Page 52 of Love Thy Neighbor

And I know it would be a good lay too.

If Cooper can fuck half as good as he can kiss…

“Earth to Caroline.” River waves her hand in front of my face. “Company meeting here.”

I give myself a shake, dragging my attention back to the task at hand.

It’s Wednesday morning and we’re discussing the big event we have in a month.

Every year our community throws the Harristown Jubilee, a big gathering of food trucks, music, and whatever else anyone wants to sell. Homemade pastries, home goods, clothes—anything goes. The event is huge, and sellers tend to make their booth fees back within the hour, not to mention the foot traffic and getting your name out there is priceless.

I should probably be paying attention since we’ll all be there running the food truck we turned into the mobile closet this year.

“Sorry,” I say. “I’m listening.”

A frown pulls at her lips. “You okay?”

“Fine, fine.” I nod, waving off her concern, reaching across the counter for the coffees she brought us. “Just didn’t sleep well last night is all. I’m tired. Not that I have to tell you about that.”

River has insomnia and has come to work on little sleep many times over the last few years.

Luckily, with her new relationship with Dean, she seems to be taking more time off work and not letting the stress get to her as much. It’s doing wonders for her disorder.

“You look like you’re a million miles away, not tired. This isn’t just company talk time. It’s girl talk time too. What’s going on?” asks Maya, our other partner, tossing her long chocolate-colored hair over her shoulder.

Maya and River have been best friends since they were little and have been througheverythingtogether, including Maya’s teenage pregnancy and her recent divorce.

They’re more like sisters than they are friends.

“Yeah, talk to us,” River urges. “Something going on with Cooper?”

I try not to react. Try not to let on that something happened between us.

I tuck a hair behind my ear. “No. Cooper’s fine. We’re fine.”

“Liar!” Maya shouts, pointing at me. “She’s a liar! Did you see it?”

“I saw it,” River says, nodding.

“Saw what?”

“You tucked your hair behind your ear—it’s your tell. You’re hiding something.”

“I’m not hiding anything,” I tell Maya. “There’s nothing to hide. And I do not have a tell.”

“Uh-huh. This explains why you’ve been walking around here like a zombie since last Friday. Something definitely happened and you’re not fooling us.”

“Oh my gosh.” River gasps. “Did you finally get laid?”

“What?”

“On your night out with Cooper,” she continues. “Did you meet some hot guy and finally get some action?”

Oh.That.

Did I get laid? No.

Did I have the best kiss I’ve ever had? Yes.

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