Love Thy Neighbor (9 page)

My grin transfers to his face. “Okay. See
you later on.” Just as I slide out of the booth he says quietly,
“Sorry about the weird thing.” He looks uncomfortable, almost
embarrassed, as he continues, “I don’t really know how else to
be.”

My heart breaks for him. I want him to
explain why he is the way he is, but even I know it’s too early in
our friendship to ask him to explain himself. Suddenly, I feel
protective of him. I look him right in the eyes and respond firmly,
“I love that you’re weird. It makes you unique. I’ve never met
anyone like you before, and I’m proud to have you as my friend,
Ash.”

Leaving him in shock, I turn on my heel and
head back to work, face flushing as red as a neon sign.

***

I watch her ass sway as she strides away.
Because she doesn’t walk ever, it’s not that simple with Nat.

She strides. She creeps. She stalks. She
glides.

She’s like a fucking animal. An animal I
want to tame. Every move she makes is calculated.

She’s a walking wet dream. Sassy as
hell.

Have I seen her trip or be clumsy? Hell yes.
And I laughed my ass off. Not that I’d ever tell her that. She’d
kick my ass. I watch Safira’s over the CCTV most of the day. Even
though I’m meant to be watching the store, I spend most of the time
watching Nat.

What she said just a minute ago lingers.
“I’m proud to have you as my friend, Ash.”

I don’t hear that much. Proud. That word
doesn’t usually get associated with me. It just doesn’t fit. Nik’s
dad, Ilia, was the first person who ever told me he was proud of
me. Nat is the second. In all my life.

I’d love to say it didn’t affect me, but
fuck, I’m puffing out my chest like a bullfrog. If I were to walk
right now, I know it’d be a strut.

She turned down a date tonight with the
douchebag so we could watch TV together. I don’t know what to make
of that. Maybe she was lying about how last night went to save
face.

You heard the moaning and groaning yourself.
You saying she faked that?

My lip curls. Thinking of Nat fucking some
other guy makes me wanna go apeshit. I fucking hate this guy. I
know I don’t know him, but something about him is off and I’m going
to figure it out.

Shady recognizes shady. And I’m shady as
fuck.

At least you’re the one spending the evening
with her.

Smirking, I go back to my laptop and
continue working. My smirk vanishes when I realize she’s probably
going to see him again tomorrow night. I need to get her out of my
head.

Time to call Tasha.

***

Placing the tub of peanut buttercup
ice-cream, spoons and sodas on the coffee table, I await my guest.
I check the clock. 8:27pm. He’ll be here soon.

I’ve showered and dressed in my regular
outfit of pajamas and a tank top. While I wait, I open a soda and
turn on the TV. I flick through but noise close to the front door
draws my attention. I get up and walk closer to it. The muffled
noise comes from Ghost’s apartment.

Using the TV remote, I turn the volume down
and creep over there. I know it’s wrong but I’m curious.

“See, I told you I could be quiet.” That
coming from a woman.

Ghost chuckles then replies, “Yeah. Thanks
for coming over, Tasha.”

My stomach dips and my face heats.

Tasha. The woman from that first night.

I hear her smile through her speech.
“Anytime. I was wondering if you’d ever call again after last time.
I know it was awkward for you.” I want to punch that smile off her
pretty face.

Awkward for him? What about me?

He responds, “Nah, that was nothing. Nat and
I are friends. It’s all good.”

Friends.

That we are.

Then why are you getting pissed about
this?

Yeah. So, he’s fucking someone. Good for
him.

My face falls. I think I’m going to be
sick.

They say their goodbyes and I rush over to
the sofa and park my butt with a plop. I turn up the volume on the
TV and sip casually on my soda. The patio door slides open ten
minutes later and Ghost walks in wearing his blue pajama pants and
a white tee. His hair’s wet from the after-sex shower he just had.
He focuses on my face then frowns. “Everything okay?”

Not trusting myself to speak, I just nod
then resume watching TV.

He sits next to me and places his cold hand
on my warm forehead. Concern flashes across his face and he
mutters, “You’re burning up, babe.”

