Page 13 of Love Thy Neighbor

I’m gawking at Cooper of all people because I haven’t had sex in far too long.

It’s not him. It’s just my desperation.

Or maybe it’s just that I’m shocked to see him like this.

In all the years we’ve been friends, this isdefinitelythe most naked I’ve ever seen him. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen him without his shirt on, and that’s usually just a glimpse when he’s left his bedroom door open or his shirt gets stuck to his hoodie when he takes it off or when swimming, but it doesn’t count when all the dudes at the pool are shirtless.

It’s an unspoken agreement between us. We keep things like nudity to a minimum. Not because we’re afraid we’ll jump the other’s bones at the first sight of skin, but because we acknowledge the stereotype that comes with our friendship.

You can’t bejust friendswith the opposite sex.

It’s total baloney, of course. We’re proof of that.

And that’s exactly how I know the ache that’s still between my thighs is nothing but pure human instinct and has nothing at all to do with Cooper himself.

There is absolutelynochance it’s anything to do with Cooper.

I’m sure of it.

I’m hot. My face is on fire. And I want nothing more than for the earth to open and swallow me whole.

I can feel Coop staring at me.

“Well, this is unfortunate,” he finally says.

I nod.

He chuckles.

“Open your eyes, Caroline.”

I shake my head.

“Come on. Let’s not make this more awkward than it already is.”

With a deep inhale, I peel my eyes open.

“You know, if you wanted to see me naked, all you had to do was ask.”

My eyes widen to twice their normal size, and he laughs.

I swear I can feel the rumble down to my toes.

“Cooper,” I whisper, completely mortified. I haven’t been this embarrassed since he forced me to be his date to a homecoming game and I tripped in front of the entire school when he escorted me across the football field.

I try to will away my blush, but I know it’s pointless, especially with Cooper smirking down like he is, his full lips pulled up on one side and a sparkle in his pale green eyes.

I’m tall, but Cooper towers over me like I’m the smallest thing ever.

“I’m sorry.” He sounds anything but. “Let’s just go to our rooms and pretend this didn’t happen.”

I nod. “I’d like that very much.”

“You go left. I go right.”

I move.

He moves.

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