Page 3 of Neighbors With Benefits

Aiden shook my hand. He was about the same height as Bash, but with dark hair that was parted along the side. “I live in the green house, but I really loveyourgreenhouse.”

I frowned at him. “My house is blue.”

Bash pointed past me. “I think he means the greenhouse in the backyard.”

“Oh! Right.” I playfully smacked my forehead. “Sorry. I’ve only lived here a week, so nothing really feels likemineyet. I’m excited to get the greenhouse up and running.” I looked at Aiden and Bash. “Oh, you both live next door?”

“In the house that ispaintedgreen, yes,” Aiden said with a smirk.

Bash clapped him on the back. “Aiden and I live together.”

“Ohhhh,” Cat said slowly. “That’s great! Our best friends, Gregor and Parker, are the guys making drinks in the kitchen.”

Bash started laughing. Aiden’s eyes widened, and he said, “No, we’re not a gay couple. There’s a third guy who lives with us.”

“That makes it even gayer, Aiden,” Bash said. “We could be a gay throuple.” He winked at me to let me know he was joking.

“We are three very heterosexual men living together,” Aiden clarified. “We’re best friends.”

Giggling, I said, “No judgment! Glad to meet you. This is a great neighborhood.”

“Best neighborhood in Philly!” Aiden said, glancing at his watch. “I’m glad we got a chance to say hi, because we have to go.”

“Aw, you can’t stay longer?” Cat asked.

“We’ve actually been here for a little while,” Bash explained. “Took us a while to figure out who had moved in and who was just a guest here.”

“I baked a pie as a housewarming gift,” Aiden said, nodding toward the kitchen. “And I left my phone number in case you need anything. Paper towels, a cup of sugar… seriously, don’t hesitate to hit us up.”

“Or just come over and knock,” Bash added. “One of us is usually home.”

“I appreciate it! Thanks for coming by!”

When they were gone, Cat fanned her face with her palm. “I don’t know which of them is hotter: dark-and-handsome or blond-and-beautiful. What do you think?”

“I think I have to pee!” I said, hurrying into the bathroom.

The party fizzled out soon after that. Gregor and Parker stuck around to help me clean up a lot of the mess, which didn’t take long. After they left it was just me and Cat polishing off the wine.

“This pie is legit,” Cat said in the kitchen. “It looks like it came from a bakery. The bougie kind that charges fifty bucks for a pie.”

I saw what she meant. The crust was braided dough, baked golden brown. “He probably bought it from that place down the street.”

“He said he baked it himself,” Cat pointed out.

“People say a lot of things.” There was a Post-It note on top of the side of the pie tin with his name, Aiden Rush, and his phone number. “Help yourself to the pie.”

“You don’t want some?” Cat asked while cutting a slice. “It’s only fair that you taste his pie before he tastesyours.”

“No,” I insisted playfully. “That’s exactly what wedon’twant. They live right next door.”

“But they’re both sohot,” Cat whined.

“You’re welcome to date them,” I replied.

“I’m only dating women right now,” Cat replied.

I frowned at her. “Last time I checked, bisexual meant you get to date menandwomen.”

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