Page 85 of The Jerk in Apartment 1B

She pauses. “I think I could have in the year after the accident.”

“Why then?”

“Because I was numb. The grief was so bad I couldn’t take feeling that way anymore so I shut it off. I stopped feeling. It’s like I flipped a switch and turned off my emotions. Back then, I could’ve had sex with a guy and felt nothing.”

“Callie, I wish I’d been there for you back then. I’m so sorry I wasn’t. I was a really bad friend.”

“Hey, I get it. It’s hard to know what to say to someone when that happens. And you weren’t here. You were in New York, in school, and you’d just started dating Asher. You had a lot going on.”

“That’s no excuse. I still should’ve been there for you.”

“It’s the past. Don’t worry about it. Going back to this thing with your neighbor, what are you going to do? Just go back to how you were before last night?”

“I guess. It’s going to be awkward at first, but I’m sure eventually things will go back to normal. I doubt we’ll hang out anymore. I’ll finish up with the storage rooms and then we’ll just be neighbors, passing each other in the hall. It’s too bad we can’t be friends. I really liked hanging out with him.”

“Why can’t you be friends?”

“After what happened last night? We can’t be friends after that.”

“Why not? Nash and I did stuff, and then I told him I didn’t want that and we want back to being friends.”

“Yeah, but you both knew you’d eventually get back together.”

“Maybe Nash did, but I didn’t. I really thought we’d be nothing more than friends. I wanted us to be more, but I wouldn’t let myself. I wasn’t ready for that.”

“I don’t know if I could be friends with Scott. He’s too attractive. My body has this annoying habit of getting turned on whenever he’s around.”

“That’s actually good. It shows you’re able to move on from Asher. You could’ve spent all last week crying over your breakup, but instead you’re lusting after your neighbor.”

“I know. It’s weird. It makes me wonder if I really loved Asher or if I just told myself I did because I wanted to get married.”

There’s a knock on the door. “Trina? Are you awake?”

I groan. “Scott’s at the door. I gotta go.”

“Okay. Let me know what happens.” She ends the call.

“I’m coming!” I yell, making my way to the door. I swing it open and see Scott looking annoyingly hot in a fitted gray t-shirt and jeans. I didn’t check myself in the mirror, but I’m sure I look awful. I’m not one of those girls who wakes up looking perfect.

“You want to earn some cash?” he says, being very business-like. I guess that answers my question about us being friends. I’m only his employee now.

“What does that mean?” I say, leaning against the door frame.

“I need help setting up the party. Cole usually does it, but his leg is bothering him and I don’t want him making it worse.”

I sigh. “You’re having another one of your all-night parties?”

“Today’s Saturday, so yeah. I don’t know if it’ll go all night, but if it does, you’re welcome to stop over after you get off work.”

“I’ll pass.” I notice his gaze drop to my chest and realize I’m braless and wearing a white t-shirt that’s basically see through. Let him look. I don’t care. It’s not like it’ll lead to us doing anything. “How much, and what do I have to do?”

“Fifty bucks, and I need you to get the stuff from the storage room and bring it to my apartment.”

“The storage room next to me?”

“Yes, and you only have to get what’s on the floor. Ignore the stuff on the shelves. That stuff’s only for themed parties and holidays.”

“You have themed parties?”

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