Chapter 1

My boyfriend, Alex Reed, was always busy spending time with his childhood friend, Emily Collins.

Whenever I wanted to hang out with him, he'd just have Ryan Brooks keep me company instead.

It wasn't until he stood me up again that we finally had a blowout over the phone.

"Emily only knows me, so how could I just leave her alone? Didn't I ask Ryan to hang out with you? What more do you want?" he snapped.

After so many fights, I just didn't have the energy to argue anymore.

"Alright. Last time you said there was a hotel where I could stay for free just by dropping your name. Which hotel was it?" I asked.

Alex got puzzled. "What do you need that for?"

I smiled. "Since Ryan does everything for you, why not have him get a room with me too?"

*****

For our one-year anniversary, I'd booked a romantic dinner spot well in advance.

But as soon as I got there, my phone buzzed. It was Alex.

He sounded genuinely sorry.

"Sophie, Emily just took a spill down the stairs. I need to get her to the hospital. Go ahead and eat without me. If you don't want to be alone, I'll have Ryan keep you company," he said.

Here we go again. Ever since Emily transferred to our school three months ago, Alex had been ditching me for her.

On my birthday, Emily came down with a fever.

When I was sick, Emily got into a car accident.

Every single time, Alex would just send his best buddy Ryan to hang out with me instead.

We'd fought about this so many times, I'd lost count.

Every time, I'd snap at him, "Who's more important to you. Me or Emily?"

He'd always say, "Emily just moved here. She only knows me in Valehurst, and her parents asked me to look after her. How am I supposed to just leave her hanging when she needs help?

"Didn't I ask Ryan to hang out with you? What more do you want from me?"

After so many fights, I just didn't have the energy to argue anymore.

"Alright, I'm not going to argue. Last time you said there was a hotel where I could stay for free just by dropping your name. Which hotel was it?"

Alex got puzzled. "What do you need that for? You want me to get a room with you? I'm swamped. I can't do it right now."

I smiled. "Since Ryan does everything for you, why not have him get a room with me too."

Alex's composure shattered in an instant. "No way!

"Sophie Lane! Are you out of your mind? That's not something I can let someone else do for me. Where are you? I'm coming over right now."

I found him ridiculous. He never had time for a date, but suddenly he was free when it was about getting a room together.

I snapped, "Where I am is none of your business. Go hang out with your little drama queen,

"Every time I try to see you, you just send Ryan over. So why shouldn't I just be with him instead?

"Ryan's got a V-taper body. He's rich, good-looking, and actually thoughtful. Way better than you.

"Tonight, I'm getting closer to him. After this, you won't have to worry about me ever again.

Alex let out a sudden laugh. "Sophie, you're just messing with me, right? You love me way too much to actually go through with something like that. Nice try, but I'm not buying it."

There was a pounding in my head. "Are you living proof of how absurd a human being can be? Brains are pretty useful, you know. I've got one, Ryan's got one, and hopefully you'll get one someday!"

With that, I hung up on him.

I turned my head in a huff, only to meet Ryan's bright, sparkling eyes head-on.

Great. I just got caught running my mouth by the very guy I was bragging about. I wished I could just find a crack in the ground and disappear into it.

I let out an awkward chuckle. "Did you catch everything I just said?"

Ryan was dressed in a crisp athletic outfit, carrying a fresh lime scent that made him seem even more youthful and charming. He casually steered the conversation away.

"Only a bit," Ryan replied.

I wished the ground would just swallow me up. "Don't take it seriously. I was just angry and said a bunch of nonsense.

"Alex asked you to come, right? Sorry for always bothering you. Honestly, I don't need anyone to hang out with me. If you've got stuff to do, feel free to leave."

Honestly, Ryan and I weren't really close at all.

He was Alex's buddy, and every time he hung out with me, it was just for Alex's sake.

I couldn't just start clinging to him like we were actually friends.

What really caught me off guard was Ryan denying it.

"He didn't send me. I was just here grabbing a bite, saw you, and figured I'd come over," he said.

"Wow. Small world." I just didn't know what to say.

I didn't talk much. I was pretty socially anxious.

Ryan slid into the seat across from me like it was the most natural thing ever.

"I remember today's your anniversary. He really shouldn't have ditched you like that. Seriously, that's such a jerk move. He overstepped the boundaries between him and Emily. If it were me, I'd never treat you that way," Ryan said.

I glanced up at him, genuinely surprised. "You really mean that?"

Ryan gave a firm nod. "Absolutely. You should dump him. Guys like that aren't worth your time."

Suddenly, it felt like I'd just met a kindred spirit.

Ryan was sitting there, as if he was radiating pure calm and warmth.