“Shit!” Jared cursed loudly, his voice penetrating the music blaring from my AirPods. I slowed and turned, just in time to see him stumble on weak legs toward a nearby trashcan and throw up his breakfast.

Laughing, I pulled my phone out, turned off my music, and walked toward him. I’d set a punishing pace for our run because I was trying to put some distance between me and my thoughts, but apparently, it served a dual purpose — purging Jared of all the liquor he drank last night.

“Aw, champ… Do you feel better now?” I asked, giving him a couple of thumps on the back.

“Fuck you,” he gurgled, then pulled off his shirt to wipe his face and mouth. “And actually, yes. I do feel better.”

“Good, you wanna keep running, or—”

“Nah, let’s just walk. I don’t think there’s anything left in there, but I’d rather not throw up in a public trashcan again.”

“Fair enough.”

Shoulder to shoulder, we fell in step, moving toward the right side of the sidewalk to make room for the other people who were foolish enough to go running at this time of day. Now that we weren’t running, I’d started to sweat, my body trying desperately to cool me down. I pulled off my own shirt and mopped the sweat from my face. My phone chimed in my pocket. I pulled it out and checked my notifications, biting back a smile when I saw that Darcy had accepted my dick appointment invite.

“What’s up? We got somewhere to be?” Jared asked.

“Just a reminder for the barbershop appointment. We have an hour,” I lied, shoving the phone back into my pocket. Surprisingly, I was looking forward to our appointment at the high-end shop — a hot shave, a shoulder, neck, and scalp massage, and a haircut. It would feel good to be pampered after this run.

But not more than I was looking forward to that dick appointment with Darcy.

“So, that thing with my Aunt James this morning? What was that about?”

I frowned and gave him a sideways glance. “What thing with your Aunt James? What are you talking about?”

“The kiss on the cheek, and all that ‘saving a dance for her’ business. Are you trying to push up on my Auntie for real?”

I shook my head and laughed. James? That was who he was worried about? I’d flirted with Darcy in his presence every moment since we arrived, and he was worried about his wild-ass Auntie James?

“I’m just saying,” he continued. “Me and Auntie James are close. It would be weird if y’all…got involved.”

Sobering at his serious tone, I gave him a reassuring tap on the shoulder. “Relax, Jay. I’m not trying to get with your Auntie like that.”

“Seriously, Tomás. Don’t fuck my Auntie.”

“Seriously, Jay. I won’t fuck your Auntie.”