Love Thy Neighbour (Friend-Zoned 2)

In anger.

I blink then hiss, “What is wrong with you?”

He blinks. His brow furrows and his eyes flash, then he hisses right back, “With me? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Ouch.

I don’t like Ghost being angry with me. What did I do now?

“Nothing’s wrong with me. I’m having a ball. ” I roll my eyes and sigh. “Are we going to do this every single time?”

Ghost stops swaying us and says sharply, “I don’t make it this way, Nat. You do. Ever since we… You’ve been ten times the bitch you normally are. What you don’t get is,” he leans down and whispers, “that does something to me. It makes me wanna soothe the tiger in you. Bend you over another table and pound you into submission. Because that works with you. ” His lips brush my ear. “From a tiger into a mewing kitten. And I like that side of you. I like all sides of you, pretty girl. You think you’re putting me off with this supreme bitch act? Nope, all you’re doing is making me hard. ”

I lean back, look into his eyes and croak, “I think we should avoid each other. ”

He shakes his head slowly and smirks. “I think we should fuck again. Tonight. ”

My stomach dips and my core moistens just thinking about the possibility of having Ghost again.

Get the hell out of his clutches, stupid!

I lower my head and shake it. I whisper, “No. It was a mistake. Never to be repeated. I got to go. Please leave me alone, Ghost. ”

Ghost stiffens and replies quietly, “If that’s what you want, pretty girl. ”

I look up into his eyes and still. He doesn’t look angry. He looks hurt and resigned.

I don’t understand it.

My heart squeezes and I beg, “Please, Ghost. We’re not good for each other. We need to start avoiding each other. ”

His brow furrows as he nods. His arms loosen and he walks away from me.

Ghost walking away from me leaves me feeling alone and bitter.

Why did I do that?

Because you’d fall for the broken man which would leave you lonely, regardless.

Oh, yeah.

Thanks, brain.

Chapter One

My neighbors suck

Seven months later…

Tatiana pulls my hair hard.

Yowza!

I squint in pain, remove her grabby hands, and softly reprimand her, “Hey peaches, that’s Teta Nat’s. You’re just going to have to grow some of your own if you want some hair. ” Teta means Aunt in Croatian. Tina insists we use Teta instead of Aunt.

She smiles a gummy smile and jumps around in my arms. I can’t help but smile right back at her.

She is too damn cute.