Chapter 2

Seeing those green eyes staring back at me from my newborn son's face sent my mind spinning back to the last time I'd looked into Rio's eyes. The last time I'd been stupid enough to think we had a future together.

Ten months ago, UCLA's graduation was supposed to be the beginning of everything. Instead, it turned into the end.

I'd been stress-eating pizza in my tiny apartment when my phone rang that Friday night. It was my roommate Jessica, practically screaming over the music at some off-campus party.

"Zeph! Get your butt over here! It's our last weekend as college students!"

I'd wanted to stay home. I'd just gotten another rejection email from Cedars-Sinai, my dream job slipping further away with each "we've decided to go with another candidate." My nursing degree was supposed to open doors, not slam them in my face.

But Jessica wouldn't take no for an answer.

The party was packed with soon-to-be graduates, everyone pretending they weren't terrified about their futures. I grabbed a beer and found a corner where I could people-watch without having to make small talk about post-graduation plans I didn't have.

That's when I saw Rio.

He was surrounded by his med school friends, and even from across the room, I could see the excitement radiating off him. Someone must have shared good news because they were all patting him on the back, raising their drinks in celebration.

I'd had a crush on Rio Stormridge since sophomore year. Who didn't? He was gorgeous, smart, and came from the kind of family that had buildings named after them. Way out of my league.

But he caught me staring and smiled. Actually smiled and started walking over.

"Zeph, right? We had that anatomy class together."

I nearly choked on my beer. He remembered me.

"Yeah, that's me." Smooth, Zeph. Real smooth.

"You look like you need another drink," he said, noticing my empty bottle. "And I need to celebrate. Win-win?"

Turns out, Rio had just gotten accepted into the anesthesiology residency program at Los Angeles General. His dream job, handed to him like everything else probably was in his charmed life.

"That's amazing," I said, and meant it. "You must be so excited."

"Terrified," he admitted, which surprised me. "What about you? Where are you headed after graduation?"

I took a long sip of my new beer. "Still figuring that out."

Instead of the pity or dismissal I expected, Rio's eyes softened. "Job hunting sucks. I applied to eight programs and got rejected from seven."

"But you got the one you wanted."

"Yeah, but those rejections still hurt like hell." He moved closer, and I caught a whiff of his cologne. Something expensive that probably cost more than my monthly grocery budget. "Want to get some air? It's loud in here."

We ended up on the apartment building's roof, looking out over campus. The conversation flowed easier than it ever had in class. Rio wasn't the untouchable golden boy I'd imagined. He was nervous about starting his residency, worried about living up to his family's expectations, unsure if he was smart enough to save lives.

"You'll be an amazing doctor," I told him, and I meant it.

"You'll be an amazing nurse," he said back. "Some hospital is going to be lucky to have you."

The way he looked at me when he said it made my stomach flutter.

We talked until the party wound down, until people started stumbling home or crashing on couches. Rio walked me back to my apartment, and when we reached my door, neither of us seemed ready to say goodbye.

"Do you want to come up?" The words came out before I could stop them. "I mean, just to keep talking. I have coffee."

Rio's smile was soft and a little uncertain. "I'd like that."

We never made coffee.

The moment my apartment door closed behind us, something shifted. The tension that had been building all night finally snapped. When Rio kissed me, it was gentle at first, almost hesitant, like he was giving me a chance to pull away.

I didn't want to pull away. I wanted to forget about job rejections and uncertain futures and the fact that Rio Stormridge was supposed to be out of my league.

We moved to my bedroom, and it wasn't the wild, desperate sex you see in movies. It was sweet and careful and perfect. Rio whispered my name like it was precious, touched me like I was something valuable that might break.

Afterward, we lay tangled in my sheets, talking until the sun started to creep through my blinds. He traced lazy patterns on my shoulder while I told him about growing up in my dad's clinic, how I'd always known I wanted to help people heal.

"We're going to see each other again, right?" he asked as dawn painted my room gold. "This isn't just a graduation fling?"

"I hope not," I whispered, and fell asleep feeling happier than I had in months.

I woke up alone.

There was a note on my pillow in Rio's careful handwriting: "Had to run to a family thing. Call you later? - R"

I was still smiling when someone knocked on my door.