A blank stare meets my declaration, the tall body I was ogling moments ago leaning back against the door. Suddenly it's less attractive to me.

Okay. That's a big, fat lie.

It's still the nicest body I've ever seen even if it's hidden underneath a form-fitting black suit that only makes the son of a bitch look hotter than he is. I want to bleach my brain for even having such a horrific thought.

"How flattering," He suddenly deadpans, voice so much deeper than I remember. It's also laced with the kind of commandment that makes people stop and listen. "I've been told people can't resist the devil."

My eyes narrow. And I thought he had a big ego when we were kids.

"Is his name really Satan?" Mover Guy asks in my ear. He's been watching our encounter with wide eyes.

"It should be," I mutter. "There's hardly a difference between the two."

Another passive blink greets me. But this time those dark eyes drop to my body and scroll downward almost lazily. There's no interest behind the action but then I didn't expect there to be. Very little impresses the little asshole and I've never accomplished to in all the years I've known him. I stay rooted to the spot and ready to swing one on the face that unfairly got hotter when his eyes finally clash with mine again, unblinkingly.

I resist the urge to hiss like a snake. I doubt it would scare him. He probably sacrifices grandmothers and baby kittens to cults in his spare time.

"Sierra Lancaster," He finally acknowledges. So he does recognize me.

"Holden Rey," I say in an equally bored voice. What I really want to do is take my heel off and stab his perfect little eyeballs with it. Holden raises a brow like he knows what I'm thinking.

"You've changed." He states the obvious. "Aside from your tendency to follow me around like a pain in the ass. Still haven't given up on that?"

I kiss my teeth noisily, undeterred by his comment. "You're still a little peach, aren't you? Aside from your tendency to be a constipated douchebag. Still haven't given up on that, huh?"

"Obviously not."

"Obviously. Thought blowing out your shoulder and losing your chances with the NFL would have shot your inferiority complex."

His jaw ticks at my comment, the only tell that it took him by surprise.

"Oh, snap." Mover Guy mumbles.

Holden raises a brow, voice and expression flat once again. "I'm impressed. That one almost stung."

"You mean your charred little black heart can actually feel something?"

"I'm offended that you think I have one."

"Don't lie now, Satan. Let's not pretend you have emotions."

He glances away but not before I notice a glint in his eyes, like this is nothing but an amusing game to him. I guess he still gets a kick out of riling me up and making me lose my cool. Holden Rey has always been up my ass for as long as I remember. He'd give my shit a run for its money.

"You didn't answer my question." He absentmindedly tugs at his cuff links even though they're perfectly in place. "You know an awful lot about me considering we haven't seen each other in twelve years."

I roll my eyes. "Calm your dick, stud. Your super duper career proceeds you whether I wanted to hear about you or not."

He straightens out his tie next, shaking his head slowly with his eyes locked on mine. "You really have changed. You said dick without so much as blushing."

My scowl is immediate. I hate being reminded of my shy days, where I lacked confidence and grace on all accounts. "That's because I went and got one of my own. Want to see it, big boy?"

"What?" Mover Guy chokes on his saliva.

Holden's gaze swings to him like he's noticing him for the first time. An uninterested frown tugs at his delicious lips. I have no idea why I just referred to them as delicious. Insert invisible gun being held to my temple on the grounds that I have gone insane, your honour.

"And you are?" He looks even less impressed with Mover Guy than he did with me.

"My boyfriend." I don't miss a beat, wrapping my arm around Mover Guy's waist and leaning my head on his shoulder. On the outside I'm grinning but on the inside my brain is Kung-fuing common sense off its radar. I really have gone insane.

"What is happening?" Mover Guy whispers miserably.

I don't know what I expected to achieve with that comment. Maybe a big fuck you to Holden, that the fat girl he walked away from made it in life after all. Truthfully, I did. I got control over my weight and feel the healthiest and happiest I've ever been. I'm going to pursue my lifelong dream and am now an owner of a dazzling apartment I never thought I'd be living in. I've already made it but the insecure girl in me wants to prove I'm also desired, that men are attracted me because I look good. I know I look good. It took almost three decades of life to get to this level of confidence but one encounter with Holden Rey pegged my progress down a few notches and now I'm scrambling, trying to prove something I don't need to prove. What did I say? Sa-tan!

