“Maybe. Noia’s good at what she does. When it comes to how I use my words, I’ve learned a lot.”
The laugh that escapes my chest sounds more like a frustrated grunt. “Six months,” I finally say. “Six damn months, and I still can’t get that night or her out of my head.”
“So what happened?”
My pulse kicks up just thinking about it, and I give him a wry smile. “Well, I was minding my own business, playing video games, when I heard someone struggling to open the moving pod that’d been dropped off next door. So, being the gentleman that I am, I went over to offer my help.”
“And?” he prompts, leaning forward to rest his forearms on the table.
I shake my head, recalling the look of surprise on Sasha’s face when she saw me. “I had no idea she was the one movingin. Twice in two days I’d been woken up by moving trucks and never once did I see anyone other than the movers.”
“What are the odds?” Ryder muses, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
I shrug, trying to play it cool even though my heart is racing just thinking about it. “So, I helped her unload the rest of her stuff. We talked a little. Turns out she’s opening a Summit Studio across the street.”
“Actually, now that I think about it, Noia mentioned something about it a few months ago.”
Nearly choking on my chicken, my jaw drops. “Are you fucking kidding me? You knew?”
He holds up his hands in defense. “Whoa, man. I didn’t know she was moving in next door to you.”
“But you knew she was setting up her business across the street?” I toss my fork down. “What the hell, Rye? We’re supposed to be best friends. That’s the kind of shit you tell someone. Especially when you know what went down between us.”
“I didn’t think it was a big deal,” he shrugs, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes. “Besides, Noia mentioned it in passing. I figured you’d find out eventually.”
“Eventually? Like when I just happen to look out the window and see her hanging up the fucking sign?” I run a hand through my hair in frustration. “Jesus Christ, man.”
“Look, I’m sorry.” Ryder leans back in his chair, studying me with stormy gray eyes. “But let’s get real here. Would it have changed anything if I’d told you? What would you have done?”
I open my mouth to argue, but nothing comes out. He’s right, and we both know it. What would I have done? Tried to stop her? Confronted her? Neither of those options would’ve gone over well. Not to mention, it’s just not my style. I’m notsupposed to give a shit. At the time, I’d planned on leaving that night behind me. But the universe? That bitch seemed to have other plans.
“That’s what I thought,” he says, a smug grin playing on his lips. “You’ve been chubbed-up about her since the moment you first saw her.”
I flip him off and take a sip of my Coke as Lizzy walks in.
Picking up on the tension, her green eyes dart back and forth between us. “Who died?” Pulling out a chair, she takes a seat and starts unpacking her lunch. “You guys wanna tell me what’s going on in here?”
No longer feeling chatty, I stab another piece of chicken.
Ryder clears his throat. “Jax found out Sasha is his new next door neighbor.”
“And,” I cut in through gritted teeth, “she’s opening a Summit Studio across the street. Which apparently everyone knew about but me.”
Lizzy freezes mid-bite, fork hovering in the air. “Oh, shit.”
“Yeah. Oh shit is right,” I mutter.
Setting her fork down carefully, Lizzy asks, “Did you talk to her?”
“Yup.” I tell her about what went down.
“Ah.” A knowing look flashes across her face. “That explains the attitude.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “What attitude?”
Ryder snorts, and I shoot him a glare.
“For what it’s worth,” she says, taking a sip of her water. “We had a girls’ night at her place. It seemed she had no idea you lived next door. So we told her.”
