Page 75 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

Maya looks damn proud of herself for saying that, until she sees the look on my face.

“He hasn’t even been living there that long. What’s he up to now?” she asks. “Oh, man. You haven’t killed him already, have you? Is that what’s stressing you out? Body disposal? You know I listen to those true crime podcasts—I can help with that.”

“First of all, thank you. I’m happy to know if I were to ever pick up the pastime of murder, you’d have my back.” She beams at me. “It’s not one specific thing with Dean. It’severything. He’s noisy. He eats my eggsanduses my creamer. He smells like”—heaven—“the gym. And his biggest flaw of all? He exists.”

Caroline tucks her lips together, her eyes flitting to Maya, who is also fighting a smile. They’re looking at each other like they share a secret, and I want in on it.

“What?”

They don’t answer.

“Seriously? Why are you two smiling at each other like that?”

Maya hops off the counter. “Look, I’m only going to say this once, and I’m going to say it from a safe distance because you’re tired and more likely to throw something at me.” She blows out a dramatic breath. “You sound like one of those kids on the playground who pulls pigtails or says the kid they’re crushing on is gross or has cooties. You might keep refuting it, but you need to take a good hard look atwhyyou’re pushing so hard for us to believe you. It’s okay to like Dean, River.”

“Ugh. I—”

I snap my mouth shut as she lifts her perfectly shaped brows.

“We’re not going to judge you. In fact, it might be good for you. Maybe you can finally get laid.” She wags her brows. “Or, you know, focus on something other than work.”

I drag my gaze to Caroline, who’s nodding and staring at me just like Maya is.

They think I have a crush. Think I’m just burying it. Denying it.

They’re wrong.

Idon’tlike Dean.

His damn music and guitar playing keeps me up. He steals my pie. He has an emotional support turtle, for Pete’s sake.

Sure, he’s smart and can be funny when he’s not busy driving me insane. And, yeah, he has a stable career, and let’s not forget how undeniably attractive he is…or that these are all things I’m looking for in a relationship.

But he’sDean.

We have nothing in common other than our love of pie.

We’d never work.

Plus, I hate him.

Ican’tlike him…right?

It doesn’t matter that I like the way his eyes caress me. Doesn’t matter that when he touches me, even just a whisper of contact, I feel it everywhere.

And it really doesn’t matter that when he kissed me, it felt like everything I’ve been missing was suddenly found.

He’sDean.I can’t be putting silly thoughts like that in my head about my new roommate, especially when it’s him.

Pushing my chest out, I raise my chin.

“You’re wrong. I do not have a crush.”

The words sound weak even to my own ears.

Oh hell.

They could have a point after all.