My name is Mia, twenty-two, and my life was nothing but rush—college classes in the morning, waitressing in the evenings, and crashing on the couch with textbooks at night. I shared an apartment with my best friend Lena. Her older brother Ryan had been crashing on our couch for a few days while his place got painted. I tried not to notice him. But it was impossible.
Ryan was twenty-nine, tall, cocky, and built like he spent every free hour in the gym. Broad shoulders, thick arms, and a smirk that made my stomach flip. He walked around the apartment in low-hanging sweatpants and no shirt like he owned the place.
One Thursday evening Lena went out with her boyfriend. I was in the kitchen making coffee in my tiny sleep shorts and loose tank top when Ryan walked in. He leaned against the cou
