“They’re friends, Winter. Believe me, I pulled him into the bedroom and yelled at him like he was a teenager who broke curfew for what he did. And he admitted to lying about having plans so he could talk to you. He thought you having your friends there would be easier on you. Seriously, babe, Aleck just wanted to see you and talk to you.”

“He brought a woman with him—”

“He brought a friend. A friend who’s going through a nasty divorce. Her husband was in town trying to put a hold on her funds and Aleck has been helping. She wasn’t in his plan that night, but she needed help, so he brought her to get her out of her unpacked apartment.”

“What are you guys like, best friends now?” I snort and look away. I’m being childish, I know, but I don’t care. I’m heart broken, I get a pass.

“Stop it. Since when do you turn someone away who could use a friend? She’s a good person. Aleck seems to think she needs friends like us. A friend like you. Seriously, Win, her ex… He’s a real asshole. My loyalty will always lie with you and if I thought for one minute they were anything but new friends, I would have put them both out on their asses. He made a mistake bringing her under the circumstances, but she’s a good person and he’s seriously messed up over losing you.”

“He told me there was nothing between them. Aleck is a lot of things, but he’s not a liar.” I take a deep breath. “I’m just acting jealous.”

“Preston said he’s never seen him like this. Aleck rarely speaks to his actions, let alone apologize for them, agonize over them—”

“I know what you’re doing.” I aim my leering eyes at her with precision. “Suddenly you’re Team Aleck—”

“I always have been and always will be Team Winter, in every scenario. Even when you’re being an idiot. You accidentally kill someone? I’ll bring the bleach. You know that. I just want to see you happy.” She throws her arms up, lazily. “Listen, Aleck fucked up big time. I don’t know if I’d ever have gotten over Preston ghosting me for a month. So, carry on, sweetie. Hate him all you want, and I’ll back you no matter what. I just don’t want you to deny yourself happiness in the name of your prideful heart. Brian did a number on you, and since then you wait for people to show you how much they never loved you. But not all people that mess up have bad intentions.”

“I don’t expect you to understand.” I grab a nearby pillow and hug it to my chest. “You met Preston and sparks lit the way to your future immediately.”

“Hey, don’t act like I haven’t been through the ringer. You’re not the only one who’s suffered from the torment of shithead men, Winter.”

I shake my head. “Shit, you’re right. I’m sorry. I just… I don’t know why I lied about sleeping with Dylan. Well, I do, I just don’t know where I scrounged up enough balls to do it. The goal was to get him to stay away because I can’t fight him, I care about him too much. Now he’ll never talk to me again.”