Page 72 of Crave Thy Neighbor

Nolan presses the button for the elevator, then grins down at me. “Your best friend is a hoot.”

“I could say the same thing about yours, but that mustache is…” I groan. “God, I hope he shaves it off soon.”

“Hideous, isn’t it?”

I nod. “I didn’t want to tell River my roommate is much hotter than hers, but I think she knew.”

His brows rise, and the words that just left my mouth finally hit my ears.

Luckily, he doesn’t say anything as our elevator arrives. We step into the small space, and Nolan takes up the same position he did on the way down here. I mirror it.

The first floor ticks by, then the second.

The only sound is the hum of the machine working its way up the floors and the heavy breaths that seem to be caught in my chest and fighting for freedom.

We don’t take our eyes off each other, and we don’t speak.

Not when the elevator stops on our floor.

Not when we enter the apartment.

We don’t say a word until we’re standing in the hallway between our rooms, Nolan with his hand on his doorknob, me with mine on my own.

Make a move.

It’s what I want to yell at him.

And what I want to keep tucked away.

“Well,” he says, “thanks for a fun night.”

“Yeah. It was a good time.”

He exhales quietly, then pushes his door open. “Good night, Juliet.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Night, Romeo.”

I slip into my bedroom, pressing my back against the door the moment it’s closed.

My heart catches in my throat, beating so loudly it’s all I can hear.

I want Nolan, but I’m too scared. Too scared to mess up this good thing we have going on, too scared to do something about it.

With a heavy sigh, I push off the door and cross the room to my pile of things. I strip off my clothes and slide my oversized t-shirt on, then I crawl into my bed, pulling the covers up over my head, trying to get my heart rate to even out.

It’s pointless though. I’m too keyed up. Too needy.

I need a release in a bad way.

Maybe a cold shower will help me relax.

It’s late, but I’m sure Nolan won’t be too annoyed if I take one. He’s likely already passed out in his bed, snoring softly like he always does.

I toss my comforter off and slip out of bed, then pad to the door.

I nearly jump out of my skin when I pull it open.

Nolan’s standing on the other side, hand raised and ready to knock.

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