Page 117 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

She’s by herself. A cup of coffee and bag of M&M’S I know she’s spent too much time separating sit in front of her.

Her red hair, the sight of which makes my fingers tingle as I vividly recall the feeling of having it wrapped around my fist, is pulled into a tidy bun, a few tendrils hanging down around her face. Her plain white shirt stands out against the brightness of her hair and her burnt orange shorts. Her legs are crossed, the top one swinging back and forth with impatience as she waits on Maya and Sam.

Her fingers are busy pushing around the chocolate candies, and it’s the sole focus of her concentration, so it takes her a while to notice my longing stare burning through her—but I know the second she does.

Goose bumps form across her skin, and she turns her head my way.

Even from across the diner, the hitch in her breath when our eyes collide is obvious.

I want to swallow that breath with my own becausefuckI have missed her lips.

She sits up straighter on her stool, pushing her shoulders back and averting her gaze.

I smirk, moving forward in the line.

I guess that’s where we’re going with this.

“Hey, Darlene,” I say with a smile when I reach the front counter.

She doesn’t return my pleasantries. Instead, she sighs. “What’ll it be, Dean?”

Okay…

“Just a slice of cherry and a coffee, please.”

“We’re out of cherry.”

“Out?” I slide my gaze to the pie station, which obviously contains two full cherry pies. I point at them. “There’s some right there.”

“Like I said, we’re out,” she insists.

Ah. I see.

She’s mad at me for what happened with River, even though nothinghappened with her.

“Can I get the apple then?”

“Out.”

“Pumpkin?”

“It’s summer, kid. You know that’s seasonal.”

“What about blackberry?”

“You’re in luck—we just so happen to have some.”

Of course. Because that’s River’s least favorite kind.

I reach into my wallet to pay and peek over at her.

She’s watching me with a satisfied grin on her face.

Brat.

“Darlene, did I, um, do something to upset you?”

Her eyes flit River’s way. “No.”

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