“Cooper…” she warns, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re starting to test my patience.”
“What are you going to do about it? Tap your foot at me like you are now?”
“No. I’ll…I’ll…withhold sex.”
“Oh, taking a page out of my book now, huh?”
“Yes.”
I laugh, crossing the room to her, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Come on, Care. Think. What happened about…say…six months ago?”
Her brows scrunch together as she thinks back. “Umm…we started dating?”
“Keep going.”
“Your favorite sports team won some fancy trophy?”
“Try again…”
She growls. “Ugh. I don’t know. Nothing is sticking out to me. I—”
It hits her.
“Oh my god, Cooper. Did you really?”
I nod.
“Is that why you got me flowers this morning? Brought me breakfast in bed?”
“Yes.”
“You put the day I accidentally touched your penis into your calendar so you could remind me of it six months later?”
“Oh, Care. We both know accidents don’t just happen accidentally.”
“I cannot believe you.”
“Yes, you can.”
“You… You’re exhausting.”
“I know.” I laugh, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. “But you love me.”
“I do.”
“And I love you too. Hopelessly.”
“Ugh…” She shakes her head, trying hard to fight the smile that wants to break free.
And then, she rolls her eyes.
We never do order pizza.
Thank you for reading LOVE THY NEIGHBOR!
I had so much fun writing Caroline & Cooper’s story, and I hope you enjoyed it.
Keep swiping for a preview of LOATHE THY NEIGHBOR, an enemies-to-lovers romcom!
LOATHE THY NEIGHBOR PREVIEW
RIVER
“I am a fucking hero.”
I sit back with a satisfied grin, admiring my accomplishments.
Green M&M’S are superior, and that’s why I’ve spent the last five minutes separating all of them from the rest.
My high lasts all of two seconds before I realize I’m out of things to do as I wait for my best friend, who is late for our Sunday morning coffee date again.
Blowing out an annoyed huff, I glance at the clock on the wall of the neighborhood’s favorite diner. It only serves breakfast food and pie, which it’s famous for.
This is my favorite place in the whole city.
The Gravy Train, an old train depot turned diner tucked in the middle of Harristown, Colorado. It’s a small place, nothing fancy or extravagant inside, and it’s home to not only the best breakfast around, but also the best pie. And I love pie.
They offer a few flavors a day, and my favorite—cherry—is available three times a week.
Sundays are cherry pie days.
A shuffle comes from the other end of the long stretch of booth that takes up a sizeable amount of the back of the restaurant.
Lucy, a fellow regular here who also happens to be my apartment building manager, is up against the wall at the other end of the long community table where I like to sit. She’s wearing a funky patterned poncho—a signature look for her—and her nose is stuck inside her crossword puzzle book. I’ve known her long enough to know that whenever her book is out, she’s not coming up for air anytime soon.
“Seriously, River? Again?” Maya West, my best friend, stares down at me from the end of the table with a disappointed frown she’s perfected over the years.
What did she expect me to do with my time? Sit here and twiddle my thumbs? I had to keep occupied somehow. She should know me better. I’m not the type to do something like pick up a newspaper or book for entertainment. Keeping my hands busy keeps my mind sane.
“What?” I pop a green candy into my mouth as she takes a seat. I wash it down with a big gulp of my now cooled coffee, which is loaded with enough sugar to put me in a coma. My pseudo-nephew, Sam, slides into the chair next to her. I stick my tongue out at my favorite little rascal, and he returns the gesture. I turn my attention back to Maya. “These precious babies don’t belong with that”—I snarl my lip at the offending colors—“trash.”
“They all taste the same,” Maya argues, like she always does.
“Lies!” A few patrons inside scowl at my loud antics, but Sam laughs, which is what I’m truly aiming for. Now that he’s twelve going on twenty, it’s becoming harder to make him laugh as he transitions into his grumpy teenage years. I miss when all I had to do was cross my eyes at him and he’d giggle for five minutes straight.
“You’re so strange.” She scoots her chair closer to the table, tossing her long, chocolate hair behind her shoulder. “It’s no wonder you can’t find someone to