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What the hell was he talking about?

Why did people assume I was dating whoever I was standing next to? Or sitting next to in this case?

“Just figured you would already know what she does since y’all are together.”

This nigga.

A snort of laughter from the other side of the table snatched both of our attention.

“What’s so funny?” Greyson wanted to know.

“Nothing.” True giggled into her wine glass, avoiding eye contact. “It’s just that yesterday, I assumed you and Noah were together. And now, you just did it to us.”

Her shoulders shook and Grey looked from me to her and back again, emptying his whiskey in the meantime.

I couldn’t fight the smile on my face. True’s laughter was contagious and the confusion on Greyson’s face was almost enough to make up for his out-of-pocket question.

“We’re not together,” True said, fanning her face. “Yesterday, I thought I saw a bat and ran out of my house in my towel. Noah helped me and gave me some clothes to wear on the walk home.”

“Oh.”

His one-word answer should have been enough, but laughter still worked its way out of me.

I was more flattered that he thought I could get a woman like True without bragging about it. She was out of my league and there was no way in hell I’d ever quietly sit on that.

“No one is dating,” she said breathily, picking up her fork to push around the side salad on her second plate.

“I see,” Greyson mumbled, reaching for his empty glass. When he stared at the bottom, his brow creased.

“We’re just neighbors,” I pointed out, trying to lighten the mood.

“Yea,” True chimed in. “Neighbors.”

Neighbors.

Noah and True had said those words in sync two weeks ago and I was playing by their rules.

I was still trying to do the impossible and flip a switch in my head to tell me True was off-limits, but that was hard when I saw her every day. When I heard her voice every day. When I smelled the fruity, floral scent clinging to her hair every day.

It was impossible not to stare at her when we were in the same room.

Thathair.

Thoselipsshe liked to paint in varying shades of crimson.

Her thick, hourglass frame.

I loved how tall she was.

And I loved how she let laughter consume her whenever she thought something was funny.

She snorted before a loud cackle erupted from her throat, and I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it since the night she laughed in my face for the first time.

Hearing it had become a norm in just two weeks and I would never get tired of that.

But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but wonder how much longer we had before she disappeared as quietly as she showed up.

With a sigh, I shook the thought from my head and loosened the tie around my neck. I hadn’t even bothered changing into more comfortable clothes before coming to find her.