Page 13 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

I glance up, stopping in my tracks in the doorway of Making Waves, the boutique I’ve worked my ass off to make a hit.

“You good, boss?” Caroline’s baby blue eyes are filled with concern as she gives me a small smile.

I sigh. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just…”

“Dean again?” She grins knowingly.

“He’s the worst.”

“That’s what I hear.” She grabs another set of earrings, setting them in the display case. “Though I’m not sure how someone with a voice like that can be the worst.”

“That is myexact issue—youcan hear him from two stories down.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “Yes, but I’m not complaining about it. Cooper doesn’t complain either. That makes it two against one, not including the rest of the tenants who stand on their balconies, cheering him on…”

“But you’re notright next doorto him. It’s different.”

“I’m sure it is,” she murmurs, finishing organizing the first jewelry station and moving on to the next.

I ignore the way she says it, like there’s more she’s hinting at.

“How did closing go last night?” I slide behind the counter, logging on to the computer to check up on things.

“We had someone come in thirty minutes before close, and she ended up buying five pieces. Gave us the best day of the month.”

Relief zings through me.

I started Making Waves on my own five years ago. Despite the way I’m currently dressed, I’ve always loved clothes and accessories. Finding the right outfit and shoes can change my whole mood—something I should have considered when I woke up crabby—and I love helping others find a piece that makes them feel good too.

When I graduated college with a BA in business management, I knew I wanted to make those four grueling years worth it by doing something I enjoy.

Starting a company on my own wasn’t easy. At times, it downright sucked. Business was slow, almost nonexistent in the beginning. For the first three years, it was just me. I couldn’t afford to hire anyone else. I’d have been dead on my feet in the first six months if it weren’t for Maya volunteering all her time to help me keep the fledgling business alive.

One month, businessfinallypicked up. Then it happened again. And again. The trend continued to tick upward, and I was so swamped Ihadto officially hire someone or I’d have burned myself out completely.

Caroline stumbled through the door looking for a job at just the right time two years ago. With Mayafinallydivorcing her asshole ex and needing a job ASAP, I knew she’d make the perfect addition to the business too.

There was a lot of sweat and tears, but the three of us continued our upward trend in sales, even expanding to having a mobile shop for pop-up events, and earlier this year, we dipped our toes into online.

Though there are plenty of days where I feel like it will all be ripped away at a moment’s notice, it’s starting to feel like I’m actually going to make it. Knowing what our previous best day this month was and exceeding it…well, it totally makes up for Dean stealing my pie this morning and firmly puts me in a good mood.

“Good. That’s good.”

“Breathe, River. You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. We’re doing good—betterthan good. You can relax a little, you know.”

I throw a glance her way over the top of the computer screen. “You sound like Maya.”

“Don’t tell her I said this, because she’d never stop gabbing about it, but she’s right.”

I grab my phone and hold it up. “Can you repeat that? I need to get it on record for blackmail later.”

“I’ll take it to my grave, thank you.” She pushes my hand away. “But I’m serious, boss.”

“I heard you,” I mutter. “That’s a cute top. One of yours?” I ask to distract her, and because itisa cute top.

In fact, her whole outfit is pretty. Her long legs look amazing in a pair of simple skinny jeans that are fringed at the bottom, leading to a pair of plain white shoes. The real star of the show is her oversized pattern-blocked top that hangs off one of her shoulders. It’s trendy and fun.

She looks so put together, unlike me.

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