This is for my wife, a single mother who I met twenty one years ago.
Be forewarned, there isn't much sex, so enjoy it
for what it is, a fictional romance.
Chapter 1
***Carson***
I have come to love the first day of every month, and June is always the best of them all. It's the beginning of summer which means new tenants, many of them single women, move into the apartment complex I call home.
The main reason I chose this location was the tenants are predominantly young single professionals or students. This year to make it even better, my single male neighbors moved out, which means less competition for the ladies.
I have a little less than two years left on my self imposed deadline. Once I hit thirty, I will settle down, get married and start a family. Until then I'm going to party hard and date as many women as I can.
I finished work for the day and just piddled around in the kitchen listening for signs of movement in the hallway or next door. Soon, my patience paid off when I heard the sounds of furniture being lugged around.
I decided to head down to the pool for my afternoon swim, hoping to run into my new neighbor. I timed it so that when I heard movement in the hall I walked out of my apartment door. When I stepped out, I was happy to see movers, which means my new neighbors probably aren't men.
To my satisfaction, a beautiful young woman brought up the rear wheeling along a cart full of boxes. She was smoking hot, a beautiful brunette, with her hair tied back in a ponytail. She was wearing a sports bra and yoga pants showing off a nice slim body along with a firm flat stomach, my achilles heel.
Please be single, I thought to myself.
"Hey, are you my new neighbor?"
She looked at me and gave me a million dollar smile.
"Yes. Hi I'm Tina."
I stopped and shook her hand, happy to notice there was no wedding ring on her finger when she rested her left arm on the cart.
"Hi, I'm Carson, nice to meet you."
"You as well."
"Looks like you have an army moving you in."
"I only have them for another hour, they're just moving in the heavy stuff for me."
"Well, I was just heading down to the pool for a swim, but if you need some help I'm free for a while."
"I would really owe you if you would be willing, there are a ton of boxes I have to move by myself."
By herself? That's odd since it's a two bedroom apartment. Maybe she's using the other bedroom as an office like I am.
"Lead the way."
I helped her carry up a few loads of boxes, making small talk as we went. I quickly found out that as hot as she is, she has a great personality as well. The movers left as soon as the furniture was all in the respective rooms. We were in the U-Haul loading up another round of boxes when I asked the important question.
"So, do you have a roommate that's going to be joining you?"
"No, the other room's for my two little girls."
"Girls?"
"Yeah, my two daughters Emily and Lily."
My hopes were dashed, a single mother is moving in next to me. I decided to execute my emergency escape plan.
We were halfway back to the apartment when I pulled out my phone and pretended to take a call.
"This is Carson."
"Um I'm just walking up my stairs, can I call you back in about five minutes?"
"Okay, thanks."
I pretended to hang up.
"Sorry, I have to make a work call."
As soon as we got back up to her apartment, I dumped my load of boxes and made a beeline out of there. Disaster averted.
I wallowed in my misery, a beautiful sexy woman is moving in next to me and she's a single mother. FUCK!!!!!
I hid in my apartment for an hour until the sounds of moving and slamming doors stopped. I resumed my trip down to the pool and started doing laps. It was a rare day when I didn't get at least fifty laps in. It was my time to just swim and not think about anything. Plus it kept me in great shape.
My foster father introduced me to swimming when I was in high school. The Hagerman's took me in when I was a freshman. I lost track of how many different schools I had been in over the previous eight years, never starting and finishing a grade in the same school.
The Hagermans were different though, they didn't host foster kids just for the monthly paycheck, they did it out of the kindness of their heart. Melvin could see right away that learning was a struggle for me. I was just so far behind all the other students from jumping from school to school, and not having a parent who cared enough to help.
Every night, Melvin or his wife Linda would sit at the kitchen table and help me with my homework. They were both high school teachers and loved a student who was willing to learn. It didn't take long for my grades to improve to the point where I was eligible to join school sports. Since Melvin was the swim coach, he naturally offered to teach me how to swim.
That was one of the things I learned to love about the Hagermans, they never made me do anything, they always gave me a choice. I often wonder how bad my life would have turned out if they hadn't taken me in for the last four years of school.
After finishing my fifty laps, I showered and took a little nap before it was time to head down the pub. Another reason I chose this complex, it had its own sports pub where I could drink, meet women and not have to worry about driving home.
Ah, life is good.
***Tina***
After Carson left, I shut the door and had a good cry. Not because I gave a shit that some asshole went from a nice charming guy to a douchebag the minute he found out I had kids.
When he faked a phone call I almost laughed in his face.
No, I cried because I felt alone and trapped. I discovered that every once in a while, a good cry helps wash away the stress.
I've been alone since the asshole father of the girls left us for his home in Spain almost six years ago. Sure, I had my mom, but she has driven me so crazy for the last year. I swear I would have taken a job in Enid Oklahoma if it was offered to me.
I felt trapped because I can't and won't make time to find and date a man, so I'm destined to be alone until God knows when. I love my girls to death, and can't imagine my life without them, but giving them the time they deserve makes it impossible to have a love life.
I've never done anything so bold in my life. I've worked my ass off for years to support the girls and me while climbing the corporate ladder. I was shocked when the company offered me a huge promotion, the catch was I had to relocate to Denver ASAP.
I didn't even hesitate, the money was fabulous, and I could get away from my mother. I loved her dearly, but the incessant harping on finding a husband was driving me absolutely nuts.
