I lean into Aleck’s side. “It’s okay. You don’t have to…”

Aleck simply smiles at me, spooning a helping of green beans on my plate before filling his own, then turns to face his brother again. “I shouldn’t have said what I said. I was pacifying you to get you out of my hair. Though, you should know, where I’ve overlooked your games in most areas of my life, I won’t in this one, not with her. Let’s move on, please, for your sake.”

A small smile ghosts across my face in the wake of Aleck’s words. “Not with her.”

He’s standing up to his brother, showing Hayden he won’t pretend not to feel anymore, his protectiveness of me pushing him to make that change. A spark of defeat glimmers in Hayden’s eyes when his desired effect is left unfulfilled.

Richard clears his throat, shifting in his seat. “Hayden, how was the Clermont Foundation Gala? You paid twenty-grand for you and your guest to attend only to leave early.”

Hayden lifts his brows and leans back in his chair, swirling his wine glass in his hand. The edge of the red velvety liquid spiraling close to the edge of the glass. And when he stops, he eyes the legs of the wine as they drip down to the bottom.

“I made the mistake of taking Carla Whittier. I think you all know how that ended.”

Aleck’s shoulders bob next to me. I turn to see a genuine laugh brightening his eyes. “How many evenings will she ruin before you learn?” he asks.

“Plenty, considering the number of evenings she redeems herself with that mouth.”

Midge gasps. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Hayden!”

The sound of Aleck and Hayden’s unabashed laughter dances across the dinner table. A tickled smile sweeps across Richard’s face. However crude Hayden’s comment was, the warmth of seeing both brothers laughing together is comforting.

“That girl is a disaster,” Richard adds.

“Richard…” Midge scolds.

“What, honey? She is.” He laughs. “I hardly see why Hayden puts up with her. Even with ‘that mouth.’”

“Richard!”

Laughter warms the table again. Finally, Aleck and his brother are becoming more loose, more comfortable with each other.

“She had far too much champagne, of course. When she popped the heart-shaped butter into her mouth because she thought it was white chocolate, then offered to give me a handjob under the table, I decided I should get her out of there before she did something worse… Or I did.”

Midge rolls her eyes dramatically, shaking her head while the boys continue laughing.

* * *

An hour passes comfortably. The men tell stories about the countless embarrassing moments they’ve experienced at galas, fundraisers, and the like. The sound of chit-chat, laughter, and silverware clanking against plates as we eat and enjoy each other’s company lifts the tension until it’s gone.

But somewhere in the back of my mind, I remind myself that this won’t happen again. That Aleck and I aren’t actually dating, and that I’m not actually his girlfriend.