Page 114 of Love Thy Neighbor

“Oh fuck.”

He laughs. “Just now realizing it?” I nod. “Yep, been there. Sneaks up on you, huh?”

I’m not some hopeless romantic who wishes on the clock when it’s 11:11 or whatever, but I’m not a cynic either.

I figured I’d fall in love one day. I guess I just never thought it would be with Caroline.

But now that it’s right here in front of me, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.

I’m in love with her…and I think I always have been.

I blow out a breath. “What the hell am I going to do?”

“What do you mean? You tell her.”

“What?” I balk. “I can’t tell her that.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’s…Caroline.”

“And?”

“She’s my best friend.”

Another laugh. “It’s a little late for thejust friendsbit, huh?”

“No. I mean, it’s obvious we’re more than just friends, but…shit. It’s one thing to sleep with someone and have feelings for them. It’s another thing entirely to sleep with them and fall hopelessly in love.”

What if she doesn’t feel the same?

What if, especially after what I did, she thinks we made a mistake?

What if she can’t forgive me?

“Listen, man, I’ve seen you and Caroline together for a while now, right? Well, not to get all mushy and shit, but I can’t ever imagine stumbling upon two people who are better suited for one another. And that includes me and River, mostly because we’re a horrible idea together.” A lovesick grin stretches his lips because he knows that’s not true. “You have nothing to lose telling her you love her.”

Except her.

I can’t lose her, and I don’t just mean because we’re dating.

I’d be losing my best friend too.

That scares me more than her telling me she doesn’t feel the same way.

Ihaveto tell her.

“How’d you tell River?” I ask.

He twists his lips up. “Trust me, you don’t want advice from me on how I told her. We weren’t even on speaking terms and I just blurted it out when she was mad at me—again—for playing my music too loud.”

I laugh. “You do kind of have shit taste in music.”

He glowers at me. “I’ll let that slide, but only because you’re having an existential crisis right now.” He pushes his empty pie plate away. “Well, I need to get going. Guess I have to go teach little heathens some English.”

“Good luck with that.”

He stands, tossing a couple bucks onto the table for Darlene. “I’ll leave you with this thought: I almost lost River once, and it fucking sucked. I get what you’re going through. Just…make her listen.”

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