Page 97 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

I do everything to hold back my sigh as I think about the way Dean is in bed.

He’s attentive. Demanding, yet gentle. Rough in all the right ways.

“It’s incredible.”

“You lucky dog.” She pouts. “The only reason I’m not jealous is because I’ve sworn off dick.”

“Because of the dick you were married to.”

“Precisely.” She nods, pushing away from the counter. “How’d it happen?”

“Well…” I draw out. “He kissed me on Sunday. We didn’t really discuss it at first, but the tension was there, you know? It just all sort of came to a head and…” I motion with my hand. “Here we are.”

“So, if you’re not dating but you’re sleeping together, you’re…what? Friends with benefits?”

“We’re not labeling it. It’s just something fun to pass the time and relieve some stress.”

She tilts her head, pursing her lips, studying me. “Hmm.”

Uh-oh. I know thathmm.

Thathmmmeans she has something to say but doesn’t want to say it.

“What?”

“It’s just…” she starts, and I called that right. That’s how shealwaysstarts thehmms. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Which part?”

“All of it. Aren’t you worried it’ll get all…confusing? Worried you’ll fall for him?”

Me fall for Dean? Ha!

“No.” I shake my head. “We’re adults. We can keep it casual.”

Another head tilt.

“What.” This time it doesn’t come out as a question. I’m starting to get annoyed.

“Do you like him?”

“I mean, I let him see me naked, so I have to like him on some level, right?”

She frowns at my answer. “You know what I mean, River.”

“Do I have a tiny—and I meantiny—crush on Dean? Yes. Am I going to do anything about it? No. It’s not going to go anywhere. He’ll be moving out once his apartment is done and we’ll go back to being neighbors. This is just temporary. We’re on the same page with this.”

“He’s your neighbor. It’s not like him moving out would be a long-distance relationship.”

“Ah,” I say. “That’s just it—he lives next door, so if things go south with us, I’ll have to continue living next to him or move, and I love my apartment. I’d much rather take my chances of it being a smidge awkward knowing we’ve seen each other naked than feelings getting involved and us having to navigate that. You know what I mean?”

She heaves a sigh. “Yeah, I can understand that. It’s just…be careful, you know? I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I’m a big girl, Maya. I’ll be fine.”

I hope.

16

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