"Adorable." The disinterest in Holden's voice says it's anything but. Honestly, he doesn't seem to care at all. Not just about my supposed boyfriend but anything about me.

Oddly enough I used to wonder what would happen if I ever bumped into him again. Would his jaw drop at the sight of me? Would he fall to his knees and declare his sudden undying love and apologize for ever thinking I wasn't desirable? Okay, that one is a little much but you get my drift. Alas, none of those things have happened. This has been the most mediocre reunion of my life and I hate every second of it. I'm nowhere near his radar now just like I wasn't back then. I know it shouldn't matter what he thinks but a small part of me had always hoped I'd spin him on his ass one day. Unfortunately, said ass is firmly in place. Emphasis on the firm. Like, way emphasis.

"What about you?" I probe, feeling the need to dig my grave a little deeper. At this point it isn't beneath me to just jump into in and call it a night. "Have you managed to become even sluttier than you were in high school?"

"Sure," He deadpans. "Every so often I flip my skirt up for my boss at work. He likes to spank me over his knee too."

I choke down my laughter. Damn it. Since when does Satan have an actual personality? It's amazing that I manage to keep a straight face.

"Funny. I've found myself in that exact position a couple of times."

A bogus lie but he doesn't need to know that. It doesn't get so much as a blink from him. My ego would be wounded if not for my fake boyfriend who seems to be rocking a semi. Although by the look on his face he has no idea what to think or feel right now. I think I broke him.

Holden straightens his cuff links for about a third time. "Right. This has been...fun, but I have a busy day tomorrow."

"Me too." I inspect my nails in a show of indifference. "Got to finish unpacking and whatnot."

"So you're the one who's going to be living here."

"That's right."

"Hmm. Guess that makes us neighbours. Again." He adds as almost an afterthought before a little grin curves his mouth. It looks all kinds of evil. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were stalking me."

My God, does he eat suck-my-dick supplements every morning? How much can one person love himself?

"You should really get your head checked. It's looking kind of big these days."

"As plenty of women often tell me."

My eyes drop to his crotch without meaning to. Even through his dress pants there's an impressive bulge. Ugh. Why can't he just be as unattractive on the outside as he is on the inside? Shitty people who looked like models are the biggest scam on earth. They're living proof that life isn't fair.

"It is impressive," My fake boyfriend whispers and I toss a glare. I'm so breaking up with him after this.

"Goodnight," Holden calls formally and for a moment I'm reminded he's so grown up now. I mean we both are but I don't know why it's just now hitting me. Maybe because our childish conversation has finally reached an end and now it's back to reality, where Holden and I are in our freaking thirties and have nothing to do with each other anymore.

"Goodnight," I return to his retreating back and attempting to act like the adult I am. By the way, adulting sucks major balls. Would not recommend.

The door shuts behind him and I release Mover Guy's arm with a wince. I can't believe I just dragged him in to that. I've officially reached the lowest of lows and unsurprisingly, Holden Rey is the cause.

"Did you really let your boss spank you?" He breaks the awkward silence with his clearly eager words.

"Dude," I shake my head. "Read the room."

"Does that mean we won't be going on a date?"

I feel for the guy. I did just make him play along as my fake boyfriend. I sigh and pat his bicep. Again, surprisingly firm and nice.

"Sure. One date."

"Sweet," He grins and finally trots off.

I cast a miserable glance to the door across from mine, my mood souring now that I know who's behind it. I can't believe I'm fucking neighbours with my childhood nemesis. This is anything but sweet.

________________________

A/N

How are we liking this so far?

I love how snarky their banter is in a poke-fun kind of way. You'll definitely see a lot of them going at each other's throat (hopefully in more creative ways in the future hehe).

I really hope this book will be the kind of escape-from-reality, fun and hilarious content you need during such a difficult time! I'm excited to give you more.

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Happy Reading :)