Chapter 3The Girl with the Sweetest Smile

Raymond ended up renting the apartment directly above my brother’s.

It was only two miles from the university campus and two miles from my parents' house.

Despite the proximity, in all my time at school and around home, I had never once run into him. Zero times.

The new semester started with a chaotic whirlwind of activities that left my head spinning.

Among them was the soul-crushing news that I had not only flunked Calculus last semester but had just flunked the makeup exam as well.

I wasn’t sure whether to question my own intelligence or blame my terrible luck.

Seeing me sobbing like my life was over, my roommate, Chloe, had to physically restrain herself from laughing.

To lift my spirits and pull me out of my academic death spiral, Chloe dragged me to a party her friends were throwing. It was a mix of students from all the universities in the area, a big crowd of people our age, and everyone was having a blast.

Everyone except me.

After losing three out of four rounds of party games and being forced to take shots, I was nearing my alcohol limit. I wisely waved the white flag and opted for a dare on the next round.

One of the senior girls pointed a lazy finger toward a dark figure sitting at a corner table. “See that guy over there? The hot one. Go ask him if he wants to make out.”

The dare was insane.

And the atmosphere instantly exploded with excitement.

I followed her finger, peering through the dim, shifting lights and hazy smoke. From this distance, surrounded by a sea of people, I couldn’t make out his face.

But I could tell from his broad shoulders and the elegant, long-fingered hand wrapped around a glass that he had an… undeniable presence.

Dozens of expectant eyes were on me.

My stomach churned with a mix of dread and desperation. I didn’t want to be a buzzkill.

It’s not like we were actually going to kiss.

Steeling myself, I stood up.

To hide my terror and not ruin the mood, I threw my shoulders back and marched over, my stride so determined that I could see the reflection of a soldier heading into battle on the glass cabinets.

I reached his side, shut my eyes, and blurted it all out in one breath.

“Hey, you’re really cute. Wanna make out?”

Before he could even answer, I spoke again, my words tumbling out at twice the normal speed. “No? Okay, never mind then.”

I spun around to leave.

But just then, someone completely wasted stumbled past, bumping hard into my back. I lost my balance.

My entire body pitched forward, and I landed, with impeccable, mortifying accuracy, right in the man’s lap.

In a panic, I looked up and met a pair of eyes that were both achingly familiar and impossibly handsome.

My lipstick brushed against the side of his face, leaving a faint, shimmering red mark.

The dim lights swirled around us, casting his gaze in shadow as he looked down at me. We were so close I could feel the warmth of his breath mingling with mine.

My heart went into overdrive.

It wasn't until a large, warm hand settled on the small of my back to steady me that reality crashed back in.

My heart plummeted into a black hole of despair. My face felt like stone. I was ready to say goodbye to this beautiful world.

I screwed up. I screwed up big time.

I just hit on my brother’s best friend.