Page 48 of Bad Boy Neighbor

I hate the tension between Oliver and me.

I miss him.

I miss his annoying ways. The way he throws in his sexual innuendos at random times. I know my asking for time has upset him, and I want to make it up to him. Show him I need him in my life, but the complication that follows me won’t be so easy to shake off. I have to make him understand that.

I just don’t know how, that is until my eyes dart to the hallway and sitting on top of the table is Sebastian’s motorcycle helmet.

“Do you think Sebastian would let Oliver ride his bike?” I ask Lana, knowing it is a long shot but hoping for the best.

“I guess so if he asked, but I don’t think he’s ridden since the accident.”

Sebastian places his empty plate beside Lana. I run it past him, and after much reluctance involving a lot of stubble scratching, he agrees. Though he warns me it’s his baby, and it needs to come back in one piece.

I quickly head back home, shower, and pull on a pair of black jeans and a loose blouse. My hair refuses to cooperate, and knowing I will be near the beach fighting the wind anyway, I opt to leave it out. It’s beyond a lost cause these days anyway.

I’ve been gone for thirty minutes, praying Oliver hasn’t snuck past and left for a morning run without me. I knock on Oliver’s door, opening it before he even has a chance to ask who it is.

He’s sprawled out on his bed with his back toward me, shirtless as usual, laptop beside him with his email application open. Purposely ignoring me, he’s not fazed one bit that I’m standing in his room while he continues to read what’s on his screen.

There is no doubt Oliver is beyond sexy. Even media outlets had named him Sexiest Aussie Sports Star. The night I searched him online, I stumbled across fan sites dedicated to him. They were run by groups of girls, blog posts written on how perfect his body is.

I am not immune.

Every inch of me desperately wants to climb into bed with him, run my nails along his perfectly tanned back, nuzzle my face into his neck, and inhale his skin.

Breathe.

Focus.

“Get out of bed, I have a surprise for you.”

“All surprises should involve bed,” he deadpans.

“C’mon, get dressed. We’re heading out.”

He lets out a groan, falling onto his back as he rubs his face. “Gabriella…”

“Yes, Olly?”

I can almost see the internal battle to tell me to get the hell out of here versus the small smile playing on his beautiful lips. His eyes spring wide open. Tilting his head upward, he finally gazes at me. “Do I get clues?”

“You’ll see,” I answer with a smile.

I latch onto his arm, dragging him out of bed. With clothes piled in his hand, he disappears to the bathroom. I sit on the edge of the bed waiting until my eyes wander to his laptop he left open. There’s an email on the screen, and although it isn’t my intention to snoop, my eyes wander across the title.

It appears to be an email from a medical specialist confirming his appointment in Colorado for next Monday.

Colorado… as in my home.

There’s a noise near the door, prompting me to pull away.

“Okay, Gabs, show me what you got?”

“No.”

Outside, at the front of the house, he backs away. He’s ready to go inside before I pull on his arm, dragging him back to the motorcycle.

“Gabriella, you don’t understand… I can’t just… I can’t just ride.”

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