Page 44 of Neighbors With Benefits

“Dates with a chaperone. But still extremely date-like behavior.”

“Isn’t that what friends-with-benefits is?” I asked. “We’re hanging out like friends, then having sex.”

“I’ve been frennies with bennies more times than I can count,” she replied, “and it was never like what you two are doing.”

“Just because you haven’t done it this way, doesn’t mean it’s automatically a relationship.”

“Jazz. Come on.”

“We’re not exclusive!” I said, searching for any evidence to defend my argument. “We’re free to hook up with other people. That’s the definition of casual.”

She gave me a skeptical look. “You would hook up with another guy in the next two weeks? You, the most monogamous woman I’ve ever known?”

“You don’t know,” I argued petulantly. “Just because I’ve taken a lover doesn’t mean I won’t consider taking another.”

Her eyebrows climbed up her forehead. “Take a lover? What are you, a Victorian Duchess?”

The doorbell suddenly rang. Cat and I shared a look.

“I’m not expecting anyone,” I said.

When I got up and peered through the peephole, it was a familiar face.

I opened the door and said, “Bash?”

16

Jazz

My blond neighbor grinned and held up a board game. “I brought Candyland. Haven’t played it since I was riding around on training wheels, but I thought it would be fun to try as adults.”

“Oh. I didn’t know you were going to, uh…”

Bash narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re not putting our game night on hold just because Aiden is gone, are you? You’ll make me think you like him more than me.” He winked, then glanced beyond me. “Oh. I didn’t realize you had company…”

“I was just leaving!” Cat announced a little too enthusiastically. “Jazz was giving me some relationship advice, but I need to hurry home before I missThe Voice. Gwen Stefani really greases my peach, if you know what I mean.” She gave me a quick hug. “Talk more later, Jazz.”

Bash watched her go, then frowned at me. “Grease her peach? Does that mean what I think it means?”

“Cat is, in her words, an enlightened bisexual. Gwen Stefani was her teenage awakening. Come in! I’m sorry, I should’ve texted to see if you wanted anything from the Thai place…”

He followed me inside, brushing against my arm for a fraction of a second. “I actually had leftover Thai for dinner. This place over on College Ave. has thebestpineapple fried rice.”

“Ah, I ordered from the restaurant three blocks from here.”

Bash unboxed the board game. “That one is fine in a pinch, but you have to try this other place. You’ll never go back.”

“Noted. I’m also in the market for a sandwich shop, if you have a recommendation. And no, I’m not a fan of Philly cheesesteak.”

Bash clutched his chest. “You wound me. I want to like you, but then you say something sacrilegious.”

“I’m full of disappointment, aren’t I?”

“I can ignore thisonething,” Bash said, giving me another wink. “But you’re on thin ice, neighbor.”

I grinned while we set up the game. As Bash read the rules, I got a text from Cat.

Cat: You know what would prove that things are just casual with you and Aiden? If you hooked up with Bash The Cute Blond.

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