Page 23 of Love Thy Neighbor

“Brain.” He points to his head, then to his nether regions. “Penis. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. But you can’t go there.”

“What? Why not?”

Not that I’m sure I want to, but it’s not his place to tell me otherwise.

“You said he frequents your favorite bookstore, right?” I nod. “Well, what if he ends up being a total loser and you hate the sex? Then you’ve just had a bad dickin’ and you lost your favorite nerd hangout.”

Shit. He’s probably right.

But I’m sure Jason can’t be that bad…

“Stop thinking about it. Just trust me on this.” He places his hand on the small of my back and guides me toward the counter. “Good morning, Darlene.”

“Hey, kids,” she greets, flashing us a smile. “Want your usual today?”

“Yes. A vanilla waffle with chocolate chips, chocolate sauce, and extra whipped cream for her, and four scrambled eggs, fruit, and wheat toast for me,” Cooper tells her like he has so many times over the years. He points to me. “Oh, and a chocolate chip cookie since she’ll be paying this time.”

Darlene lifts her brows, a grin pulling at her lips. “And here I thought you were a gentleman.”

“I am. She just groped me last night and owes me.”

“Cooper!” I shout, smacking him again.

He clutches his stomach, from laughter and from the pain I’ve inflicted.

I turn to Darlene. “Please ignore him. He fell last night, hit his head really hard, and is now suffering from assholeism.”

Darlene nods, grinning. “My ex-husband had that too. I completely understand. Coffee’s on the house this morning.” She narrows her eyes at Cooper. “Hercoffee. We just so happen to have run out.”

“Of course you did.” Cooper grins. “That’s all right, Darlene. I see whose side you’re on.”

She shrugs. “Us girls have to stick together. Especially when we have people with assholeism in our lives.”

I pay for our breakfast because I do still owe Cooper even though he’s a jerk, and we make our way to the same spot we always sit in when we come here.

I spot River and Dean already sitting there, two slices of pie in front of them as she glares at his bent head. He’s invested in his breakfast, and River’s invested in burning a hole through his skull.

“Hey, guys,” I say, approaching the community table. “What are you doing here, Dean? Shouldn’t you be at school?”

“Parent/teacher meetings today. I didn’t schedule my first one until later so I could have breakfast with this one.” He sounds annoyed as he hitches his thumb River’s way.

She rolls her hazel eyes at him.

Cooper and I exchange a glance as we take a seat at the table.

What’s up with them?Cooper’s eyes say.

No clue, mine answer.

I’d say I’m surprised they’re arguing this early, but it’s them. They’re always arguing over something…then making up like they’re sex-crazed teens.

I clear my throat. “Did we interrupt something?”

“Just Dean being Dean,” River answers, brushing her long dark red hair behind her shoulder and throwing daggers at her boyfriend.

The man in question tosses his fork down onto his plate, the utensil clattering loudly. He runs his hands through his messy midnight hair, though you’d never be able to tell because that’s how he always wears it. During the week when he’s teaching English to fifth graders, Dean is way more buttoned up than he is now, minus the always messy hair.

“What exactly is that supposed to mean, River?” he asks, his eyes narrowed on her in exasperation.

---