No, I don’t think I could survive that.

“Pass,” I say, finally finding my keys and ripping them out of my bag. “Have you ever heard of a phone call or a text? Does your phone even work?” I force my key into the lock and clumsily open my front door. I dump my bag on the floor by my coat rack, then turn and take my coffee from him.

Our fingers touch. An electric current zings from his fingers to mine, making my eyelids shutter, but I stuff it down where my unshed tears are.

“I didn’t want to text, this felt bigger than that. And I didn’t think you’d answer my call. Would you have answered my call?”

“No,” I say, blocking the doorway.

“Winter, please let me come in. There are some things that I want to say, and if you want me to leave afterward, so be it. But please give me a chance.”

My brows lift. “You think you deserve a chance?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “But you’re a better person than I am, so let me in anyway.”

I stare at him for a moment, searching his face for reasons I should let him in. Because really, I’m not just letting him into my apartment, I’m letting him into my life, my heart, and he knows it.

I take a step back and push the door open, giving him room to pass. Aleck smiles subtly, then steps into my apartment. Butterflies take over as I close the door behind him.

This isn’t the way I pictured his first time in my home. I pictured myself a little more put together, not wearing black leggings, an oversized slouchy knit-sweater, and a messy ball of hair that looks like a rat’s nest on top of my head. I pictured my apartment tidied up and smelling fresh, not messy because I’ve been lying around feeling miserable all day, smelling like tears and last night’s Chinese food. Which is actually still sitting on my coffee table. Shit.

He walks deeper into my living room and leans against the back of my couch. He removes his sweater, lays it over the cushions, then folds his arms over his chest.

So steadfast, so impressive, so absolutely gorgeous.

“First, I owe you an explanation for Rebecca—”

“You don’t owe me anything, Aleck.” Just the sound of her name on his tongue makes me queasy.

“Yes, I do. Her and I are not romantic. We never have been, we never will be. The only reason she gave me her number at the resort is because she’s going through a divorce and just moved to LA. We talk about you mostly. I had been realizing my feelings for you but trying to fight them. She called my bluff, then told me to pull my head out of my ass. Which I did, by the way.”

I snort a laugh. “Yeah, right before you stuffed it back in.”

He nods. “Fair enough. Winter, please know, there isn’t an ounce of me that wants her. She’s been helping me.”