Page 94 of Crave Thy Neighbor

I lift my brow at her.

She waves her hand. “Fine, I was pretty drunk. But also, I spent a long time gazing at Dean like that before we finally got our shit together. I know what longing looks like when I see it.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Why didn’t you?” She turns her glare on Caroline. “And why didn’tyou?”

“Hey, I just found out yesterday,” she says. “We caught them practically dry-humping on one of the display couches.”

“We were not dry-humping!”

“Uh-huh. Sure you weren’t.”

“We weren’t,” I mumble, then turn back to River. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just didn’t want you to be mad at me.”

“Why would I be mad at you?”

“Because you told me not to get involved with him because he doesn’t do relationships.”

“I armed you with that knowledge, sure, but you’re a grown-ass adult who can make her own decisions. Who you sleep with is none of my business. Besides, it would be hypocritical of me to judge you for acting on your urges with your hot-as-fuck roommate.”

I chuckle. “True. So, you’re not mad?”

She shakes her head. “Not at all. Do I worry about you? Yes, but that’s my job as your best friend. It’s also my job to support you no matter what dumb choice you make.”

“You think what I’m doing is dumb?”

She twists her lips back and forth, then finally shakes her head. “No. But I think you think it’s dumb.”

I slam my brows together. “How?”

“Because you’re hiding it. If you feel good about what you’re doing, you don’t hide it—especially not from the people who love you.”

“I—”

Well, crap. She has me there.

It’s not that I think what I’m doing with Nolan is wrong. It’s not. Giving in to sexual urges is natural.

But do I think it’s reckless? Yeah, a little.

Especially because I’m really starting to get used to him and because I’m more anxious about walking away from him than I am about moving into my new apartment.

I like what we have…and I don’t want to let it go.

I want more.

I know that’s not what we agreed to, and it’s wrong of me to expect anything more.

If I were braver, I’d cut things off now before I get even more attached.

But I’m too selfish to do that.

“For what it’s worth, I agree with River,” Caroline says. “And I just want to say I know what it’s like to fall for someone you’re not supposed to fall for. It’s scary and hard, and I’m here if you need to talk.”

I want to correct her, tell her I’m not falling for Nolan.

But I’m not so sure that’s accurate anymore.