“Uh, hi. I’m not going to sing for you tonight.” A few boos from the crowd. “I’m here to speak to a woman I’ve hurt. Though, I’ll sing for her if that’s what it takes.”

“Sing for us, handsome,” a woman with a deep voice yells from somewhere in the room.

Aleck laughs, then turns, looks at me, and winks. He winks. My ribs tighten around my heart, sending flutters to every limb and crevice in my body. All I can do is watch him with wide eyes and an ache in my heart that wants me to stand up and run to him. But I don’t. I stay put and wait to see where this is going.

“I once told her I wasn’t the grand gesture type. Actually, I told her I wasn’t the type of man to do a lot of things. And I wasn’t lying. I just didn’t know what life was like with her yet. And, unfortunately, I’ve come to know what life is like without her and it sucks. It’s boring and painful. I’ve realized a lot of things about myself and what I want since she’s been gone.”

Aleck walks to the corner of the stage so he’s right in front of our table now. He puts his free hand in his pocket and looks down at me.

“I believed I didn’t deserve her. And I don’t, I probably never will.” A small laugh puffs in his chest. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t make her happy. A wise man once asked me, ‘How do we know when we’re worthy enough for the women we love?’ He told me he was thankful his wife had found him because even though he knew without the shadow of a doubt he didn’t deserve her, he knew how deeply he would love her. He knew she’d never go a day without being loved to the edge of the earth and back. And for him, that was enough to know he was worthy.”

He takes his eyes off me and looks out at the crowd. “And he knew what he was talking about. He met his wife on the steps of his apartment building while she read a book. And in less than a year, she was his forever. That’s the kind of man you want to listen to.”

My mom and dad. He’s speaking of my parents now. He knows their love story is my favorite of all love stories. Tears well in my eyes and Sondra reaches over to put her hand over mine, rubbing circles over my knuckles with her thumb.

Aleck’s eyes settle back on me. They travel my face, observing, holding my gaze with his warm pale-blues.

“Winter, I know I said I would give you the space you needed to move on. And I will, if at the end of this, that’s what you truly want. But I’m a lawyer, and I realized I haven’t had the chance to deliver my closing argument. I want to make sure you have all the facts you need to reach a genuine verdict.”