Page 18 of Bad Boy Neighbor

Out of all places in Manhattan Beach, she lives next door.

Gabriella.

The name has a beautiful ring to it, nothing like the vomiting beast I came across last night. It’s such a shame her entitled attitude overshadows anything beautiful about her.

Gabriella strolled in carrying a fruit basket, dressed in a pair of white shorts with this strappy green top. Her tits bounced around in it which made it impossible to ignore her.

And then there’s the hair.

The long, untamed curls cascading down her back and against her skin. I’ve never been one to care about women’s hairstyles, yet something about hers fascinates me.

Despite the previous night’s shenanigans, she could have fared a lot worse. I’m surprised she managed to get out of bed, given how intoxicated she was.

The moment our eyes met, her mouth fell open in shock, followed by a stiffened posture as she froze on the spot. I thought it was all bloody hilarious. Out of all fucking places, she is Sebastian and Lana’s neighbor.

At least I can vouch that I didn’t make a complete fool out of myself last night. I’d had a few beers but would hardly call myself drunk. Far from it. Gabriella, on the other hand, I’d hate to be in her shoes.

“I should probably head back home,” Gabriella announces while purposely avoiding any eye contact with me. “I’ve got a few things I need to do.”

“Are you sure? We’re about to bring out Monopoly,” Lana informs her.

I hold back my laughter. So married life does mean playing board games.

“You mustn’t leave Prince Charming waiting. After all, you did reject his call,” I remind her with a smirk.

Her eyes dash to mine. “I didn’t reject his call. It stopped ringing. Anyways, why do you care what I do?”

I don’t care, though something irked me when his name flashed on the screen.

After a rather tense lunch and her blatantly ignoring me after I mentioned the call, she leaves only for Seb to remind her of the the double date. Lana corrected him once again, calling it a group outing.

It doesn’t bother me either way. These days, I have nothing better to do than wallow in self-pity, but then the Prince Charming thing changed the whole game plan.

The game plan now—I don’t give a shit either way.

Gabriella is gorgeous despite her wild and unruly behavior last night, but something about knowing a woman is on a ‘break’ makes it all the more intriguing. Seb mentioned it after Gabriella left. I asked for more information, but Seb quickly changed the subject when Lana walked back outside.

Fucking admit it—you’re playing cat to her mouse.

I busied myself over the next few days by attending specialist appointments for my shoulder and checking out potential houses with a broker should I consider moving here one day. It’s always been a dream of mine to buy something small by the beach and jet back and forth from here to Australia, so I can experience the best of both worlds.

Nothing piqued my interest. My head just wasn’t in it, and I hated to admit I’ve earned my stalker badge and tried to purposely run into Gabriella again.

Occasionally, when in the backyard, I hear classical music filter through. Odd, considering it doesn’t match the girl in the Irish pub dancing to nineties pop bands.

Seb is of no further help. He doesn’t know that much about her, referring me to Lana. I know better than to ask Lana. I’ve only been under their roof for less than a week, and in that time, she’s tried to set me up with numerous women.

Another neighbor down the road.

A single mother at Ace’s playgroup.

And other random girls she used to work with.

Time drags, but Saturday morning rolls around, and at eight on the dot, Seb yells out from the driver’s seat for Lana to get her butt in the car if she knows what’s good for her.

“Honestly, women.” He exhales, honking the horn. “I managed to get Ace in the car. What else is there?”

I don’t want to tell him Lana’s busy packing everything else, especially since she’s already had a packing meltdown earlier in the day.

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