I remove his hands from my face and explain
quietly, “No. I’m not getting sick. I just get this way sometimes.
Mostly, when I’m angry or upset.”

Ghost’s body tightens like a bow. “If that
asshole said something to you….” He looks accusingly at me. “What
the fuck, Nat? I thought friends talk about this shit.”

I lie through an easy smile, “No. It’s not
that. I just- I- I miss my sisters. That’s all.”

I look up into his face. He doesn’t look
convinced, but lets it go with an equally fake smile.

Who are we trying to fool? This’ll never
work out.

We were doomed before we even began.

Chapter
Six
When good guys go bad

Last night with Nat was awkward as hell. It
was weird because for the first time ever there was tension in the
room with us while we watched TV, and I swear she smelt sex on
me.

I called Tasha yesterday afternoon and asked
her if she would come by. I needed to give my never-ending erection
a break, and the only way I could think of was finding a release.
As usual, she was more than happy to oblige.

So, sue me. I have needs as much as the next
guy.

The funny thing was that even though my body
was into it, my brain wasn’t. Even though it was Tasha sucking my
cock, I imagined it was Nat. Then having to spend the evening with
her, all sorts of pissy girl emotions went through me. I felt
guilty, like I’d done something wrong. I kept reminding myself that
Nat was dating a fucking douchebag named Cole, and they’d got it on
the day before, so why the fuck couldn’t I?

“What the hell, man? You were pretty far
away.” Max breaks my thoughts.

I sigh and lean back in my chair. “Hey, bro.
What’s up?”

Max smirks his trademark smirk and I can’t
help but grin right back. Something’s up.

He starts, “Well, I got a date on Thursday
night. Was kinda hoping you’d watch Ceecee for me.”

My face falls.

Well, shit.

Incredulously, I choke out, “Me?
I
was your best fucking option?”

Max winces but the truth comes out.
“Everyone else is busy, man. And this chick…” He puts on his best
I’m in love
face. “Oh, this chick.”

Shaking my head at his dramatics, I ask,
“That good, huh?”

Max rubs his hands together in a greedy way,
eyes sparkling. He utters, “She better fucking be.” He resorts to
begging. “Please, man. I’ll owe you big time.”

My eyes roll and I remind him, “You owe me
for the last five things I did for you too, remember?”

He shrugs as if there’s no issue and
exclaims, “You know I’m good for it!”

I mutter, “Yeah, yeah. Whatever, man. I’ll
do it.” He looks like he might just man-hug me, so I raise my hands
in warning. As Max backs away smiling like an idiot, he says, “I
could kiss you right now! I mean, I won’t, but I could, dude. I owe
you one.”

More like six, knucklehead.

With a wave of my hand, he leaves me in
peace, so I continue to do what I’ve been doing all morning and
watch Nat on the CCTV. I watch her fold clothes and greet
customers. She’s so pretty when she smiles. I wish she’d do it
more. Then I see something that turns my good mood to shit. I slap
my hand down hard on the desk and glare at the screen.

***

Tina’s still away from work. I spoke to her
this morning and Tatiana’s fever broke, which is great, but she’s
still really stuffy. My poor little angel is frustrated. I mean,
c’mon, I would be too if I couldn’t breathe.

Luckily, today has been an easy day. Serving
customers and folding clothes have been my main job, and I gotta
say, this makes me happy. I love an easy day as much as the next
person. I hum and go about folding sweaters until hands cover my
eyes and a deep voice in my ear says, “Guess who, sunshine.”

A full-blown smile breaks out on my face and
I squeak, “Cole!”

He chuckles as I turn around. Smiling my
head off, I slap his chest playfully and ask, “What are you doing
here?” I narrow my eyes. “Are you stalking me?”

He’s dressed in black sweats and a white
workout tank, obviously having come from training with someone. He
scratches his head as if thinking, then answers, “I came to buy
myself a new sweater.” He picks up the one I just folded and puts
it to his muscular chest. I burst out laughing. The sweater is
white and a small size, against his broad chest it looks like a
baby’s bib. “It might not fit though,” he admits dejectedly.

