Page 88 of Roommate Wars

“Sophia is looking for you,” I said, and Elise glanced up. She waved and blew Sophia kisses, standing as though preparing to go over. “As for living together,” I said, rising beside her, “we can live in my two-bedroom until we decide on where you want to end up.”

“That’s perfect.” She grinned and hugged my neck tightly. “Let’s congratulate Soph and Max, and then we can talk about our moving-in plans.”

We’d started to make our way to Max and Sophia when a loud horn blared.

And honked in a succession of quick beats, followed by another obnoxious blare.

I looked out a partially blocked window—the one Lizzie was standing in front of with her arms crossed.

Her expression was pure rage as she stormed from the window to the front door.

The entire room had momentarily gone silent at the horn honking, and I glanced at Max, who had the same “oh shit” expression I did.

We’d done everything in our power growing up to never anger Lizzie, and we hadn’t seen her with that look in years.

“This is bad,” I murmured to Elise and held her hand as I followed behind Lizzie.

We clambered around partygoers, chasing after Lizzie.

She stormed onto the pavement out front, her reddish-gold hair like a flame behind her. “Hey, asshole!” she yelled to someone out of view.

I stopped near the door, keeping Elise tucked behind me, and Max and Sophia joined us.

“What’s going on?” Max said.

“No idea.”

I couldn’t see the person Lizzie was talking to because they were around a corner, but her hands were on her hips, so it was go time.

“Stop being a parking whore!” she shouted. “You don’t own the street.”

“Damn,” Max said, shaking his head. “The new guy next door got on Lizzie’s bad side.”

“He’s screwed,” I agreed.

The neighbor didn’t know it yet, but he’d just started a war.

* * *