Anxious Love (Love Sick #1) by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

my mind.

    I didn't see much of Ryan in the following days. His off-season workouts had started, and they wore him out.
    I counted down until they were over. After five days, I needed to see him.
    On the final day, we were supposed to have dinner, but he called and canceled. He said he was beat. I tried to hide the disappointment in my voice.
    If he was too tired to come to me, I figured I'd go to him.
    I knew it was a bad idea the minute I stepped out the house. I had his address, but I had no idea about the neighborhood, the area. I did no kind of research. My need to see him made me forget myself. I would never go to a new place without doing research first. I let my desire lead me, and it deposited me in front of a four-story red brick building that took up the whole block. Each floor was covered with windows separated by black metal. It was very industrial and modern.
    Ryan lived on the fourth floor.
    An older gentleman exited and held the door open for me. I walked into a small corridor with shiny brick flooring and exposed plastered walls.
    By the time I reached the elevators, my heart was beating out of my chest. I wasn't sure if it was the unplanned excursion or because I was anxious to see him. I stood outside his door for minutes because I couldn't bring myself to knock. What if I was disturbing him? What if he didn't want to see me? What if he wasn't home? All these thoughts ran through my head. I shook them away and rang the doorbell.
    I muffled a gasp as the door swung open. I opened my mouth but closed it when standing before me was a girl with long blond hair and legs that seem to go on for days.
    I unabashedly checked the girl out. Sized her up while I had the chance. She wasn't looking at me; she was talking to someone inside the apartment.
    She swung her hair off her shoulder as she turned. Her body leaned on the doorframe. She stood waiting for me to speak, but my focus was on the tall, handsome figure standing near the back of the apartment in gym shorts and nothing else. His skin glistened as he had recently gotten out of the shower. I smelled the clean scent of soap on the amazon standing in front of me and my mind clicked.
    I interpreted Ryan's expression as guilt. I caught a glimpse of my own in the mirror at the end of the hall as I spun on my heels and headed back to the elevator.
    My heartbeat pumped in my ears and the world tilted in and out of focus. I made it to the elevator and stabbed at the recall button. When it lit up, I rested my forehead on the wall and concentrated on breathing.
    Inhale, exhale, inhale, and exhale.
    I yelped when Ryan's voice boomed in my ear. I didn't hear him coming down the hall, which was strange since the same brick tile from the entryway lined the hallway. He reached out and took my hand; a chill ran up my spine, and I pulled away. My reflexes muffled. I knew he was speaking to me, but I couldn't hear words.
    Calm down, Leah.
    As I exhaled once more, the world popped back into my consciousness, and I heard Ryan's voice.
    "Leah, What's wrong?"
    I shook my head.
    "Come back in."
    "No, I'm fine. You go ahead." I swallowed. "Go back to your..." I didn't know who she was, so I didn't know what to call her.
    I blinked and heard footsteps coming down the hall—not one set, but two.
    "Hey, Ryan, we're heading out. You sure you two don't want to come?"
    Ryan turned and the man speaking had his hand interlaced with the tall blonde.
    "Is this her?" she asked Ryan. "He said you were beautiful."
    She reached out her hand. I saw my hand reach out and shake it.
    "Leah, this is my roommate, Daniel, and his girlfriend, Kelly."
    "It's nice to meet you," Kelly said. I reached my left hand and tugged on Ryan's T-shirt as I shook hands with Daniel.
    "Nice to meet you, too," I said, not recognizing my own voice.
    "You two go ahead. I'm beat," Ryan said.
    "Okay." The elevator arrived. They stepped in and turned around. Before the elevator closed, Daniel said, "Leah, I'm happy you're