As I pulled up to their apartment building, I admired the view. Drake had spared no expense to make sure that Lexi was living in the best place possible. How he’d managed to find an empty unit in the one complex in town that had round-the-clock security present, I had no idea. After all the shit that had down over the summer, he wasn’t going to take any chances with her safety. It was a beautiful thing to see how protective he was of my best friend since I wanted the best for her. And Drake Bennett was definitely her perfect match, even though it meant I had missed my chance to make her my sister-in-law.

Lexi had given me the code for the door the first time I’d stopped by their place, so I was able to buzz myself in, and I waved to the security guard on duty this evening as I walked to the elevator. I pressed the up button and watched the numbers count down as it descended to the lobby. With my mind on my math tutor problem, I wasn’t really paying attention when I heard the ping. I automatically stepped towards the opening doors and walked straight into what felt like a brick wall.

“Oomph,” I grunted into a hard chest as warm hands grasped my arms to steady me. I took a deep breath and a woodsy scent that was somehow both spicy and a little bit sweet hit my nose. I didn’t think I’d ever met a guy who smelled this good before.

“You okay?” a deep voice murmured.

“Yes,” I whispered as I looked up into green eyes, my hands resting against his chest.

“Good. Wouldn’t want to start my night off by mowing down defenseless women, now would I?” he asked as I moved away.

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up at that since I’m the one who ran into him. “No, we certainly wouldn’t,” I said as I stepped into the elevator.

I watched his ass, lovingly hugged by his jeans, as he walked away with a couple of guys I hadn’t even noticed. And just like that, my libido jumped back to life. Holy fucking shit.

“Hey, bitch. What the hell are you doing standing in the hallway?” Lexi hollered from her open door.

I shook my head to clear it and gather my thoughts. “Nothing. I’m just on my way to see you, silly,” I said, hoping she would let the subject drop.

“What’s up with the goo-goo eyes then?” she asked.

“Goo-goo eyes? Really?” I snorted. “That’s the way you’re going to play this? Who even talks like that?”

“Your super amazing best friend for life does. Clearly,” Lexi answered sarcastically while rolling her eyes at me before grabbing my hand and pulling me into the apartment. “But seriously. What the fuck was up with that?”

“There was this guy I bumped into downstairs. Like literally bumped into,” I tried to explain.

Lexi jumped up and down and let out a shriek that made Drake come running.

“You okay, baby?”

“I’m better than okay. I’m awesome because my girl here is starting to check out guys again!” she crowed.

Drake dropped a kiss onto Lexi’s lips before turning away. “And on that note, I’ll leave you two to it ‘cause I really don’t need to hear about Aubrey’s thoughts on guys’ dicks, and I sure as shit don’t need to hear her talking about it with you,” he muttered as he wandered back into the kitchen.

“Soooooo?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows at me.

“So nothing. He was cute,” I said as I shrugged my shoulders.

“He was cute? So cute that, even after riding the elevator up and stepping out, you were just standing there thinking about his…cuteness?” she quipped back.

“Oh shut it. So I noticed a guy for the first time in months and months. It’s not that big of a deal,” I grumbled at her.

Lexi beamed a smile at me. “No, it’s a very big deal. It gives me hope that you’re getting your head screwed back on straight. I’ve been worried about you. You’ve always been so boy crazy, so it’s been weird to see you ignore guys for this long. It’s like it’s unnatural or something. Boys and Aubrey have always gone together like salt and pepper. Or peanut butter and jelly. Or maybe rum and Coke would be a better analogy.”

“Okay, okay. I get your point, but there really isn’t anything for you to worry about,” I assured her. “At least not anymore. I don’t know how to describe it, except to say it was like I went into a deep freeze or something. And now I’m starting to unthaw again.”

Lexi gave me a quick hug. “I’m sorry I haven’t been a very good friend to you when you needed me.”