Page 11 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

He shrugs, shoving his face back in his phone and getting lost in whatever is on the screen.

“Kids.” Maya huffs.

I chuckle. “You’re preaching to the choir.”

“I don’t know how you do it. A classroom full of them…” She shakes her head. “I can barely handle the one I have.”

“To be fair, I get to go home at night and have a kid-free evening where I blast my music or play my guitar. I get a break, you don’t. That’s the difference.”

“Speaking of your evenings…you know you’re driving River nuts with that, right?”

I smirk. “Oh, I’m aware.”

She laughs at my lack of remorse. “Why do you insist on torturing my best friend?”

Just then, River comes waltzing out of the bathroom. I’m unable to stop myself from admiring the way she carries herself with confidence, even in her hideous joggers and raggedy shirt. She’s virtually dressed like a hobo and my dickstillisn’t getting the memo that there’s nothing good that can ever come from getting excited about her.

Maya clears her throat, drawing my attention.

I peel my eyes away from River, doing my best to look like I wasn’t lusting after her best friend.

“Because she insists on torturing me.”

She quirks a brow, and I can see the questions forming on her lips.

“You’re still here?” River complains, unknowingly saving me from whatever Maya was about to ask.Thank fuck.She slides back onto her stool, glaring at me. “I thought if I took long enough, you’d be gone.”

“Leave without saying goodbye to my favorite nemesis? I don’t think so. Besides, I’m not done with mydeliciouscherry pie yet. It’s so warm, so sticky sweet…soperfect.”

Her nostrils flare as I slide a bite into my mouth.

“Mmm,” I moan. “So good.”

“Hate. You.”

“You wish you did.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Come on, River. You’re obviously fixated on me.”

She curls her lip. “You’re disgusting.”

“Or I’m right.”

She blows out an exasperated breath. “And on that note, I’m leaving.”

“What? Why?” Maya sticks her bottom lip out in a pout.

“Aw, so soon?” I tease.

Her icy eyes land on me as she gathers her things. “Yeah, I want to stop by the shop before Caroline opens to check up on a few things. We could have had more time together if someone wasn’t late…”

“Blame your nephew.” Maya hitches a thumb toward her son. “It was his fault.”

“It’salwayshis fault.”

She shrugs. “Guess someone needs to get a better handle on him, then.”

---