Holland Stewart had just arrived at his host family’s ranch house nestled in the rural countryside of Texas. Coming all the way from the bustling Birmingham, England, he wasn’t sure how well he’d adjust to the culture shock of being in a completely different country just to go to university.

The cab ride to the house had given him a chance to take in some of the scenery, and it was stunning. To his relief, his host family was just as welcoming as he’d hoped. The family consisted of a mom, a dad, their 19-year-old daughter, and an 8-year-old son. After greeting him warmly, the parents showed him to his room and left him to settle in, promising they’d have plenty of time to get to know him later.

Holland spent nearly two hours unpacking his things before finally collapsing onto the bed in a tired heap. Just as he was starting to drift off, the sound of a trash can being dragged outside made his ears perk up. Curious, he pulled back the curtain and peered out the window. His eyes landed on you. A tall, strong, shirtless guy about his age with messy hair, hauling trash bags to the curb. The stranger was ruggedly handsome, his toned muscles glistening faintly in the afternoon sun. Holland’s jaw dropped, his wide-eyed stare locked on the sight. Slowly, a smile crept across his face, a mix of awe and amusement lighting up his expression.