Page 44 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

“Where are you going? What do you mean that’s what you thought?”

“I’m heading out.” He reaches into his back pocket, pulling his wallet free and waving toward the bartender. “I’ve been up since the ass-crack of dawn. Not all of us get the summer off.”

“Check?” The single word is the second time I’ve heard the bartender speak since I walked in here, and it’s my favorite part about this bar. Nobody asks any questions or tries to therapize you. You can get a drink and be left alone.

Nolan nods, handing over his card, and the guy saunters off to take care of his tab.

“What did you mean that’s what you thought?” I ask again when we’re alone.

“Come on, man. Though I’m not sure why it’s always the go-to when speaking about level of intelligence, it’s not rocket science. You like her, and not just physically.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You do,” the bartender says, sliding Nolan’s receipt across the counter before turning and leaving again.

“What the…” I glare at his retreating back, then shake my head. “He’s wrong.”

“He’s not wrong.” He signs the check and slides it back across the bar. “And I’m not either. You do like her. You just won’t admit it to yourself for some reason. Maybe it’s because you’re staying there now and you don’t want to rock the boat, which is smart, but you can’t tell me you haven’t thought about River before.”

“I—”

“Not just when you’re jacking your dick. I’m sure you do that plenty, you dirty dog.”

Guilty as charged there.

It took every ounce of willpower I had not to wrap my hand around my cock that first night I was there. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was her in that tiny fucking towel, bent over so I could see everything she has to offer. The only thing that stopped me was knowing River was lying in bed across the hall and would hear me.

“I mean in a relationship kind of way.”

He’s wrong.

I do not think of arelationshipwhen it comes to River.

She loathes me, and we could never be anything more.

I bet the sex would be explosive though…

Nolan sighs, plucking some cash from his wallet and tossing it down onto the counter. He slips his credit card back in. “Look, dude, I have listened to you lament the state of your love life since things went to shit with your ex and you got back into the dating scene, going on about how no woman has challenged you, made you feel excited for more than just bedroom activities—though why you’re looking for that shit is beyond me. Hey, whatever floats your boat.” He shakes his head. “Anyway, all I’m saying is, River challenges you, and there’s no denying it. If you’re not already entertaining the idea of a relationship with her—something I highly fucking doubt—maybe you should.”

He’s right. The biggest hindrance in my dating lifehasbeen that I haven’t felt challenged or at ease with anyone. It’s all the same shit, different date. The same unexciting variation of dinner, movie, bed. Rinse and fucking repeat.

It’s not fun anymore. There’s no chase. No excitement.

So, I guess I can see Nolan’s point about River.

She is fun, and she does challenge me—mostly to not commit a crime, but it’s a challenge nonetheless.

But still…she’s River.

He claps me on the shoulder, giving me a small smile. “I’ll call you later, man.”

I nod, and he takes off.

I’m left sitting here thinking about all the ways River could be right for me…maybe in more ways than just the bedroom.

9

River

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