thomas grinned down at Aaron and made his acquaintance, not hesitating to glance sideways and give Taylor a long glance up and down.
"Pleasure to meet you both," he spoke with his deep, commanding voice. "I noticed y'all had a hot-tub next door. We will have to bribe y'all with Kathy's famous Apple Pie to let us join y'all next time you're fixin' to spend some time relaxin' out there." Aaron couldn't quite place the accent but "Southern" came to mind.
He opened his mouth to reply in the affirmative but Taylor beat him to it, batting her eyes and grinning at the attractive, masculine, and somehow dominant older man. "We'd love to have you over," she beamed. "especially if Kathy is willing to teach a doomed baker some of her secrets."
Thomas let out a barrel chested laugh, his dad-bod rippling as he grabbed Taylor's two petite hands in just one of his massive paws. Aaron couldn't help but notice that Taylor ever-so-slightly crossed her legs and blushed as Thomas looked her in the eyes and bellowed. "Darlin' we'd love that, Kathy can show you some of her secrets and I'll show this man of yours a few of mine." He turned and winked at his wife who shared a knowing glance with the larger man before excusing herself to continue unpacking and hurrying away. The remainder of the initial interaction was spent finalizing a date to have the new neighbors over and agreeing on Steak, corn on the cob and Kathy's famous potato salad while both couples got to know one another.
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A few days later Aaron stood in front of the grill, carefully timing the two massive tomahawk steaks he had reverse seared. One, for the ladies was requested medium and both men had attempted to one up each-other until they settled on blue-rare. Aaron was working to make the less cooked of the two Chicago style, a heavy char with a near bleeding interior as Thomas walked up beside him.
"Seems like you're a man who knows how to handle his meat.." He said handing Aaron a pre-opened beer. Aaron simply agreed and smiled at his new neighbor as he took a long swig of the IPA he was offered, it tasted a bit off but he thought nothing of it.
