Page 32 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t seem that way.”

“Doesn’t it?”

Another fraction.

I clench my jaw. “Thank you, River. Thank you for allowing me to stay here. I’m not sure how I’ll ever repay you.”

One hand on her hip, she taps her finger to her chin. “Gee, I wonder how you could repay me. Other than rent—because I fully expect that.” She snaps her fingers. “I got it! How about you stop stealing my pie.”

I narrow my eyes. “No.”

“Looks like someone’s going to be homeless, then.”

“Do youreallythink I’m buying that the whole reason you’re allowing me to stay here is so I stop ‘stealing’ your pie?”

“The fact that you just put stealing in air quotes…” She shakes her head, her anger palpable. “Stop questioning my motives.”

“So you’re admitting you have motives?”

“What? No.”

“Then what is this?”

She growls, tossing her head back in frustration. “Why are you overanalyzing it? Can’t you just be grateful?”

“That’s what I wastryingto do, and you were being dismissive.”

“Because you’re acting weird.” She shoves past me and to the bookshelf, setting yet another figurine on it.

Geez, how many of these things does she have?

“Weird how?”

“I don’t know…nice.”

“I’m always nice to you. I buy you pie.”

She slams the statue down, pushing past me again, grabbing two more and walking them back to the shelf. “You buy me pie because you feel guilty for taking mine. That’s not being nice—that’s covering your own ass.”

She has me there…

“Okay, so there might be some truth to that. But, still. I consider you a friend, River.” She snorts. “Maybe not a friend, but at least an acquaintance.”

After placing the last two collectibles on the shelf where she wants them, she turns to me.

Her plump mouth is drawn into a thin line. Even though she looks serious, I can’t help but let my eyes wander.

I’ve checked River out plenty in the past.

I’d be a fool not to acknowledge how attractive she is.

But after seeing her in that towel, it’s like I can’t take my eyes away from her.

She’s ditched her scrap of near nothing and exchanged it for a pair of navy leggings and an oversized shirt. Her hair is the same mess it was, and she’s still not wearing a stitch of makeup. She spent her afternoon trying to put out a literal fire I set and yet…she looks incredible.

She takes two steps toward me, and I drag my eyes from her body to her hazel stare.

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