He caressed his friend’s stubbled cheek. “I love you for caring, but there’s no need. I told Eden to message me, and she will. She just needs some time.”

“When’d you last see her?”

“Sunday. I went to another one of her shows and we had dinner.”

“Sex?”

“Nah it was four in the morning, and she was pretty tipsy. Better to wait, you know?”

Derek nodded curtly.

“Fucking hell. You came to Monday training after you were out until four?” Psycho was aghast. “How do you do that?”

Derek rolled his eyes. “He always does that. So, what’s your problem, Willow? Why aren’t you messaging her if she’s gone shy?”

“Because I offered her a deal and I don’t want her to feel pressured into taking it.”

“What kind of deal?”

Willow stared around the cafeteria searching for excuses. Derek wouldn’t want to hear what he’d offered Eden. He’d be all ‘that’s a bad idea’ and ‘why are you like this, you asshole?’

“Sloan.” Derek’s voice was delicate. “You are this close to getting kicked out of my wedding party.”

“What? Fuck off! You can’t do that!”

“Can’t I?”

“See, when you say it like that, it makes me not want to tell you.”

“Sloan!”

Willow rolled his eyes. “Fine, I offered to help her get more internet clout by pretending we’re a fake couple.”

Derek’s eyes widened. Psycho just looked scared.

“She hasn’t gotten back to me about it yet, so there’s no need to freak out.”

Derek tipped his chair back, moaning at the ceiling. “You’re a fucking idiot.”

Willow was genuinely baffled. “How? I haven’t done anything.”

“You’re doing exactly what you’re always doing.”

“Which is?”

“Adopting these…” Derek let his chair fall back onto four legs. “Psycho, what’s a better way of saying ‘fame whores?’”

Psycho scratched his chin. “Influencers that are into… personal networking?”

“Yeah, that. That’s what your girlfriends are like.”

Willow gave him a dirty look. “You better not be calling anyone I’ve dated a whore.”

“I don’t mean ‘whores’ because they’re women or hot or whatever. I mean everyone you go out with is using you for attention.”

“You’re wrong, mate. They’re using me for sex.”

Psycho laughed and even Derek cracked a smile. “Fine. They’re using you for dick and attention, you happy?”

“No, because you’re still being an asshole. Just because I go out with chicks from TV doesn’t mean there’s nothing there.” He paused. “Okay, so there’s mostly nothing there. But Eden isn’t like that. I’m crazy about her.”

Derek rubbed his eyes. “That’s what scares me. You’re in over your head. You’ve been out of it all week and you already told me you were in love with her.”

“When?”