Page 7 of Love Thy Neighbor

“We’re talking about you,” I continue, ignoring her all-too-accurate accusation. “Dating or fucking?”

“I amnotanswering that.”

“Ah, so rocks off it is.”

“Stop.” The color on her cheeks deepens.

“I can help, you know.”

Her brows shoot up. “With what?”

“Your problem.”

“My…problem?”

“The sex thing.”

She runs her tongue over her bottom lip. “Are you saying you want to…have sex? With…me?”

She freezes, and I don’t dare even blink.

All the air in the room is sucked out at her question.

Time stands completely still.

Then, it cracks.

Or we do.

We double over in laughter.

I already made the mistake of trying to take things to the next level with Caroline when I was a horny teen who was basically into anyone with a great rack—something my best friend definitely has, not that I’ve officially noticed or anything.

Either way, my experiment failed.Epically.

It solidified that friends are all we’re meant to be. Any time I get an inkling of an idea that we’re meant to be together in some crazy stars-aligned way, I think of that failed kiss.

She wipes under her eyes, brushing away the tears that always form when she laughs too hard.

“Oh wow. I haven’t laughed that hard in way too long. I needed that.” She barks out another laugh. “Can you even imagine? Taking a romp in the sheets with you? Pass.Hardpass.”

Ouch.

I try not to take her words too harshly but,fuck, a man has his pride, and she just landed a direct hit to mine.

She sounds disgusted by the idea of us together, and while I can manage rejection just fine—not that it happens often—I wasn’t expectingthatreaction.

Sure, I get it…to an extent. It’s one thing to strip bare with someone you hardly know, but it’s a whole different story to do it in front of someone who sometimes knows you better than you know yourself. It makes it ten times more personal.

I’m sure that’s what she’s referring to, but it’s damn hard to not take offense at her words.

I’m not lusting after her or anything, but I’m also not completely immune to…well,her.

Caroline Reed is hot, and if she were anyone other than my best friend, I’d have tried to woo her into my bed long ago.

I’d be a bald-faced liar if I said I never thought of her in ways that aren’t…appropriate.

I don’t think the idea of us together soundsthatbad.

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