Page 9

DEAN

I’ve been living with River for all of five minutes and I already want to move out.

Not just because she’s the reincarnation of Lucifer, of which I’m ninety-nine percent certain, especially after that stunt she pulled outside.

Or because I’m her sworn enemy for some reason unknown to me.

It’s none of those things.

It’s the damn cat.

The one who’s been sitting perched on the couch, hissing at me for the last few minutes. The same one who’s snuck out of River’s apartment no less than ten times over the past year and found his way inside of mine, trying to get to Leo.

When I attempt to pick him up and take him home, he goes on the defense like I’m the one invading his space.

“Morris, be nice.” River sets one of my suitcases near the couch, reaching over and scratching between his ears. “Once he gets to know you, he’ll mellow out.” She pauses, shooting a glance my way. “Well, maybe not. It is you , after all.”

“Is that any way to treat a guest?” I roll my other suitcase next to the first.

The firefighter was right about the fire damage: it was mostly contained to the kitchen, only a small spot in the living area burned.

The biggest killer was the smoke damage. It’s evident throughout the entire apartment. I’m not a big fan of keeping doors closed—makes me feel all boxed in—so it spread fast and far.

I’m certain I’m going to have to wash all the clothes I tossed into suitcases at least twice just to get the stench out.

A fire. A damn grease fire at that.

I could have burned the entire building down today.

I could have hurt myself. Or Leo.

River.

Fuck, I am such a moron.

I glance around my new living space. Aside from a few color changes like different flooring and cabinetry, it’s the exact unit I have—had—just flipped.

Should be a relatively easy adjustment. That’s good, because I could use something easy considering I just set my apartment on fire and all.

Shit. I can’t believe River of all people took me in.

My sister’s place was a bust, considering she’s still living back in Assholetown.

Nolan’s place is way too small, and sketchy. The dude should move to a better neighborhood.

And there’s no way in hell I’ll be going to my parents with this. My dad would eat this mishap up like it’s bacon, and my old man fucking loves bacon.

A hotel would have been my only other option, and it would have been an expensive one.

When River offered up her place, I almost said no.

I’d pony up that money just to spite her kindness.

But then the thought of picking up my life and moving into a complete unknown for an indefinite number of weeks when I have so much on my plate coming up…

And, well, here I am.

Fucking hell. I scrub a hand through my hair, pulling at the ends a little too hard. But, shit, I mean, how dumb am I to let myself get into this mess? With my luck, this is going to take months to fix. It’s going to completely throw off Leo’s schedule, my schedule. It’s?—

“Hey.” River’s voice interrupts my panic. “Everything will be fine. Lucy was right—nobody was hurt, and that’s the most important thing. Apartments and things are replaceable. People and pets aren’t. Just focus on that and everything else will fall into place.”

Her words are soft. Calming even, like she can read the anxiety flowing through my mind. It’s the sweetest her tone has ever been toward me.

“Uh, thanks.” I lift a hand, squeezing the back of my neck. It’s strange being on the receiving end of niceness from River.

Yet…it’s comforting.

“You’re welcome.” She clears her throat, then points toward the console resting against the wall.

“You can put Leo over here if that works for you. You’ll be staying in my office, and there’s no spot for a tank in there.

I’ll go in and rearrange it tomorrow so there’s room for more than just an air mattress.

You’ll have to sleep on the couch for tonight. ”

“I don’t mind the couch. Some nights I pass out on mine anyway. I’m just thankful to have a place to stay.”

And it’s true.

Even if it is with River.

She nods and begins pulling knickknacks off the console, moving them to the bookshelf taking up the other wall. “I don’t have much food here and I was planning on pie for dinner, so we’ll need to grocery shop too.”

“I can pay for those. It can be part of my rent for staying here. Which, again, I appreciate.”

Another short nod. “And I’ll need to stop by the hardware store sometime to get you a key. Maya has my only spare.”

She moves on quickly again, like she doesn’t want me to acknowledge her niceness at all.

I just don’t get why.

“What’s your angle?”

She halts her movements, peeking up at me through the messy red hair that’s barely staying in the clip she has it thrown up in. “Excuse me?”

“I said, what’s your angle? Why are you letting me stay here and then acting all whatever about it when I keep trying to thank you?”

Her brows go up a fraction. “Is that what you’re doing?”

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t seem that way.”

“Doesn’t it?”

Another fraction.

I clench my jaw. “Thank you, River. Thank you for allowing me to stay here. I’m not sure how I’ll ever repay you.”

One hand on her hip, she taps her finger to her chin. “Gee, I wonder how you could repay me. Other than rent—because I fully expect that.” She snaps her fingers. “I got it! How about you stop stealing my pie.”

I narrow my eyes. “No.”

“Looks like someone’s going to be homeless, then.”

“Do you really think I’m buying that the whole reason you’re allowing me to stay here is so I stop ‘stealing’ your pie?”

“The fact that you just put stealing in air quotes…” She shakes her head, her anger palpable. “Stop questioning my motives.”

“So you’re admitting you have motives?”

“What? No.”

“Then what is this?”

She growls, tossing her head back in frustration. “Why are you overanalyzing it? Can’t you just be grateful?”

“That’s what I was trying to do, and you were being dismissive.”

“Because you’re acting weird.” She shoves past me and to the bookshelf, setting yet another figurine on it.

Geez, how many of these things does she have?

“Weird how?”

“I don’t know…nice.”

“I’m always nice to you. I buy you pie.”

She slams the statue down, pushing past me again, grabbing two more and walking them back to the shelf. “You buy me pie because you feel guilty for taking mine. That’s not being nice—that’s covering your own ass.”

She has me there…

“Okay, so there might be some truth to that. But, still. I consider you a friend, River.” She snorts. “Maybe not a friend, but at least an acquaintance.”

