Page 38 of My Ruthless Neighbor

I bought these specifically for tonight’s party. And she is laughing!

She pushes the blue bangs off her eyes and regards me with amusement. “You’re drunk.”

“So are you.” I counter.

We both stare at each other before giving in to laughter.

When something wet and warm touches my calf, I look down. “Goldie!” I pick him up. He has gotten a bit bigger in three weeks. “You look so handsome! Look!” I hold him facing the mirror. He lets out an excitedwoof.

He is sporting a hot pink wig. We would’ve removed it if he was irritated but he seems to like it. Just like how his mommy likes her red wig.

“Wait let me get my phone.” River disappears on wobbly legs. I hoist him up, rocking him to the beat of The Weeknd's song playing in the background.

When River returns, we pose together and she snaps mirror selfies. I straighten his bling personalized blue collar with his name and snuggle him as she takes our pictures.

“My turn!” She takes him from my arms. I begin taking our pictures.

When Beyonce’s Single Ladies starts playing, River squeals. “Dance with me!”

She puts Goldie down and pulls me into the middle of the living room under the disco ball I installed.

My jaw drops when she moves. Like really moves. She launches into a seductive dance, her hips moving smoothly. Damn, my friend can dance. It’s like she is feeling the lyrics.

Don’t pay him any attention.Just cried my tears, for three good years. Ya can’t be mad at me.

River throws her hands in the air, her blue wig slides off her head and her thick raven curls fall all around her. The shimmery disco ball lights cover our bodies and the entire dark room, giving the vibe of a nightclub.

Joining her, I lose myself in the music. I throw my head back in laughter when Goldie begins circling us with his tail waggling.

The alcohol in my bloodstream makes me feel free. I feel good. Life is good.

She shimmies to the table where party accessories are lying. She wraps a red feather boa around her neck and picks a yellow one and saunters back to me.

Her glimmering eyes meet mine as she lifts her hands and wraps the boa around my neck. I just shake my head. A few minutes ago, she was complaining about looking silly.

The song ends and she runs barefoot to choose her next song. NO by Meghan Trainor floods the speakers on full volume.

She twists, her cheeks flushed. Grinning, she begins singing.

I think it’s so cute and I think it’s so sweet.

She wags her eyebrows, probably signaling me to sing the next line and I do. With a sassy walk, I act as if I am in a music video.

How you let your friends encourage you to try and talk to me.

When we are a foot away, we sing together…

But let me stop you there. Oh, before you speak

When Megan’s voice singsNah to the ah to the, no, no, noRiver and I twist and twirl. Laughing and singing.

My cheeks hurt from how much I am smiling as we work it on the dance floor. I mean the living room floor.

Sweat trickles down my back but I don’t stop. It is the best New Year’s party I’ve ever had. Raleigh is out of town and it’s the first time we are apart on New Year’s Eve. But I have zero complaints. He has a girlfriend now.

I am ecstatic that Hannah and Raleigh reconciled. They even managed to make up with Archer.

And I have my new best friend. River Gibson.

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