“So, what’s up? I told you not to fuck with her.” He looks up at the girls just as a few guys start dancing beside them. “Although, she seems to be doing just fine.”

Winter turns around, noticing the guys, and smiles, then whips back around to her friends. The guy closest to her takes that smile as an invitation and like an idiot, side-steps closer.

Don’t even think about it, asshole.

I glance at Keith, who’s already sizing the three guys up. Good. Keith’s as big as a freight truck and about as take-no-shit as a diner waitress in her fifties. When this is all over and I’m not around anymore, I’m happy knowing Winter will have him. And he won’t even try to fuck her—the best possible confidant for her I could imagine.

“I’m not fucking with her,” I finally say. “I like her—”

“Holy shit.” Preston’s eyes widen and his stupid smile turns to a grin. “Is Aleck Fox finally ready to settle the fuck down?”

“I didn’t say that.” A laugh bubbles in my chest, but it doesn’t reach my mouth. “I simply said I like her. She doesn’t make me want to bury myself alive when she talks. Well, she does, but for some odd reason, I like it. My dick likes it.”

“So, you want to date her, then?”

“I didn’t say that either. She’s a pain in my ass, but she’s grown on me. All the more reason distance is in order. And for the record, the distance you’re seeing now is her doing. I didn’t do shit. Girl’s crazier than a handjob from a nun.”

“Aleck, I’m going to tell you this once and only once. Anything you do beyond this is your choice and one that I won’t harp on. And I mean this in the best possible way because I love you—”

“Jesus,” I exhale. “Spit it out, Press.”

“Grow the fuck up, Aleck. You met someone who doesn’t make you ill. Dare I say, she even makes you happy. Pursue her. Because you can’t be alone forever.”

“Yeah?” I snort. “Says who?”

I look up right when asshole who couldn’t wait for an invitation, steps behind Winter and places his hands on her waist. Her head whips around and her smile drops when she sees him. My spine straightens, sending ripples of tension straight into my muscles. Winter steps forward and away from his contact, but he laughs and his friends fan out, circling the girls.

“Excuse me,” I say to Preston, before striding across the bar to the dancefloor.

I keep my eyes burning into Asshole’s hands as they reach for Winter’s waist again. She nervously smiles and says something I can’t make out as she backs away from his advances.

When I reach the girls, I step between Asshole and Winter and grab his hand at the wrist and twist. He folds forward with a squeal and tries to pry my hand from his.

“What the fuck, man!” he spits, actually spits when he talks.