After placing the last two collectibles on the shelf where she wants them, she turns to me.

Her plump mouth is drawn into a thin line. Even though she looks serious, I can’t help but let my eyes wander.

I’ve checked River out plenty in the past.

I’d be a fool not to acknowledge how attractive she is.

But after seeing her in that towel, it’s like I can’t take my eyes away from her.

She’s ditched her scrap of near nothing and exchanged it for a pair of navy leggings and an oversized shirt. Her hair is the same mess it was, and she’s still not wearing a stitch of makeup. She spent her afternoon trying to put out a literal fire I set and yet…she looks incredible.

She takes two steps toward me, and I drag my eyes from her body to her hazel stare.

“You’re a pain in my ass. Loud and obnoxious.

The world’s worst neighbor.” I open my mouth, but she points at me.

“You just tried to burn the apartment building down, so don’t even try to refute that.

” I nod. “We’ve established that I hate you.

We are not friends. We’re neighbors, and right now, we’re roommates.

That’s it . Nothing else. So don’t go getting any notions in your head that I’m going to fall for your charms and we’ll end up buds anytime soon. You do your thing, I’ll do mine.”

I want to argue.

Mostly for the sake of arguing.

But she’s right. The easiest way for us to navigate this without butting heads every five minutes is to just stick to our respective corners.

“Got it?”

I give her a nod. “Understood.”

“Good.” She turns on her heel and makes her way to the front door. Slides her shoes on. “Let’s hit the store.”

“I thought you said we’re supposed to do our own thing.”

She grits her teeth, not liking my smartass comment. “All this excitement for the day has made me hungry.” She pulls open the door. “And you ruined my pie, so you owe me dinner. Let’s go.”

My stomach growls at the mention of food, and I realize I am starving because I never did get to eat that damn sandwich.

I grab Leo’s hut. “At least let me pick the place.”

She tosses me a look. “It’s cute that you think that’s how this works.”

“Anyone ever tell you you’re a little short to be this sassy?”

“Just shut up and feed me before I get hangry.”

“This is you normally ? Man, it’s going to be a blast living with you, then.”

She grumbles something I can’t quite make out, but whatever it is, it doesn’t sound as grumpy as I expect.

I get the feeling River isn’t going to hate having me as a roommate as much as she thinks she will.

“Do you mind if we stop in at the pet store for a minute? I need to grab a few things for Leo’s terrarium.”

One of the perks of the apartment building we live in is the location. It’s a primo spot right in the heart of the city. Nearly everything important is within walking distance, and if it’s not, you can bike. If you’re feeling frisky, you can drive.

After (naturally) stopping by The Gravy Train for dinner—it’s just down the block—we opted to walk to the store since we weren’t doing hefty grocery shopping…or so I thought.

I’m carrying three bags—one on each shoulder and one in my hand—and River has one.

She bought no less than three pints of ice cream, not to mention at least four different kinds of cheese crackers.

I’m beginning to think she doesn’t spend much time at home and doesn’t eat there often either, which would make sense because the woman is always working. It’s a miracle she ever found the time to complain about me when she was hardly home.

“Did you just ask if I was cool with going into the pet store? Where I get to play with the animals?”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“ Big yes. Just don’t tell Morris I got excited about it.”

“Won’t he smell it on you?”

“Yes, but I’ll just tell him it’s your fault.”

“And he’ll…believe that?”

“Yeah.” She shrugs. “He’s as gullible as Sam is.”

I chuckle…and only kind of worry for her sanity. “Sam’s a good kid.”

“He’s the best kid. Like ever.”

“You’re biased.”

“I’m allowed to be biased. He’s been part of my life for nearly half of it.” She cocks her head. “What? Your eyes just widened.”

“It’s nothing. I just never considered how old Sam is in relation to how old Maya is. I’m assuming we’re around the same age, so…”

“You’re just now putting together that Maya had a teenage pregnancy.” She nods. “She gets that look a lot.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it. Truly.”

“Oddly enough, I believe that,” she mutters, hefting the reusable bag—the one she made me buy because it was cute and I owed her —higher.

“Do you need help with your one bag?”

She ignores me. “I’m twenty-eight. Is that how old you are?”

“Yep. As of last month.”

“What? I didn’t know it was your birthday last month!”

“How would you? We’re not friends, not acquaintances. Just neighbors, remember?”

Her brows slide together, not liking how I throw her words back in her face. “Whatever. It’s nothing personal. I just like birthdays.”

“I’ll file that info away in my Things I Now Know About My Neighbor Who Hates Me folder for future non-interactions.”

I get a scowl for that one.

I stop in front of the pet store doors and turn to River. “Look, there are a lot of cute fluffy things in here.”

“Like…gerbils? And bunnies? And guinea pigs?” She gasps. “Oh my gosh, where do guinea pigs even live in the wild? I’ve literally never thought of that until this very moment. Where do gerbils live? What even is a gerbil?”

She’s talking a mile a minute and I already regret asking her if we can stop, but I need things for Leo’s terrarium. I hope River doesn’t mind me taking over her bathroom tonight to scrub out his tank and get it cleaned so I can start replacing things.

“We have frozen stuff,” I remind her. “Like that pint of ice cream you stole right out of my hands.”

She lifts a shoulder. “Should have put it in your bag faster.”

She’s lucky it was only my third-favorite flavor; otherwise I’d have made a scene.

“But I understand. I won’t take too much time playing with all the adorable little creatures.”

“Why do I not believe you at all?”

“Because I’m likely lying.” She breezes past me, pulling the door open. She glances back over her shoulder, loose tendrils of her red hair blowing in the breeze. “Come on. I don’t want my ice cream to melt.”

What the hell have I gotten myself into?