“What’s your damage?” She tosses her purse onto the table next to the door, then kicks off her shoes.
I barely hold my sigh in. She’s standing in the middle of the entryway with me practically pressed up against the door, demanding answers likeI’mthe asshole in this situation.
“You’re kidding, right?” Her pursed lips tell me she’s not, and this time I do let my sigh out. “I don’t have a key, River. Still. I’ve been staying here for a while now and I have no way to come and go as I please.”
“I’ve been busy. I haven’t had the chance to get to the store and get you your own copy.”
“For two weeks?”
“For two weeks?” She mocks me like she’s twelve. “Yes. In case you haven’t realized, I run a business.”
“Oh, trust me—the repeated interrupted nights of sleep make me aware of just how busy with work you are.”
Though she promised to bring her laptop home from work, she keeps “forgetting.” At this point, I’m certain she’s getting off on making me miserable.
She doesn’t look the least bit apologetic, and I know I’m not going to get anywhere with this.
“Can you please just get me a key? I truly don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
“I—”
“If not for me,” I cut her off, “then at least do it for Leo. He needs care and attention.”
Her gaze drifts toward the terrarium set up on the console and the adorable creature lounging inside.
With a huff, she rolls her eyes back my way. “I’ll make it a priority—I’ll go first thing in the morning. Why are you coming and going on a Sunday anyway?”
“I was at the shelter earlier, then I met up with a friend. I do have a life, you know.”
“You have friends?”
“Why is that surprising?”
“Because I can’t imagine someone being friends with you willingly.”
I push off the door, closing the distance between us. “I have plenty of friends, River.”
“Sounds exactly like something a person with no friends would say. I wouldn’t be surprised if you left the apartment every day to sit at the park by yourself just to make it look like your life isn’t sad.”
“That’s real rich coming from you. You forget, we’ve been neighbors for a year now. I’ve seen you come home alone many nights over the months.”
She tips her nose up. “I have standards.”
“Or maybe it’s because you can’t get a guy to take you home.”
She inhales a sharp breath, my words stinging. Her chest heaves, and she’s close enough that I can feel her breasts ghost against my body. I’d be a fucking liar if I said my dick didn’t jump at the almost contact.
Shit. Even when she’s on my last damn nerve, like right now, I want to kiss her.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
It’s all I’ve been able to think about.
It’s on my mind first thing in the morning when she’s in the kitchen making her coffee and whistling that same annoying tune she always does. When she glowers at me for waking up and existing. When she comes home from work looking stressed and tired. At night when I’m lying on that shitty air mattress praying for sleep.
I think about it all. The. Damn. Time.
It’s slowly killing me. This whole week has been torture.