Page 30 of Crave Thy Neighbor

They have the gall to appear sheepish.

“We didn’t want to make you…”

“Jealous.”

Caroline shakes her head, her blonde hair bouncing with the movement. “No—sad.”

“Guys, I’m divorced, not dead. We can still talk about sex and stuff.”

“Yeah, but you’re not getting any.”

“And it’s been forever since you’ve even gone out,” River adds. “You should try to get back out there.”

It’s not that I don’t want to get back out there. Hell, I’dloveto get back in the dating game and get some action, but it’s harder than they think.

Finding someone to date is difficult already. Add a kid to the mix and it gets about ten times harder. Most people our age don’t want that sort of commitment so soon.

And I get it. I do.

I just hope I don’t spend the next ten years searching for a guy who’s interested in me, my kid, and all the baggage that comes with co-parenting. I can’t imagine being alone for so long.

But my lack of love life isn’t what’s important right now.

“I think I should be focusing on where I’m going to live rather than the sad state of my sex life.”

“Again, might I suggest Nolan?” River says.

“To help with my sex life or my living situation?”

“Why not both?”

River and I exchange a look, then burst out laughing.

“I was teasing, Caroline, you little oversexed hussy.”

Her cheeks pinken. “It’s Cooper’s fault.”

My chest constricts, the pang of envy hitting me again.

“Besides, if—and that’s a big if—I’m going to say yes to Nolan’s offer, there will benosleeping together.”

“It’s only temporary. Why not have a little fun in the meantime?”

“Hey, hi.” River raises her hand. “I tried that once. Didn’t work.”

“Yeah, but you and Dean were circling each other way before he moved into your place. That’s different.”

Caroline makes a fair point. River and Dean spent the better part of a year claiming they hated each other—all because Dean wasallegedlyan ass about River’s cat when he first moved in—before being forced into close quarters together finally made them face their feelings.

“This is a pointless conversation because I won’t be sleeping with him. I’m not sure when I even indicated I was interested in him.”

“You have eyes,” Caroline says. “Don’t pretend that man isn’t hot.”

“Where haveyouseen him?” I ask.

“I know what the internet is.”

River laughs. “Caroline’s right. Nolan is hot, but Maya has the right approach for when she does accept the offer.”

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