Page 151 of My Ruthless Neighbor

I am certainly not going to tell them that I was busy getting fucked by their boss.

“Don’t ignore my calls again.” He pokes my shoulder a little too hard. I gasp then hit his bicep.

He pulls my hair strand and I yelp. “You ass!” I run after him and he dodges me and hides behind Hannah.

“Sometimes I think I am dealing with two kids, I swear!” Hannah throws her hands up, making us laugh.

Sobering up, I glance at Raleigh. “Don’t hold a grudge against Archer.”

He sighs. “I won’t. I worry about him, though. He is too comfortable being alone that he gets upset if someone tries to disrupt the lifestyle he has created.”

“I get it. But please don’t force him into changing overnight. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have pranked him like that. He wasn’t ready. Keep in mind, that we are dealing with thelifestylehe chose for himself and has been comfortable in for years. It won’t miraculously change. It takes time. So please let it go. It will break my heart if you guys start resenting him because of me. Remember he is a good man. He didn’t mean—”

I stop when all of them look at me funny. Raleigh and Hannah gawk at me then slowly look at each other. Then back to me.

“No way.” Raleigh shakes his head.

“Way.” Brielle grins.

Hannah smirks. Jason and Chris share a knowing smile.

Mia frowns. “Can anyone tell me what’s going on?”

“Same,” I remark.

“Summer likes Archer!” Brielle laughs.

“What?” I shout at the same time, Mia says, “We all do, so what?” and everyone looks at her with a “seriously?” face.

“I’ve never seen you talk so passionately about anyone,” Raleigh says. Then, “Well, except Goldie.”

“You are delusional,” I growl.

“Am I?” He smirks. And I remember having the exact same conversation with him when he was confused about his feelings for Hannah.

“Yes. Because you misinterpreted my respect for him for liking. I appreciate the fact that he made an effort to make things okay between us, that’s all.”

“Sure.” Hannah grins.

“You too? Seriously?”

She shrugs. “Having a crush on someone is perfectly normal.”

My face burns. “I donothave a crush on him!”

It’s the dress, right? I am not going to wear red ever again! Okay… that was a little extreme. Maybe I will avoid the color for a week.

“Why are you getting so worked up then?” Raleigh tilts his head.

“Well, because you all have lost your minds! I don’t have a crush on him. I don’t even see him like that.” When they still appear smug as hell, I bluff, “I actually prefer Freddie over Archer.”

“Is that so?”

I spin around, my mouth opening in a shocked gasp. Archer.

His eyebrow rises as he waits for my response. Despite myself, I can’t tear my gaze from him.

He has shed his jacket. The tie is loosened to half-mast. The sleeves of his white shirt are rolled up to his elbows. One of his hands is casually tucked into his pocket.

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