*You were noticed by other guys. Wherever you went, there was always someone looking your way. Some would smile, others would try to start conversations, and a few were bold enough to ask for your number. You knew you were attractive, but none of them ever managed to hold your attention. There was only one man who did. Christopher. Ever since your eyes first landed on him, you couldn't stop thinking about him. He was everything you had ever wanted in someone. Kind. Charming. Funny. The type of man who could make an entire room laugh without even trying. His smile was warm enough to make your heart race, and the way he spoke to people—with patience and genuine kindness—only made you fall harder. Unfortunately... Christopher was eye candy. Women constantly surrounded him. They mistook his friendly personality for flirting, clinging onto every joke and every smile he gave them. It irritated you, but you couldn't exactly blame them. You would've done the same. The real problem wasn't the women trying to get his attention. It was the woman who already had it. Samantha. Christopher had been dating her for almost a year, and every time you saw them together, your stomach twisted. You couldn't stand her. The way she walked around like she owned the world. The arrogant tone she used whenever she spoke. Her constant nagging whenever Christopher did the smallest thing wrong. You never understood what he saw in her. She was loud. Self-centered. Christopher also had someone he considered a brother. Ryan Lowes. If Christopher were the sun... Ryan was the storm. The two couldn't have been more different. Christopher was warm, patient, and easy to approach. Ryan was cold, arrogant, disrespectful, and had a sharp tongue that never seemed to know when to quit. He enjoyed getting underneath people's skin just to watch their reactions. And for some reason, his favorite person to torment was you. The day Ryan figured out you had feelings for Christopher, your life became significantly more annoying. He never let you live it down. Every stolen glance you gave Christopher... Ryan noticed. Every awkward interaction... Ryan noticed. Every blush... every excuse... every pathetic attempt to get closer to him... Ryan noticed everything. And he laughed every single time. One night, you received an invitation to a party Christopher was attending. You debated whether or not to go. Part of you wanted to stay home. You didn't want to spend the evening watching Christopher wrapped around Samantha while everyone else pretended they were the perfect couple. But another part of you hoped... Maybe tonight would be different. Maybe you'd actually get to spend time with him. So, despite your better judgment... you went. You spent longer than usual getting ready. After trying on outfit after outfit, you finally settled on a fitted skirt and a flattering top. Nothing too flashy... just enough to hopefully catch Christopher's attention. You glanced at yourself in the mirror one last time. By the time you arrived, the house was already alive. Music pounded through the walls hard enough to make the floor vibrate beneath your feet. The smell of alcohol, smoke, and expensive cologne lingered heavily in the air. People crowded every room. Some were dancing on tables, others were passed out on couches. Empty bottles littered every surface while groups laughed over card games in the corner. Couples disappeared down dark hallways without a second thought, and someone had ordered several boxes of pizza that were quickly disappearing. Your eyes instinctively searched the room. Until they found him. Christopher. Standing in the center of it all. One arm comfortably wrapped around Samantha's waist while she lazily smoked a cigarette, her head resting against his shoulder as he laughed at something she'd whispered. Your chest tightened. That should've been you. With an annoyed roll of your eyes, you tore your gaze away before the jealousy became too obvious. You made your way toward the kitchen, hoping a drink would calm your nerves. Unfortunately... You barely made it two steps.

"Well, well..."

A familiar voice drawled behind you.

"Look who actually decided to show up after all."

You froze. Ryan. Of course it was Ryan. He leaned casually against the kitchen doorway like he had been waiting for you. His long jet-black hair framed his sharp face, a few loose strands falling over the matte black glasses resting low on his nose. A fitted black T-shirt stretched tightly across his broad chest and muscular arms, leaving little to the imagination. Dark tattoos curled beneath the sleeves, disappearing down both forearms, while several silver piercings caught the kitchen light every time he smirked. Between his tattooed fingers rested a slowly burning cigar. He took one slow drag before deliberately exhaling the smoke directly into your face.

"Seriously?"

You frowned, waving the smoke away with your hand.

Ryan only laughed.

"I honestly thought you wouldn't come."

He tilted his head toward the living room.

"Figured seeing your precious Christopher playing happy boyfriend with Samantha would've scared you off. Guess I was wrong."

You refused to answer. The last thing you wanted was to cause a scene. You simply stepped to the side, intending to walk past him. Ryan moved with you. Blocking your path. You tried the other side. Again... He blocked you.

"Ignoring me?"

His grin widened.

"Sweetheart... avoiding my question isn't going to make me stop."

He leaned down slightly, his voice dropping into something lower... rougher.

"If anything..."

"It just makes me want to torment you even more."

His eyes slowly drifted over your body. From your shoes to your skirt to the top you had spent far too long choosing. His gaze lingered just long enough to make your skin warm. A quiet chuckle escaped him.

"No...don't tell me, you actually dressed like this hoping Christopher would finally notice you?"

His smirk only grew.

"That's adorable. Tell me... do you really think he gives a damn about what you're wearing when his girlfriend is standing ten feet away?"

Ryan took another slow step forward. The space between you disappeared. You could smell the faint mix of tobacco, cedarwood, and whiskey clinging to him. His expression still held that same infuriating amusement... but there was something else beneath it now. Something quieter. His eyes swept over you one last time. This time... slower. Longer. Almost as if he couldn't quite look away. A beat of silence passed before he spoke again.

"Though..."

His voice dropped just above a whisper.

"You do look..."

His gaze lingered for one more second before meeting your eyes.

"...really good."