Page 69 of Crave Thy Neighbor

“Sammy, you ready?” he calls out.

“Coming!”

Thank god.

The kid pads down the hall, a bag of stuff slung over his shoulder.

He’s always dragging his PlayStation back and forth Maya says, and I have to say I’m a little bummed. I was looking forward to getting some practice in. The kid whoops my ass too much for my liking.

“All set?” I ask.

“Yep, except I can’t find my science book. I think it’s in my mom’s car, but I don’t have the keys. Can you tell her so she can bring it up to school tomorrow?”

“Can do, kid.”

“Thanks.” He holds his fist out for me to bump. “You’re the best, Nolan.”

“See you later, shithead.”

Patrick lifts his brows at the nickname.

“Inside joke,” I explain.

He nods with a grin. “I mean, you’re not wrong…”

They shuffle out the door, and I let the quiet consume me.

Maya will be home any minute now, and we’re going down to River and Dean’s apartment, where we’ll have to pretend we didn’t almost fuck in the kitchen mere days ago.

I have to wonder for the millionth time what the hell I’ve gotten myself into…and why it’s not sending me running for the hills.

11

Maya

If I thought spending the last few days with Nolan was awkward after our midafternoon make-out session, it’s nothing compared to being stuck inside an elevator with him as we make our way down to River and Dean’s apartment.

I wanted to take the stairs, but I knew even suggesting it would have just made things worse.

The only thing we can do now is pretend nothing at all happened.

But that’s hard when he’s standing opposite me looking like he does.

His back is pressed against the wall, his long legs stretched out in front of him, one crossed over the other. He’s wearing jeans that cling to his muscular thighs like they were tailored just for him. I’ve noticed he has a thing for flannel, and I don’t mind it one bit because he looks damn good in the gray and black one he’s currently wearing, the color making his blue eyes pop more than they already do.

He’s watching me rake my gaze over him, and I can tell by the lazy smile spreading across his lips that he likes it.

I should look away, but I can’t seem to force myself to do so.

Just like I can’t seem to keep him off my mind.

I was so distracted at work yesterday I almost let someone walk out of the shop without charging them for half their order.

When River asked me what was wrong, I waved it off as stress.

It wasn’t a complete lie. I am stressed…but not for the reasons she thinks.

Instead of worrying about all the expenses that come with a new apartment, I’m too busy preoccupied by the fact that I want to sleep with my roommate.

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