Page 73 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

13

River

“You’re early!Did hell freeze over?!” Maya clutches her chest dramatically as I walk into Making Waves. She glides toward me, grabbing the tray of coffees from my hand. “Oh, wait—never mind. You’realwaysearly.”

“Ha. Funny.” If only I had something to throw at the smartass. “But I don’t see how my punctuality is a bad thing.”

“It’s a bad thing when you virtually live at work.” Caroline reaches over the counter, plucks a coffee from the tray, and takes a sip of the piping hot liquid, staring at me over the rim with accusing eyes.

“Oh, I’m sorry, did younotwant help with inventory today?”

She grimaces, wiping the small trace of lip gloss from the lid of her cup. “I hate inventory.”

“That’s what I thought.” I set the bag of turnovers I’m holding on the counter, grabbing my own coffee. “I brought breakfast.”

“Bless you. I amstarving.I left my protein bar at home by accident.”

Maya, who doesn’t typically eat sugar in the mornings, snatches the bag away, ripping it open and taking a huge bite from the first treat she can get her hands on. “Blech. Blueberry.” She shoves it back inside and reaches for something else.

“Maya!”

“What? You know I hate blueberry.” I can barely understand her as she talks with her mouth full, pulling another turnover from the bag. “Ha! I see the strawberry coming out of this. Dibs!”

She bites into it, moaning as she chews, and swallows the treat I wanted for myself.

Finding her manners again, she retrieves a napkin from the tray and wipes her mouth. “I know you’re a complete workaholic, but why are you here half an hour early?”

“I was up early. Couldn’t sleep.”

Maya frowns, hopping up onto the counter, sitting cross-legged. She knows I hate it, but I don’t say anything today. “Did you try your medication? I know you only like to take it for emergencies, but maybe this is one?”

“I’m not at thatpoint yet.”

“How much sleep did you get last night?”

“About three hours.”

“Oh, you’re right then. Definitely not at the point of medication. How could you be? I mean, you gotthree whole hoursof sleep. No need for more.” Caroline sips on her coffee like she’s that damn Kermit meme and it’s “none of her business.”

I glare at her. “You are so not helpful today.”

She laughs, not scared of me. “You know I’m just giving you crap—though I am worried.” Her lips pull down at the corners. “Do you need a break from the store?”

“No way! No. It’s nothing like that. My lack of sleep actually wasn’t my insomnia at all.”

Maya’s eyes widen. “Did you and Dean bang?”

“What? No!”

My heart races at the suggestion because all I can think about isthe kiss.

I’m not sure who stopped kissing who first, but Dean didn’t say a word as he left the bathroom. He retreated to his room, and I climbed into the tub with my whiskey and didn’t come out for nearly two hours. It was a miracle I wasn’t hungover afterward.

I was too scared to come out and face him because kissing Dean Evans was the best kiss of my life.

I want to do it again. And again.

Immediately. Forever.

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