As the youngest of four siblings, I spent the better part of my early years at the bottom of a pileup. Add high school and college rugby to the mix, and I’d been jumped, crushed, kicked, and hit every way there is. Pileups pretty much always suck.

Unless you’re being jumped by a girl who shares zero of your genetic code. One who’s soft in all the right places and clinging to you like she’s never letting go.

“You going to invite me in or do you want to do this in the hallway?” I murmured in Lex’s ear as I wrapped her in my arms. I breathed her in, burying my nose in her hair. Nothing smelled that good in California. Fucking nothing.

My girlfriend pulled back, silver eyes sparkling. Her smooth skin had the faintest dusting of freckles you could only see in the right light. “I suppose you can come in.”

Fuck, she was cute. It literally took my breath away, like the time my brother Ethan had sat on me until I’d admitted I’d taken his G.I. Joe apart and dropped the pieces into Mom’s cake batter.

Refusing to let go of her hand, I kicked my duffel bag across the threshold as I stepped into the apartment after her.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but what are you doing here? I’m supposed to fly to you next.”

“Guess I couldn’t wait a month.”

The schedule was our best attempt at managing the reality of living on opposite sides of the country, at least until I finished college the following year.

I tugged on Lex’s hand to bring her face-to-face with me. Every time I went home, or she did, it was like I forgot a bit. Like I decided she couldn’t possibly be so vibrant just by existing. Now, Lex’s knowing smile and addictive smell were doing strange things to my head.

At least one other girl was in that apartment. Possibly two. If any of the blood in my body had been going in the direction of my brain, I probably could’ve named them.

Instead, I stepped into Lex, my fingers threading in her hair as I kissed her. I couldn’t have cared less about the audience when her hands landed on my chest, fingers tightening in my shirt. Or when her hips pressed against mine, like she knew she should resist but all she wanted to do was grind into me.

My arm banded around her waist to haul her against me and I felt myself groan at the feel of her body. Every part of me burned to be closer to her, to feel her skin with nothing between us.

I crushed her mouth with mine, her soft lips opening for my greedy tongue so I could taste her, explore her. Normally I’d have a little more finesse. But finesse could fucking wait, and I couldn’t.

The throat clearing finally got loud enough to break into my brain. Harnessing some massive self-control, I pulled back to find Lex’s pink lips bruised from my mouth. I felt a twinge of regret at what I’d done.

One that was completely erased by all the things I still wanted to do.

“Can you not make babies in my living room?”

“We’re exceptional human beings. It’d be a crime not to.” I turned just far enough to catch sight of my big sister lounging in a chair. Lex’s roommate, Jordan, looked on from the couch with an inscrutable expression. “Besides, don’t you live…somewhere in this building that’s not here?”

“Technically.” “Big sister” was the wrong term for Ava, who was the size of a peanut with the personality of a habanero. She waved a dismissive hand, and the light blinked off the half-dozen bracelets on her arm.

“Good. Because if you told me you’d ditched Nate, I would’ve had to beat some sense into you. And since I’m only here for three days, I don’t have time.”

Jordan rose from the couch, brushing herself off and crossing to the door.

“Where are you going?” Lex asked.

“To buy a pregnancy test. Watching that might’ve made me conceive.”

Ava snorted.

“But—we’re not done with the bags…” Lex trailed off.

“There’s also the tiny matter of opening the store we run. Which, last I checked, required one of us to do.” Jordan stepped into a pair of shoes without help from her hands, clapping me on the shoulder on her way out the door. “See you, Dylan.”

“How did I not know about this visit?” Ava demanded as the door closed behind Jordan. “Are you running from the law?”

“Nope. You’re still the only Cameron who’s served jail time, Rocky.” Ava glared as I took a seat on the couch where Jordan had been, Lex settling in beside me. “Actually, most of the engineering firms are hiring now for next year. There was a last-minute sale on the red-eye, and I wanted to take a few days before school started to talk to some. And—” I glanced at Lex “—I thought it’d be more fun to surprise you.”

It was the truth. At least, part of it was.

“So do you have interviews set up?” Lex asked.

“Yeah. Nate’s been helping me make connections. Speaking of Nate, I’m supposed to meet him soon.” I checked my watch.

“Seriously? That’s so sweet that he’s helping you,” Ava cooed.

“Aren’t you exhausted?” Lex asked.

“Nah. Just stopped in to see you. Thought I might grab a shower too.” I cut a look toward the bathroom, a very attractive visual taking shape in my mind. “You want to join me?”

“Hey!” Ava interjected. “If I have to forgo sex to make party favors for Fashion Week, so do you.”

“Lex, do you hear something? I think your apartment’s being haunted by the ghosts of roommates past.”

Ava threw a pen that whizzed past my ear.

Lex groaned. “Ava’s right. We should finish this now. When will you be back tonight?”

“Six.”

Lex pressed a lingering kiss to my mouth. “Can you make it five?”