Page 122 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

Dean’s eyes.

Bright, beautiful, and inviting.

I miss them. Miss his warmth. His laugh. That smirk. Even him stealing all my groceries and fighting with Morris.

I misshim.

“STILL LIKE THAT OLD TIME ROCK ’N’ ROLL!”

I yelp, jumping at the sudden sound. Water sloshes all over the bathroom, and I’m instantly annoyed.

I didnotmiss that.

“Dean!” I shout at the noise, even though he can’t hear me.

I push up out of the tub, yank my towel from the rack, and stomp through the apartment.

Not today, Dean Evans. Not today.

I dry off quickly and this time have enough sense to at least wrap my robe around my form before swinging open my front door and going right over to his. I pound on the wood so hard I can hear stuff in my apartment rattle.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Dean!” I holler again. “Turn it down!”

A few seconds go by…and the volume increases.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” I growl, slapping the door again. “Dean Evans! Open this door right now or I swear I will—”

I stumble as the door is jerked open but recover quickly, jutting my chin out as he towers over me with playful eyes.

He leans against the doorjamb, crossing his arms. The muscles jump and pulse, and I try not to pay attention to them as I give him a scornful look.

“River. What brings you by?”

22

Dean

There issomething seriously wrong with me.

I knew touching her in the elevator was a bad idea.

But I knew not touching her was equally bad.

It took every ounce of strength I could muster to walk away, to just let her be. I’ve never had to fight myself so hard before.

River wants to go back to the way things were. She’s been harping on it since I moved in.

If that’s what she wants, I’ll do it for her.

I twist the knob on my stereo, and the music fills the room.

I have no doubt it’s too loud. In fact, I’m willing to bet she’ll be pounding on my door in three…

Two…

One…

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