You meet your friend Scott

You park your car outside the gym and walk up to the entrance.

"Hey, man, what's up?" you hear a familiar voice behind you ask.

"What's up, Scott?" you turn around and greet your friend with a smile. "You lifting today too?"

"Nah, just taking a Pilates class," he smirks. "No, but seriously, wanna give me a spot?" he asks as he follows you trough the entrance.

"Sure, I can get in some warmup reps of deadlifts and save your life at the same time" you smirk.

"Yeah, fuck you too" Scott chuckles back.

"Do you have any plans for Friday night?" Scott asks after finishing a set of benching "Matter of fact, knowing you, you should probably hold off the entire Saturday as well," he adds, smirking.

"Haven't had a hangover that bad in a while" you chuckle. "But nah, not really," you respond honestly, as you lie down on the bench and lift your arms up to the bar. "Why?"

"Lisa and I were thinking of throwing a house party..." Scott explains. "And we need to know if our favorite high-functioning alcoholic can make it".

"Like you're the embodiment of sobriety," you smirk back.

"Touché..." Scott concedes. "Nah, but seriously, you in?"

Your mind wanders to Rachel, as it has gotten a habit of doing ever since she moved in. You have been thinking about her more than any grown man reasonably should about a woman they have only known for about a month, and never even hooked up with. "You're acting like a teenager with a crush," you internally reproach yourself. But you just can't stop thinking about her.

Admittedly, not very many guys share a house with someone as stunning, intelligent and charming as her. Rachel might not only quite literally be the most attractive woman you have ever met, your conversation last night convinced you that she feels at least some level of mutual attraction for you. At first, you thought it was just wishful thinking on your part. After all, while you are far from a slob, you are not exactly her male equivalent either. Though to be fair, you're not sure you've ever even met anyone else - man or woman - whom you'd consider "in her league". Even so, the signs of her interest in you seem too numerous for it to simply be projection on your part.

You decide to ask her to Scott and Lisa's house party. Though it is to put it lightly surprising for a woman with Rachel's amazing looks and personality, she does not seem to have a lot of close friends, other than Katie. Hopefully, she will embrace the opportunity to get to know some new people in town. And if you're particularly lucky, and you're correct in your suspicions, maybe something will finally happen between the two of you...

"Sure, man" you respond to Scott. "You mind if I bring someone...?"