Slouched on a barstool, beer in one hand, phone in the other, scowling at his screen like it just told him his trust fund got revoked.
Annoyingly, my first instinct upon seeing him isn’t irritation. My heart beats a little faster because, objectively, he’s attractive. Like, really freakin’ attractive.
Which is deeply unfair.
The whole effortlessly good-looking, genetically blessed thing? Overplayed. Overrated. And yet, he pulls it off like he was born knowing he’dneverhave an awkward phase. Tall, tan, broad-shouldered in a way that suggests he spends way too much time at the gym but never has to think about it. Ice-blue eyes, sharp jaw, and that signature grin that probably works on 99% of people.
I am the 1%.
Because he’s not my type.
I like people with substance, people who take things seriously. Troy is full of easy charm and cocky confidence, the kind of guy who floats through life collecting admiration.He’s got a million friends, a perfect GPA he barely has to try for, and a smile that probably gets him out of parking tickets.
Troy is a golden retriever in human form—warm, cute, universally adored.
I prefer wolves. Or panthers. Something with a little bite.
So, no. Not in this lifetime. Not even if hell froze over would I go for somebody like him.
He looks up, eyes locking onto mine.
I freeze. Because I recognize that exact expression.
“No,” I say immediately.
“No what?” he says, raising a brow.
“Whatever shitty thing it is that just happened to you,” I say, gesturing vaguely at his phone. “A shitter thing has happened to me too, and I am absolutely not bonding with you over it.”
Troy leans back against the bar, smirking now.
“Let me guess,” he says. “Networking isn’t going well?”
I scowl and take another sip of my drink.
“Why do you sound like you already know the answer?”
“Because I also just got rejected.”
I cough.
“Sorry, what?”
He tilts his phone toward me. I lean in just enough to confirm that, yep—Troy Hawkins just got rejected for the first time in his charmed existence.
The guy who literally never has to try?
I don’t know why that’s so funny.
But before I can stop myself—I laugh.
Right in his stupid, beautiful face.
“Yeah.” He sighs. “Three people. Already found partners. Unbelievable.”
“Oh my god.” I breathe, shaking my head. “You thought this was going to be easy, didn’t you?”
“I mean,” he says, unapologetic as ever, “I didn’t think it was going to be hard.”
