Page 26 of Love Thy Neighbor

River pins him with a stare. “How would you know?”

“Nolan,” he says, referring to his best friend. “That horndog is on every dating app there isexceptthat one. Even he won’t touch it.”

“First of all,” Cooper starts, folding his hands together and leaning across the table with accusatory eyes directed at me, “I want to know why River knew you were on Dud or Stud before I did.”

I lift a shoulder. “Because she helped me set my profile up.”

“You didn’t thinkIcould help you set up your profile? I know you way better than she does.”

“Hey!”

“Besides, have you seen her dating history? It’s awful.”

“Double hey!” River says a little more sternly this time.

“No offense, Dean.”

He shakes his head. “None taken, man. I know she got lucky with me.”

“I hate you both.” River grabs for a packet of sugar and tosses one at her boyfriend.

He catches it with ease, then rips it open and swallows its contents.

“Ah, refreshing,” he says enthusiastically, running the back of his hand across his lips.

“I can’t believe I kiss you.”

“I can.” He winks.

He sends his girlfriend a grin, and the corners of her lips twitch before she groans, turning her attention away from him.

Cooper points to Dean, the disgust clear in his eyes. Other than getting an occasional chocolate chip cookie, he’s not a big sweets fan, so I’m sure watching Dean swallow a packet of pure sugar makes his stomach turn. “You trusted River with dating advice when the guy she’s dating just didthat? Man am I glad I deleted that app from your phone and we’re going to go out the good old-fashioned way tonight to get you laid.”

“You’re going out with Cooper?”

“Okay, why do I feel like you’re saying that in a bad way?” he says to River.

“Because I am. You’re a manwhore. It was my idea to not tell you about the dating app.”

“I am not.”

Darlene appears again, two plates in her hands. “You kind of are, honey. I’ve seen you in here many times with thatI got laid last night but I’ll be damned if I know her nameglaze in your eyes.” She sets a plate in front of him, then me. “And this poor girl is always sitting there looking like you dragged her out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to fix your problems.”

She pats his shoulder, then promises to check on us in a few and walks away.

“See? Even Darlene knows you’re awful with dating.” I cut into my waffle, scooting it around the plate to make sure I pick up the fallen chocolate chips.

I try to keep my sweet tooth in control, but these waffles get me every dang time.

I take a bite, loving the way the vanilla flavor explodes on my tongue.

“Because I don’t date.”

“Because you’re a manwhore,” River supplies.

“No, because there’s no point in dating if you’re not ready to make something happen with the person. I’m not saying I need to date to marry, because I’m not a fool and life happens, but what’s the point if I have no intentions of something lasting more than a couple months?” He shrugs, filling his fork up with another bite. “If I don’t see years’ worth of potential in a person, I don’t pursue dating.”

River twists her lips. “Hmm. I guess I actually kind of get that. You don’t want to get either of your hopes up.”

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