I swallowed those nasty little nerves crawling up my throat like bile and walked up to the bar. I needed something in my hands. “Sparkling water, please. With lime,” I ordered once I could flag down a bartender. I tipped the hipster dude pouring drinks extra well to overcompensate for feeling embarrassed about my order. This was more of a beer and cholesterol type of place.

With my glass in hand, I made my way over to an empty table and looked around. It was surprisingly crowded for a Monday. The start of the semester brought on a flood of camaraderie and excitement. Students were greeting and hugging one another with broad smiles and loud squeals as if the summer break was more of a year-long sabbatical instead of two short months.

I felt a twinge of jealousy. There was no one here excited to see me. I didn’t get to hug my friends and pose for reunion selfies. Maybe if I were back in California, a few people would politely smile if I walked into a room, but here I was invisible. Most of the time, I liked that, but tonight it felt a little more lonesome.

I took a sip of my refreshing, fizzy drink and sighed in fake satisfaction as it slid down my throat. Fuck, I wanted some vodka. Something to dull the chatter in my teeth—something fulfilling, but the sparkling water would have to do. I was here for a reason.

It didn’t take me long to find Oakley Davis. In the corner of the large bar was a loud group of people cheering and slapping each other on the back. The guys were tall and muscular, obviously athletic. Some of them wore football shirts or other athletic wear, and the girls surrounding them were dressed up in tight little dresses, strappy high heels, and expertly applied makeup.

I recognized Oakley the moment I saw him. It wasn’t his signature dark hair or the way he towered over everyone else that made him stand out—though his classically handsome appearance helped—it was his very essence, his energy. He had this carefree power about him that was intoxicating to watch. The entire room seemed to shift to accommodate his presence. Girls craned their necks to stare at him, and guys nudged closer for the opportunity to rub elbows. When his drink was empty, another one replaced it immediately. When he said a joke, everyone laughed at it, like the world was at his fingertips.