Page 34 of Love Thy Neighbor

I nod my thanks, grab our drinks, and beeline straight for my best friend and the office tool.

She’s smiling, but I know her. It’s nothersmile. It’s strained.

She’s hating every single second of talking to him, but she’s way too polite to tell him otherwise.

“Hey,” I say, sliding up to her. She looks at me with relieved eyes. “Got your drink.”

“Oh, hey, Bennett.” Eli nods, taking a pull off his beer, then wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Was just telling yourfriendhere about our latest project.”

“The one she already knows all about?” I lift my brow. “Myfriendis also my roommate. She’s probably more aware of what our project entails than you are some days.”

Caroline covers her laugh with her glass, taking a sip from her drink. I try hard not to bash my co-workers because we all have our faults, but she’s more than aware of how much Eli irritates the living piss out of me.

Eli’s eyes dart between us. “I didn’t realize you two were living together.”

“Yep. Since when, Care? Freshman year of college?”

“The summer before then,” she corrects.

“Right. The summer before.”

“I didn’t realize you weren’t living at home anymore, Bennett. Thought for sureoneof yourmommiesstill made you lunch.”

I don’t miss the inflection in his voice, and I narrow my eyes at him.

If he thinks making jokes about the fact that I have two mothers is the way to go about getting Caroline’s affection, he’s an even bigger idiot than I thought.

There are many days I think my moms love my best friend more than me. She’s practically a daughter to them, and Caroline will defend their relationship with everything she has if she needs to.

“Oh, man.” Caroline practically moans. “I wish Momma Bennett made you lunch. I’d have her make tuna salad at least three times a week.”

“I hate tuna salad.”

“I know, but I love it. This isn’t about you, Coop. Keep up.”

“You’d seriously request thatmymother make a meal I hate just because you like it? Do you think she loves you more than me?”

“Yes. We both know I’m Momma B’s favorite, just like we both know you’re Momma Kira’s favorite. She always wanted a boy.”

“That’s messed up. They pickedmefrom the adoption agency. They both wanted me.”

“They picked you because they felt bad for you. You were so ugly that nobody else wanted you. I’ve seen your baby pictures.” She shrugs. “You were a pity adoption.”

I scowl at her. “Brat.”

She sticks her tongue out playfully, then takes another sip of her drink.

Eli glances between us again, his brows pinched tightly together.

I’m sure he’s realizing now how bored Caroline was with their conversation and how, in the few minutes I’ve been standing here, she’s turned into a different person.

Which means he’s probably realizing he has absolutely no fucking chance with her.

I pierce him with a stare that says,Move along, jackass.

“You know, I think I heard Matt call for me,” he says, taking the hint. “It was nice meeting you, Caroline.”

“You too, Eli.”

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