Page 29 of Crave Thy Neighbor

In fact, it feels like the universe is doing everything in its power to ensure I become homeless.

“It doesn’t help that everyone from Danford is looking for a place to stay too,” Caroline points out, pulling another piece from the box and sorting it into its appropriate pile.

“I know we’re mad at him right now, but can I just say how clever of a name that is? Dan Ford runningDanfordApartments?” River slaps her leg, laughing. “Genius.”

“I wish I could write ‘struggling single mom’ on the applications. Maybe it would gain me some sympathy points.”

“Hate to say it, but it might actually hurt your chances.”

Caroline may have a point there.

I hate the looks I get when people find out I’m a single mother to a twelve-year-old. It’s either pity or judgment, especially when they find out how old I am and they do the math.

I bet several of the places I applied at passed on me based on my age and marital status alone, which is wrong on so many levels.

“Which apartments is it?”

I don’t even know. I’ve applied to so many.

“It’s the ones over on Hutton Street,” I tell her, scanning the email for details. “It was a beautiful two-bedroom, two-bathroom place. Honestly, it’s probably for the best. It was on the line of the school district and I probably would have had to fight with the administration about it.” I groan, dropping my head to the counter, knocking it against the glass a few times. “I hope you weren’t kidding about making Dean sleep on the couch, River, because at this rate, I’m never going to find a place, and I have less than two weeks left before I have to be out.”

“I wasn’t kidding, but I know of a better suggestion,” River says, and I can guess where this is going. “You could say yes to Nolan.”

I sigh.

“What?” She lifts her shoulders. “It’ll fix all your problems.”

Except the one where I can’t stop thinking about him…

We’re closing in on a week since Nolan made the offer for me to rent out his two rooms, and I still can’t bring myself to accept it.

I keep holding out, hopingsomething will come through, but I’m beginning to worry nothing ever will.

When I bumped into him at The Gravy Train, I was surprised.

Never met the guy once before, and now I’m running into him everywhere.

Even without the dim lighting of the bar, Nolan’s handsome.

In truth, the reaction I have to him is part of the reason I’m hesitant to say yes.

Sure, he’s off limits to my brain. But to my neglected lady bits? Well, they aren’t getting the memo, especially not when he pierces me with that blue stare of his.

“I’m with River on this one,” Caroline says. “If you’re worrying about living with a hot guy, don’t. It’s not that bad. I lived with Cooper for years without a problem.”

River twists her lips up. “I’m not sure you’re allowed to use that as an example considering you’re now screwing each other’s brains out.”

“We’re notscrewing each other’s brains out. It’s calledlove.”

“Uh-huh. Love and wild passionate sex where you let him do someverynaughty things to you.”

“River!” Caroline admonishes. “I told you all that in confidence!”

“Um, excuse me,” I interrupt. “Why haven’t I heard about these naughty things?”

They exchange a glance, and understanding dawns.

“Oh,” I say. “Because I’m single, right?”

---