Love Thy Neighbor (Friend-Zoned)(59)

The little minx is using her vibrator.

Zooming in to get a better look at her, I stroke myself and watch her try to pleasure herself. She alternates using her hand and the vibrator, then using the vibrator while she stokes her clit, then using the vibrator while she pinches her nipples. Nothing. She can’t do it. She throws the vibrator across the room in frustration and although I can’t hear her, she smacks at the bed and her mouth moves rapidly. I smirk. Probably cursing me to hell for spoiling her so much she can’t get off.

Either way, that was sexy as hell and one for the spank bank.

I can’t believe she didn’t see the cameras when she came in from work. They aren’t exactly invisible.

It’s late and I decide to call it a night. When I settle in bed, I palm myself while thinking of Nat using her vibrator. Hot as hell.

Then I remember the rice puffs. And I laugh and laugh and laugh.

For the first night in twenty five years, I fall asleep with a smile on my face.

***

Early morning, my alarm goes off. It’s 5:25am and I get ready for my mission by dressing in black sweat pants and a black tee. As soon as I walk into my kitchen, I go through my cupboards and find the biggest container I have and load the rice puffs into it. It’s early as hell, but I find the will to make pancakes too. I take everything over to Asher’s bit by bit, and when everything is ready, I take a look at my canvas. His apartment is pretty bare making my work all too easy.

Making my way into his kitchen, I take out the super glue and get to work, grinning all the while.

No one f*cks with a Kovac.

***

My alarm goes off and as I switch it off, I hear my front door close. My brow furrows.

It’s too early to deal with any bullshit.

Sighing, I get out of bed and walk out my bedroom door only to kick a plate on the floor. I pick up the plate which has three pancakes on it. They’re hot and smell good, loaded with butter and syrup. I smile to myself. This must be Nat’s way of apologizing for being a crazy-assed demon lady. I roll up one of the pancakes and take a bite. It’s delicious. I walk into the kitchen with my eyes closed in bliss and continue eating. When I reach the kitchen counter, I wash my syrup covered hands and put the dirty dish in the sink. There’s a note on the counter, I unfold it and read.

Enjoy your breakfast!

That’s nice of her. The bottom of the note has a little arrow pointing to the edge of the page. I turn it over and read.

Look up.

So I do. I raise my head to the ceiling and everything skids to a halt.

What the f*ck? Is that-? Did she-? No way.

She f*cking glued pancakes on my ceiling! The crazy-assed devil woman glued motherf*cking pancakes on the ceiling!

Even though I’m f*cking pissed, I’m equally impressed. How the hell did she get up there?

I need coffee. I turn on the coffee pot and make my way over to the fridge. As soon as I open it and hear a crunching noise, I mentally sigh. I take the milk out of the fridge and close it. And burst into laughter. Genuine, funny-as-f*ck laughter.

She f*cking glued rice puffs to my refrigerator.

I can’t see the surface to it. She spent a lot of time pulling this morning’s prank and I am impressed. This woman could give me a run for my money. I know I should be angry, but I started it and there are consequences to your actions. I’ll take it. This time. Nat just earned herself a medal in my books. Respect.

Doesn’t mean she isn’t going to get it.

Forgetting my coffee, I exit my apartment and head over to Nat’s. There’s a note on her door. With a grin, I open and read it.

You must be out of your mind if you thought I was going to stick around to see your reaction. Payback’s a bitch, bitch.

She’s lucky she isn’t here. I’d probably make her eat one of those pancakes. I turn and head back into my apartment. Making my way to the shower, I chuckle.

Fucking devil woman.

***

Mission success that early in the morning calls for a celebration and I’m celebrating with pie. Velvet choc hazelnut pie, to be exact. I buy it at a sweet little bakery which is just down the road from Safira’s. As soon as I bring it in, Tina’s all over me like whiskey on cola. She cuts herself the biggest slice ever and shoves most of it into her mouth. Moaning, she says a garbled, “This is really good.”

I stare at her like she’s lost her damn mind. Mimi comes over and eyes the pie with avid interest. I roll my eyes at her attempt to be cunning and almost throw a piece at her. Lola sees pie and yells, “Pie!” followed by a “Whoot, whoot!”

“What’s the occasion?” Mimi asks.

Being a smartass, I tease, “Tina’s pregnant.”

Tina almost chokes on her pie. Stunned, she looks up into my face and whispers, “How. Did. You. Know?”

Oh my God! No way!

Wide-eyed and open-mouthed, we all stare at Tina. After a few moments, she whispers, “That was meant to be a joke, wasn’t it?”

Mimi, Lola and I all nod slowly in astonishment. Tina clicks her fingers and snaps, “I knew it! Darn it to heck!”

Lola snaps us out of our stupor by jumping around and squealing, “Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my freaking God!”

Mimi shakes her head and pokes Tina lightly in the belly, saying “I should’ve known. You’ve been crazy emotional lately and you said you have your period when I know I didn’t. I should’ve known. Man, I’m pissed at myself!”