Page 30 of The Neighbor's Son

“Gotta protect my girl from Grade-A douchebags.”

She smirks at me. “Soooo, what’s up with you? You’ve been acting strange lately. Not to be a creep, but I saw you walking with Brayden.” She waggles her eyebrows at me. “Tell me what’s going on with you and him.”

Because she’s my best friend, I unload on her. All of it. My explosive feelings for him, the most romantic date ever andgetting some finger action, the awkward surprise visit at my work, the apology, and yes, even the blowjob.

I have no filter and need to confide in someone.

“No fucking way,” she hisses. “Holy crap. You’re having an illicit affair with a high school student. That’s so taboo, girl.”

I roll my eyes at her. “He’s eighteen.”

“Like just yesterday.”

It’s been a few days, but I get her point. “Are you judging me? I’m pretty sure you encouraged this.”

“No judgment at all. I swear. Honestly, you’re glowing with happiness. You deserve that.”

She pauses for a long beat. I know she wants to say more, but for once is holding back, clearly not wanting to hurt my feelings.

“But,” I encourage with a soft sigh.

“But I worry about you getting hurt.” She cuts her eyes over to me. “If it was just getting laid by some young hottie, I’d be one-hundred percent cool with it. You’re falling for him, though. Kind of fast, don’t you think?”

Her words do hurt. No wonder she didn’t want to say them.

“You think I’m filling the hole Derek left in my heart with Brayden?”

“Are you?”

No. Yes. Maybe. Ugh, I don’t know.

“When we’re together, it doesn’t feel that way,” I say softly. “It feels fresh and exciting. My insecurities about weight, the pain of the miscarriage, and the failure of my relationship all fade away when I’m with him. I feel young again. Wanted. Spoiled. Adored.” I laugh bitterly. “Guess it was too good to be true.”

She stops walking and stands in front of me, putting her hands on my shoulders. “Look at me.”

I meet her firm stare.

“You deserve to unload those heavy feelings and to be spoiled by a hottie like Brayden. I just don’t want you to get your heart broken again. You were drowning in despair, and I’ve only just gotten you back.”

I know she’s right, but how do you stop a freight train of fiery feelings?

“It can be ‘too good’and‘true’,” she assures me. “But you can also be careful and don’t fall in love blindly with the first man you connect with after Derek.”

I’m not falling in love with Brayden Foss.

He chooses this time to walk across our path, heading toward Gordon’s unit, and bores his heated stare into me as he passes.

My heart does a ridiculous leap inside my chest.

“I’ll be careful,” I say absently to Clara, unable to stop looking at Brayden until he disappears into the townhouse.

Clara sighs heavily. “I fear I may be too late on my bestie advice.”

“Why’s that?” I ask, finally looking back at her.

She cups my cheek and gives me a sad smile. “I think you’ve already fallen, and I have no idea how to undo that for you.”

Undo it?

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