Page 125 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

“You left,” she whispers, dropping her forehead to my chin.

I press a kiss to the top of her head. “You didn’t ask me to stay.”

“I wanted to. I was scared. The rules…”

“Fuck the rules,” I repeat.

Then I cup her face and claim her mouth.

I kiss her slowly. Softly.

I tell her I love her without using the words.

We’re both gasping for air when I finally pull my lips from hers.

“This is a bad idea.”

“Absolutely awful,” I agree.

“We’re neighbors. What if this doesn’t work out? Then what happens? We already failed at trying to make things not be awkward and go back to the way they were before. How are we going to navigate after something real?”

“I think what we had was real.”

“I’m being serious.”

“So am I, but if you want an answer for it, how about this: if things go south between us, you can move.”

She growls. “Dean…”

I laugh. “I’m kidding. Kind of.” I lick my dry lips. “I doubt we’ll have to worry about it not working out.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because we survived living together once when you truly hated me. We’ll survive again.”

She chews on her bottom lip, thinking it over.

Finally, she nods. “Okay.”

“Okay?” I ask quietly, lightly brushing my mouth over hers.

“Okay, but I have to tell you something first.”

“What?”

“I broke them too…the rules. I got attached.”

I laugh. “No shit.”

“I don’t hate you, Dean.”

“I know, River.” I sigh against her lips. “I don’t hate you either.”

Epilogue

River

“Dean! Seriously!”I bang on his front door. “I amsoover this!”

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