Page 44 of Love Thy Neighbor

We aren’t—that’s the problem.

We’re not thinking. We’re just acting.

And we’re ruining everything.

His brows crease together. His features crumple at the realization of what we just did.

“Caroline…”

I shake my head. “No.”

I shove past him.

This time, he doesn’t follow.

7

Cooper

As soon asI got a grip on myself after the world’s worst moment of weakness, I went in search of Caroline.

I couldn’t find her anywhere.

Not even Shayla had seen her to close out her tab.

Just when I was about to head outside and run down the streets looking for her, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Caroline: I’m fine. In an Uber.

Caroline: We’ll talk tomorrow.

Except that was three days ago and we still haven’t spoken a word to each other.

I didn’t even bother drinking myself into a stupor after she left the bar. I closed our tab, told the guys good night, and took the long way home.

I don’t know how long I walked out in the cold alone, but no matter how long it was, it wasn’t enough to cool myself off from our kiss.

When I got home, her door was closed.

And it’s stayed that way since.

I got up early Saturday morning to talk with her, but she was already gone, a pot of fresh coffee in the brewer.

It’s as close to talking as we’ve come.

It’s Monday night, and even though she’s been home all day too, we’ve stayed in our own areas of the apartment.

I can hear her now. She’s sitting in the living room watching her TV show, giggling at something they’re saying.

I’m holed up in my room because it’s better than being out there with her.

How do I explain what the fuck I was thinking when I kissed her? When I danced with her? Hell, when I was looking at her like I was?

I’m scared to face her. Terrified to face what happened.

Afraid to face the reality that maybe friends isn’t all I want to be.

Fuck. I wish I had someone else to talk to about this. But no, I had to go and screw things up with the one person I’d normally be going to with my problems.

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