Page 20 of Love Thy Neighbor

“Counteroffer.” She says it like I never spoke. “How about instead of going out with your douchebag co-nerds, we invite River and Dean?”

As much as I would prefer that… “Then we’ll look like we’re on a double date.”

“Ugh. True.” She huffs. “Fine. We’ll just go out with your friends.”

“You say that like Iwantto go out with them or something.”

“You say that like you’re not friends with them.”

“Ihaveto be friends with them. Boss’s orders.”

“Your boss is so weird, forcing you all to go out and be social.”

“It’s called being normal. You should try it sometime.”

She taps her chin, pretending to think it over. “Hmm…no, thanks.” She takes another drink, smirking at me over the rim of her mug. “What are you making me for breakfast?”

I bark out a laugh. “Making you for breakfast?I’mthe one who gave you a free show last night.Youowemebreakfast.”

She glowers. “Are you going to hold this whole thing over my head for the rest of our lives?”

“Yes. In fact, I’m marking it on the calendar as a special occasion. We’ll commemorate this day for years to come.”

Back in high school after Caroline got her first boyfriend, she—like every other teenage girl with a boy on her arm—becameobsessedwith arbitrary dates and anniversaries. For a moment there, she reminded me of Leslie Knope fromParks and Recreation, having a special date and anniversary for every little thing.

The first time Bobby John took me to get ice cream.

The first time Bobby John winked at me.

The first time Bobby John picked his nose and didn’t eat the boogers.

Okay, fine. The last onemightbe made up.

But it doesn’t detract from how real her weird fascination was.

Being the good best friend I am, I relentlessly made fun of her and made a calendar just for us. Whenever I started to remind her of our anniversary of the time she accidentally farted when she laughed too hard watchingShrek, she quickly got over her obsession.

It was too late because it was way too much fun to stop.

So, we didn’t.

We’re a little pickier about what we add to our calendar, but we still continuously update it and celebrate each day accordingly.

This one is definitely going on there.

She sighs defeatedly. “I hate how quickly you answered that.”

Taking another big gulp from her coffee, she hops off the stool, lifting an eyebrow my way. Her hand is on her hip and she’s staring at me with thoseDon’t test meeyes, reminding me of all the times she called me an ass for stealing her books when we were kids.

“Fine. I’ll buy you breakfast and drinks tonight, but starting at midnight exactly, it’s in the past. Got it?”

I tap my heels together and stand ramrod straight, saluting her like a soldier in formation. “Yes, ma’am.”

She shakes her head. “I’ll get dressed. Breakfast in twenty?”

I nod, and she skips from the room, looking much happier than she did when she first entered.

I exhale the breath I feel like I’ve been holding since she walked in and scrub a hand through my hair.

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