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James eyes Conner skeptically before clinking his beer bottle with Conner’s. “Mark this day on your calendar; Conner and I actually agree on something.”

Conner blows James a kiss and winks at him, making James roll his eyes. I’ll never understand how that goofball made it through medical school.

I ponder their words for a minute. I am already serious about my feelings for Sophie, but I'm positive that, if she even has feelings for me at all, they’re not nearly as progressed as mine are for her. It’s crazy that I’ve gone my entire life without having strong romantic feelings for anyone, and then after one month of Sophie living in my basement, I’d do just about anything to make her mine. Screw Bradley Vanderven.

“Thanks for talking this out with me. I feel like this has been consuming my brain for weeks now.” I grab a chip from the nacho platter and pop it in my mouth.

As I’m reaching for another chip, the hair on the nape of my neck stands on end and I feel a tingle of awareness throughout my body.

Conner and James’s eyes go wide and Conner angles his beer bottle to point at something behind me. I turn in my chair and see Sophie walking towards me, her face lit up with a friendly smile. My eyes take her in from the tip of her toes to the top of her head. She’s wearing wedge sandals with a little denim skirt, and a white top that flows gracefully as she walks. Her hair is up in a ballerina bun, with just a few wisps of hair pulled down around her face.

She looks like an angel. A really hot angel.

“Hey Drew,” she grins as she stops at our table. I quickly glance at the boys who are slack-jawed by her presence. “I’m here with some teacher friends. We’re celebrating surviving the first week of school.” She laughs before smiling politely at Conner and James.

I chuckle nervously. “Congrats on surviving the first week, Soph. These are my friends from work, James and Conner.”

They each raise a beer bottle as they say hello with smirks on their faces.

“Well, I saw you over here and just wanted to say hi. I’ll let you guys get back to your nachos.”

“Thanks for coming over, enjoy your evening.” I smile and feel my cheeks heat as the guys stare at us.

Sophie gives a little wave to us before making her way back to her group. I didn’t realize I was watching her until James clears his throat.

“That’s Dr. Windell’s daughter?” James asks with his eyes wide.

“No wonder you’re obsessed with her. I think I need a babysitter.” Conner raises his eyebrows suggestively.

I playfully punch him in the shoulder. “Shut up, you don’t even have a kid.”