The day after Halloween, Aiden had far too much fun teasing Cameron about his not-so-subtle crush on his neighbor. In the cafeteria, after settling in, Cameron immediately began questioning Aiden about the girl, attempting—and failing—to appear nonchalant.

"Well, what do you already know? I don't want to repeat myself," Aiden teased.

Cameron sighed. "All I know is she dances, loves Halloween, is from Ohio, and got a parking ticket this year."

"That's not much."

"I know, that's why I'm asking you," Cameron said impatiently. "So?"

Aiden leaned back, stretching leisurely. "What's in it for me?"

His friend scowled. "Don't be like Aaron; it doesn't suit you."

"I'm waiting," Aiden said in a singsong voice.

"I'll tell you what I heard from Keeley last night at the Halloween party—information that only deepens the mystery of our boss's love life. Happy?"

Aiden rubbed his hands together eagerly. "I can't wait! But yeah, Jennica's pretty straightforward. She's a small-time actress who recently landed a decent understudy role Off-Broadway."

He continued, describing her: sarcastic but soft-hearted, fiercely loyal to her friends, a lover of animals (she'd had many pets growing up and doted on Keeley's cat), and a sushi enthusiast.

Aiden admitted he didn't know much about her, seeing her less than his other across-the-hall neighbors. When not performing, she mostly stayed in her apartment. He saw Keeley and Valentina much more often.

He relayed this to Cameron, who was only slightly appeased. "You've lived across from her for two years, and that's all you know?"

"I told you, I don't see her much. She's cool, though," Aiden shrugged. "So…what happened with Keeley?"

Cameron set down his sandwich. "First, you were right. She's average—cute, friendly, and a little funny, but nothing to obsess over. Second…do you know her friend Ryan?"

The name sounded vaguely familiar. Aiden twirled his spaghetti. "What does he look like?"

"Brown hair, hazel-green eyes, chipped front tooth."

Aiden nearly jumped. "That's him! The guy I told you about, the one who went drinking with her after she stayed at Aaron's place!"

"They seem close. They danced together at the Halloween party, and he mentioned knowing about her ex-boyfriend, so she trusts him. He knows her roommates, too."

Hmm. Aiden knew Ryan was friendly with her roommates, but the rest was news. Was Aaron aware of him?

"Don't tell me that's all."

"It's not," Cameron continued. "She also said 'I never want to get married' during Two Truths and a Lie. She said it's partly because of her ex and partly because of her career."

That made sense, considering what she'd told him in the elevator the night she got drunk.

"Not surprising. She told me not to fall in love—that it's not worth it—the night Ryan took her home from the bar. The real question is—"

"Who the ex is," his friend finished. "I know. Aaron's fighting a lost cause. She still seems hung up on that guy."

Aiden furrowed his brow. This didn't make sense. He'd watched her closely in college. As far as he knew, she'd never dated. She mostly hung out with Valentina or in large groups.

There was no way she had a boyfriend then, and it seemed even less likely now. He'd never seen any guys around her apartment, except Ryan, and even that was infrequent.

Aaron had fallen for her in high school…the ex must have been from before then, or Aiden would know.

A strange thought hit him. "Do you think…it might be Aaron?"

"Impossible," Cameron scoffed. "You said she hated him on sight, and he's been chasing her ever since. When would they have dated?"

He had a point. But what if that wasn't their first meeting? What if Keeley hated him because she remembered him from earlier? It would explain Aaron's persistence.

"Hear me out—what if they dated before high school, and we just didn't know about it? Wouldn't that explain a lot?"

Cameron considered this. "I guess…but it seems farfetched…"

"Wouldn't Aaron's confidence make more sense if she'd liked him before?" Aiden asked eagerly. He was becoming convinced they'd met before high school. "Keeley's reasonable. She wouldn't hate someone she just met for no reason!"

"You're overthinking this," Cameron said, taking a bite of his lunch. "He's Aaron. Not exactly the warmest person. He probably annoyed her somehow."

Aiden didn't believe it. As far as he knew, Keeley disliked only Aaron. She didn't hold grudges.

"Cam, listen! First impressions change. With all his effort, wouldn't she have given in by now if she didn't have a reason to hate him?"

"What would you consider a 'reason'?" Cameron asked boredly.

If they'd been together before…what reason would she have to hate Aaron? Aiden had never seen his boss look at another woman; his loyalty was almost fanatical.

"I…don't know. Unless he dumped her? Girls get pretty mad about that."

Cameron thought he was crazy. "Why would Aaron Hale, the coldest person we know, dump a woman and then want her back years later?"

That was a flaw. Aiden frowned. There had to be more to it.

Ever since learning about Aaron's love interest, Aiden had been dying to know how such a normal person caught his attention. His curiosity had only grown, especially after they reunited and Keeley clearly disliked Aaron.

"You have a point. But I'll get to the bottom of it," Aiden declared, returning to his spaghetti.

Cameron simply shook his head.

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