Page 24 of Love Thy Neighbor

“It means you’re just being you.” She shrugs, her off-the-shoulder top slipping further down. “You know, a total jackass.”

“How?! I gave you the cherry pie this time!”

She leans across the table. “You can’t seriously think that makes up for what happened last night.”

“Jesus, River. Is that what this is about?” He pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers. “It happened. Get over it already.”

“What happened?” Cooper asks.

“Deanaccidentallywatched the season finale of the show we’ve been bingeing without me.”

“I didn’t mean to!” he argues. “It auto-played. It’s a good show. I couldn’t look away.”

“Fortwo whole episodes?” River sasses back, pushing her nearly empty plate of pie away from her and crossing her arms over her chest, pouting at her boyfriend. “While I sleptrightnext to you?”

“I said I was sorryandI got you pie this morning.”

“I don’t know, River—I think pie makes up for it. Plus, accidents happen.”

My mouth drops open. “Accidents happen, Coop? What happened to accidents don’t just happen accidentally?”

“That’s different.”

“How?!”

“Because you groped me.”

Dean and River both turn to me, their eyes wide with surprise.

I close my eyes, wishing again for the second time in less than twenty-four hours that a hole would open up and swallow me down to the pits of hell, because I’d much rather be there than sitting here with everyone staring at me.

I canfeelCooper laughing across from me, and like the mature adult I am, I kick at him under the table.

When I don’t make contact, I peel my eyes open and look underneath. The bastard is smart and must have known it was coming because he’sjustout of reach.

He bends, meeting my angry stare.

“Sorry,” his mouth says, but his eyes say something else entirely.

I shake my head at him, pushing myself back upright.

“Um, Caroline,” River says calmly, amusement dancing in her eyes, “care to explain what your dimwitted best friend is going on about?”

“Hey!” Cooper says defensively. “Why am I in trouble?”

“Because I’m mad at Dean and men suck.”

“Sorry, man,” Dean says to Cooper.

“Stay out of this,” River barks at him before turning back to me. “What’s he going on about?”

“It’s nothing,” I say quietly.

“That doesn’t sound like nothing,” Dean pushes.

Another glare from River.

“I guess Caroline finally gave in to her sexual urges regarding me and just couldn’t stay away any longer.” Cooper tips himself back in his chair, smirking like he’s the funniest man in the world. “She caught me coming out of the shower, got a good look at my hot man chest, and couldn’t help herself.”

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