His chuckles join mine and he pulls me into
a warm bear hug. I wrap my arms around his toned waist, place my
head on his firm chest and sigh happily. He whispers into my hair,
“I missed you, sunshine. I couldn’t stay away.” I pull back and
smile up at him. His eyes darken and his face turns serious. His
hands move from my back, up my shoulders and into my hair. My
breath catches. He holds my head steady and lowers his mouth to
mine, planting a slow and sensual kiss on my lips. He pulls back a
little and says hoarsely, “That’s a promise of what’s to come
tonight.”

Through hooded eyes, I gaze up at him and
whisper back, “Yay. Can’t wait.” And I really can’t.

Smiling a bright white smile, he lowers his
gorgeous face to mine once more and kisses me deeply. Then he lets
go of my hair, backs away and is out the door, all the while
smirking and leaving me to my own thoughts.

What the heck was that?

I shake my head as if trying to clear it and
go back to folding clothes with a huge smile on my face.

***

I spend an hour soaking in the tub when I
get home from a great day at the store.

Knowing that Cole will be here soon is doing
funny, fluttery things to my belly.

I haven’t felt this way about a guy in a
long while. And secretly, I’m waiting for something to go wrong
because, let’s be honest, I’m Natalie Kovac. It’s known by most of
my friends in Cali, Tina included, that I have the worst taste in
men. You name it, I’ve had it.

Cheaters, a man with a foot fetish, men who
like to role-play and let’s not forget the guy who wanted me to pee
on him. Role-play is fine. I’m into role-play. It can be seriously
hot. I do not, however, think it’s hot to want to do
father-daughter incest role-play.

Yuk!

I still shudder at that one.

I still don’t know what to make of this
whole insta-relationship Cole and I have going on, but I know I did
something today to cement where we are in this… this…
thing
.
During my lunch break, I went over to see my friend Tanya at Bells
and Whistles salon and got my hoo-hah waxed. So that pretty much
means tonight Cole is going to get lucky.

Excited much?

Hell yeah! I’m getting the sex tonight!

Smiling, I let out a mini whoop, stand up in
the tub, rinse my body and step out.

Time to get beautified.

I apply my makeup a little more dramatic
than normal, just a little darker around the eyes with soft pink
lip gloss. I want Cole to notice I’ve made an effort. Not that he
will.

Sigh.

Stupid men.

Ever so carefully, I remove the tags off the
brand new lingerie I bought, and slide the barely-there lace black
and white panties up my legs. I put on the matching bra and check
myself in the mirror. I can’t help the grin that forms. Not bad for
the time I had to work with. I hop into a pair of tight jeans and
finish my look off with a white see-through sweater. Actually, the
very same sweater Cole was joking around with today. I look in the
mirror once more and see my bra faintly through the sweater.
Perfect.

Ding Dong.

Checking my watch, I smirk. He’s early, the
eager beaver. I fluff my hair and apply some more gloss to my lips
before heading barefoot to the door. I don’t wait this time; I open
it and smile big. He looks gorgeous, dressed in black jeans, a
black long sleeved tee and his white sneakers. As soon as he
smiles, I grip his shirt and pull him inside.

It’s on.

We’re all over each other like PB on J. I’ve
been waiting for this all damn day.

Frantically kissing and pulling at each
other’s clothes, Cole manages to slip my sweater off me. I try to
do the same to his shirt but it gets stuck around his head, and
after a few seconds of pulling and getting nowhere, I burst out
laughing. I hear Cole laughing too but can’t see his face which, of
course, makes it funnier. I gasp through my laughter, double over
and clutch my belly. He pulls himself free of the shirt and throws
it to the side. The sight of that gorgeous toned body makes me
sober.

I get a total lady boner. My lady bits are
way too happy. So happy it’s crying juicy tears.

Fuck me, please!

He picks me up and plops my butt down on the
counter. He puts his hands on the edge and leans over me, forcing
me to lean back and take his deliciously forceful kisses. I hold
his face in my hands and give as good as I get. My back hits
something and it starts falling. Cole tries to grab the fruit bowl
but fruit flies everywhere. Laughing hard, Cole moves around the
counter and behind me to pick up the apples and oranges from the
floor. He comes back around to me, and immediately I know
something’s wrong by the look on his face.