Page 8 (1/2)

"So, are we gonna address the elephant in the roo his beer on the bench next to hithe headboard off your bed is the hottie across the way, girl!" Mihed along with her, but pried the glass out of her hand before she could do any real da to talk about," Sihbor Her na me across the fire I raised my eyebrow and sipped htie Girl has a name The way he described you…asn’t sure you were real, but you’re as hot as he said you were!" Neil hooted atfor a h the flames before he realized how hot they were

My eyes shot to Si…

"So, you were the guys banging back at us tonight? Listening to the Guns N’ Roses?" Sophia asked, nudging Ryan

"You were the girls singing along, I suppose, yes?" He nudged back, s

"S up at Neil He winked at her, and I saw quickly where this was going She had her giant, Sophia had her pretty boy, and I hadby the second

"Excuse me," I h the dwindling crowd, nodding at a few faces I recognized I accepted yet another glass of wine and strolled back outside I’d started back toward the fire pit when I heard Mimi say, "And you should have heard Caroline when she told us about the night she banged on his door"

Sophia and Miether and said breathlessly, "He…was…still…hard!"

They all dissolved into laughter I needed to reroaned at ardens when I saw Simon in the shadows I tried to back away before he saw me, but he waved

"Couess," I answered, walking toward hiht I looked out over the bay, enjoying the silence Then he finally spoke

"So I was thinking, since we’re neighbors and all--" he started

I turned to look at hirin, and I knew that’s what he used toany

"You were thinking what? That I’d want to join you soht? See what all the fuss is about? Hop on the welcoirls," I answered, glaring at hirily The nerve of this guy…

"Actually, I was going to say, since we’re neighbors and all,at me in a very irritated way

"Oh," I said It was all I could say

"Or maybe not," he finished and started to walk away

"Wait, wait, wait, Si hi

"Yes Fine We can call a truce But there will have to be so to face him He crossed his arms over his chest

"I should warn you now, I don’t enjoy wo me what to do," he answered darkly

"Not froht it anyway

"That’s different," he said, the cockiness beginning to reappear

"Okay, here’s the thing You enjoy yourself, do your thing, hang froht? Can we keep it down to a dull roar? Please? I gotta get some sleep"

He considered for a ht be a proble aboutabout me and my ‘harem,’ as you call it I don’t have to justify reed By the way, I appreciated the quiet this week So happen?"

"Happen? What do you ht maybe you were injured in the line of duty, like your dick broke off or soain

"Unbelievable That’s all you think I aain

"A dick? Yes, in fact," I snapped back

"Now look--" he started, and Neil appeared out of nowhere

"Nice to see you two have kissed andto hold Simon back

"Can it, anchorman," Simon muttered as the rest of the newly paired-off reappeared

"Cool it with the anchorman, huh?" Neil said, and Sophia whirled on hiuy on NBC, right? Aht up Sophia irl, but she was also a huge 49ers fan I was pretty sure the 49ers were a football team

"Yeah, that’stoward her, bringing Mi to his arm, it was unavoidable She stumbled a little, and Ryan swooped in to steady her They smiled at each other as Sophia and Neil continued their football talk I coughed, re the off!" Sophia giggled, now leaning on Ryan’s arirls

"That’s good I’ve had enough fun for tonight I’ll call for the car, and we can head out in a few," I replied, reaching intous about this great little bar, and ere going to go that way Do you tant to co my hand She squeezed it, and I saw her shake her head al both eyebrows

"Great! Ol’ Wallbanger here’ll hly on the back

"Yeah, sure," he said through clenched teeth

Before I could even blink, the four of theoodbyes to Benjah five

Wallbanger and I stared at each other, and I suddenly felt exhausted "Truce?" I said tiredly

"Truce," he said, nodding

We left the party together We drove back across the bridge, with the late-night fog and silence enveloping us He’d opened the door for rained training from his mother His hand had rested on the sone and he was around to his side before I even had a chance to make a snarky remark Maybe it was best; we had called a truce The second truce within the span ofto end badly, I could tell Still, I would try I could be neighborly, right?