Every Breaking Wave Read Online Free Page A

startled is all, when I got out of the shower and heard the weed whacker.  Can you maybe come back another time?”
    “Yeah, sure.  Sorry for the disturbance.” 
    He didn’t wait for me to say anything else.  He just unplugged the machine and walked next door.  I didn’t stay and watch him.  Instead, I turned and went back inside to put on a bra. 
     
    ~~~
     
    I couldn’t stop my eyes from drifting to the house next door as I made dinner.  My boobs were now properly contained in a 34 C beige bra and I’d dried my hair so I no longer looked like a drowned rat, but I felt badly for how I’d jumped down my new neighbor’s throat when he was merely doing his job, a job my family had hired him to do. 
    I was the first to admit I’d been on a short fuse for a while, the last year actually.  I wasn’t one to usually confront someone so abruptly the way I had with Jeremy.  I kept replaying the encounter in my mind and while the issue needed to be addressed, there was definitely a much more civilized way I could’ve handled it instead of coming off like a crazy banshee. 
    “How about we make some cookies?” I asked Noah after we finished the spaghetti I’d prepared for dinner. 
    He was all too happy with my idea and an hour later, we were using a spatula to slide the fresh chocolate chip cookies off the baking sheet and onto a paper plate.  I’d already had three and Noah had devoured two.  There was nothing quite like warm cookies straight from the oven and I had to restrain myself from eating any more. 
    “Why are you doing that?” he asked me when I started wrapping the plate with cellophane.
    “Because we’re taking them next door.”
    “Why?”
    I knew someday I’d miss Noah’s constant questioning, but that wouldn’t be any time soon.
    “Because Mommy wasn’t very nice today and I need to say I’m sorry.”
    I knew an explanation wasn’t necessary. I guess it was more for myself…to try and make myself feel better.  He looked at me curiously so I knew he didn’t understand what I was saying. My proclamation was more for me. 
    A few minutes later, Noah and I both slid on our flip flops and headed out.  The lights were on in the house next door, so I assumed Jeremy was home.  I was nervous as we approached the front door and when we got there, I told Noah to ring the doorbell.  He loved ringing doorbells and I should’ve known he wouldn’t ring it just once.  He stood there, ringing it continually and I could hear the rapid dinging from outside.
    “Noah,” I whispered, swatting his hand away. “Stop that.  Only ring it once.”
    He smirked and then pushed the bell again.  Before I could wring his neck, the door was opening and I had to transfer the scowl on my face directed at my son to a warm, fake smile as I tried to erase the terrible first impression I’d given my neighbor.
    “Is there a fire out here or something?” Jeremy asked when he opened the door. 
    He had changed out of his jeans, replacing them with khaki shorts and a white t-shirt.  I tried to keep my eyes on his face so I wouldn’t notice the muscles in his arms or how good his calves looked in the shorts.  That didn’t help though because his face was just as nice to look at.  I hadn’t really paid attention earlier. I was too busy berating him and worrying if I was going to have to deal with a cranky child for the rest of the night.  He’d taken off the Red Sox hat, revealing a head of thick brown hair and a five o’clock shadow graced his jaw line.  The rugged, casual look seemed to suit my new neighbor. 
    “Um…hi,” I said, shaking my head as I tried pulling myself together. “I’m sorry to bother you, but…we made cookies and I wanted to bring some by…as a peace offering.” I held the plate out and he looked down at it for a moment before looking back up at me and smiling as he took it. “I wasn’t exactly at my best earlier and I…I wanted to apologize for that.”
    He