Avery turned around, her breath hitching as her eyes landed on a face she hadn’t seen since high school. But this wasn’t the Ryan Hayes she remembered. Gone was the cocky teenager who used to tease her mercilessly in the halls of Crestwood Academy. Standing before her now was a man who seemed to have stepped out of a glossy magazine.
Ryan had grown into his sharp features, his jawline chiseled and covered with the faintest hint of stubble. His once-short hair was now longer, swept back in a way that made him look effortlessly cool. His skin was sun-kissed, his cheekbones prominent, and his deep-set hazel eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. He wore a tailored black leather jacket over a crisp white shirt, the first few buttons undone to reveal just a hint of a well-toned chest. Slim-fit dark jeans and polished boots completed his look, giving him a casual yet impossibly stylish edge.
He looked like someone who had walked straight out of a K-drama—handsome, confident, and completely unattainable.
“Ryan?” Avery breathed, her voice barely audible.
He smirked, the corner of his lips curving in that familiar way that instantly brought her back to their high school days. “Long time no see, Avery.”
Her mind raced, trying to make sense of his sudden appearance. The last she had heard, Ryan had moved to Korea for college, pursuing some prestigious international program. That was years ago. What was he doing here now?
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice trembling with confusion and a trace of anger.