Page 135 of Sour Notes

“Hell yeah. What’s not to love about a floating breakfast? Despite the uncivilized beast stealing half of my croissant.” I wink at him.

He drags his teeth over his bottom lip before his face splits into a wicked grin.

“Beast huh? If that’s what you like, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Oh, sweet baby Jesus. Is it socially acceptable to fan myself when I’m supposed to be super chill and unbothered?

I’ve got zero doubt that Swayze going full beast mode would be straight-up fire.

The little glimpses he’s shown me just when he springs into protective mode are… well, panty-melting comes to mind.

Nope. Don’t go there.

“Oh, I don’t know, you’ve shown those teeth a few times already. Especially around the toad.” I laugh, lying back and lifting my phone up, blindly scrolling nothing.

Why did I bring up the toxic waste next door? Instantly my palms start to sweat and I try and surreptitiously wipe them on the towel beneath me. I need to get him out of my head, not remind myself there’s only a freakin’ wall between us. If I don’t lock that thought back down, I know it’s gonna send me spiraling.

I still can’t believe my shit run of luck. Of all the rooms, how the fuck did he end up in the one right next to ours?

“He’s a douche.” Swayze’s growl draws my attention squarely back to him. There’s that beast mode activating again.

“You doing okay with all of that?” His low voice rumbles with concern, something I can’t hear right now if I want to keep my shit together.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m fucking thrilled I got to see the shock on his face when I laid into him last night for a change.

That Mia kicked ass, but she’s a work in progress held together by Mod Podge and fragile dreams. If you prod her too soon, she’ll shatter back into a million pieces again.

And yeah… I’m talking about myself in the third person because it’s just easier to deal with. Okay?

This morning was the perfect antidote to next door’s poison. For those few hours, I was able to forget we shared a wall. The sinking feeling that’s been drowning me since our little discovery all but disappeared.

Thanks to the hot pool god sitting next to me. Can we bring him back? Please? I’ll take ladyporn over feelings every day of the week.

“Mia?” Swayze slides a warm palm into mine with a squeeze and I glance down, studying the veins on the back of his hand.

“Oh, sure, not like I wasn’t expecting him to be here, right? That’s why I have my super hot, beast boyfriend by my side, remember?” I force out a giggle, but even I hear how fake that sounds. Hopefully he’ll leave it alone if I smile wide enough.

Except he sits up, turning his entire body to face me instead and slides his sunglasses up into his hair, those glacial eyes locked on my face.

Those things are lethal.

Think Superman’s laser beam eyes, but Swayze’s are less weapons of mass destruction and more bullshit detectors.

Truth beams.

When he locks onto me like—well, like he’s staring at me right now—I’m apparently incapable of not word vomiting all over him.

I tighten my grip on my phone like I can use this one little device as kryptonite.

He sucks in a breath, eyes drilling into mine despite my sunglasses.

Oh crap.

“Miaaaa.”

No. Don’t parent trap me with that tone.

“Swayzeeee.” I drop my phone on the lounger beside me. What’s the damn point?