Having just settled into her aunt’s unit two weeks ago, she hadn’t yet met everyone in the cozy TCA—which sounded much cooler than Tuscan Cosmo Apartments. But this guy seemed anything but quiet or boring.

Time to introduce herself, apparently. “Hi. I’m Justine Ferrera. I think I’m above you in 3D. I’m subletting from my aunt.”

“You’re Rosie Gallo’s niece?” Instead of smiling, he looked her over with suspicion.

“You’re—” being a bit of a dick. No. I can’t say that. One, Aunt Rosie will be coming back to live here at some point. I can’t make enemies with her neighbors. And two, I could never say something so rude.

“I’m what?” He raised a brow in challenge.

“Being a bit of a dick,” Katie said with a wide smile, reading Justine’s mind.

2C’s expression darkened.

“You’re just as nice as my aunt said you were,” Justine blurted, lying to keep the peace. “I mean, we heard you trying to deescalate the situation. Sorry we intruded.” She yanked Katie with her and fled for the stairwell. “Bye.”

Once on the ground floor and headed to their ride share, she let Katie yammer on and on about getting a backbone and facing bullies. Several minutes into their ride, Katie had yet to shut up about it.

“Okay, already. And ironic,” Justine cut in, “since you’ve been bullying me since we got in the car!”

“You really have,” their driver agreed, grinning at them in the rearview. “But honey, it sounds like that guy upstairs was a jerk.”

Katie nodded. “Vindication. He totally was.” She turned back to Justine. “You need to stand up for yourself more.”

Justine groaned. “I’m trying. It’s not easy.” Not having been raised in her family with so many demands and expectations. No wonder she had issues. Her oldest sister acted like a tyrant, the second oldest like a doormat, and she fell somewhere in between, doing her best to avoid domineering parents.

“I know.” Katie punched her in the arm. “I’m sorry. I just hate when guys push people around. Especially when it seems like all the good-looking ones are assholes.”

“Preach,” the driver said.

Justine would have been more annoyed, but the girl power solidarity felt good. Then their driver mentioned a few hidden gems nearby, restaurants and shops Justine would have to check out later. She’d previously lived in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, so Fremont was a change for her. A good one, though, she kept telling herself, trying to believe it.

When they arrived at the club, Justine noticed a small group of guys waiting by the side, one of whom she recognized as Katie’s other best friend. She swallowed a groan. “You promised tonight would just be for us to hang out and commiserate over how much we hate our jobs.”

“And how much we hate our bosses—although mine just left and I love the new gal. But hey, we’re going to bitch and complain, sure. And maybe you hit it off with a few friends I invited. The male kind.” Katie exaggerated her wink.