Jess unwrapped herself and spread the blanket on the floor to cushion the hard boards and lay on her back. She stretched her arms up toward her knees but her stomach felt in the way. She sucked it in and focused on her core. Lifting her shoulders off the floor, she started counting. “One, two, three. Sweet mother—!”

A sharp and twisting spasm started just above her pubic bone and ricocheted with lightning speed into her groin before blasting out of her into the floor. It immobilized her, stealing her breath and sending stars dancing across her vision. When it finally faded, she blew out a long, slow breath, gingerly rolled onto all fours and gradually stood up. She poured herself another drink, rationalizing it was medicinal. Still tender—it felt as if someone had punched her—she snuggled back on the couch and gave herself over to the delicious rum haze. It was like drifting with Will in an inner tube on a warm current.

I love you just the way you are. Will’s words made her smile. Whenever she obsessed about a few extra kilos, he always said soppy stuff like that. With his shaved head and weight-toned muscles from staving off boredom at the drilling platform’s gym, he might look like a tough nut, but he was far more puppy than wolf. With everything that had been going on, Jess hadn’t spoken to him recently. Was this an offshore two-week stint or an onshore one? She sent him a message—I need some Will—and watched for the three wiggly dots, anticipating his reply.

Her phone rang, vibrating in her hand and making her jump. “Hi, Will.” Her voice sounded loud in her ears.

“Hey, Jess. You okay?”

“I’m freezing. Come over and warm me up.”

“I thought we’d stopped doing drunk booty calls.”

She wound hair around her fingers. “I’m not drunk. I just miss you. It’s been ages.”

“Whose fault’s that?”

Her rum buzz told her he was just being playful. “My bad.”

He sighed. “You’re calling me because of all this shit with Nick and Libby, aren’t you?”

“No! And it’s not like I haven’t spoken to you since—” Everything went to hell. “—I’m calling because I miss you.”

He gave a long sigh. “Come on, Jess. After everything that’s happened, can’t you at least be honest with me?”

“I am being honest. I miss my mate.”

“And that’s always been the problem.” The loaded silence was filled with his hurt and disappointment. Eventually, he cleared his throat. “Remember that woman I told you about?”

The rum had reached her brain, fuddling her thoughts. “Remind me again.”

“Casey.”

“Have I met her?” Over the years, whenever she and Will were on one of their many breaks, he would introduce her to his girlfriends. She found it reassuring. “She’s not the one obsessed with cats, is she?”