I’m happy to see my friends. So happy actually. Being here without them has made me feel like I’m on an island. But when Aleck disappears around the corner, now completely removed from the room, I feel a hollow ache in my chest I wasn’t expecting. I want to follow him and climb into his bed, even if all we do is sleep.

What the hell?

No. I should not be feeling that way. Aleck is a nuisance. I do not want to sleep next to him for god’s sake. He’s an Ace in the bedroom—or the kitchen—I’ll give him that, but he’s an asshole. Even he knows that.

After turning on the gas firepit on the terrace, Dottie, Keith, and I settle into the circular outdoor sofa. Which is ten times more plush, and softer than the indoor one in my living room and twice as big.

“My god, Win.” Dottie shakes her head, fake fanning herself. “How do you even exist in this space? Aleck is so gorgeous he sucks the air out of the room.”

“Yeah, but he replaces it with the hot air coming from his mouth. He’s an ass. Trust me.”

Dottie looks over her shoulder, sipping her wine. “Shh, girl. He’ll hear you.”

“Dot, I could tell this man he has the face of a hemorrhoid and he’d laugh. He doesn’t care what anybody thinks about him.”

“Just another thing that makes him perfect,” Keith says, smiling into his wine glass.

“Enough about Aleck. Has anyone talked to Sondra today? I should have checked in, but we were pretty busy.”

“Yes.” Dottie leans back against the pillows. “She’s over Preston’s family. I think she just wants to have all of this behind her, including the wedding. Then she and Preston are off to Turks and Caicos working on their tans.”

My phone lights up next to me, so I flip it over to see a text message.

Unknown: In case you were wondering, it took me 0.04 seconds to rub one out.

Aleck. I can almost hear him saying that. Still, I better check before I have this conversation. Especially since Aleck and I never exchanged numbers.

Me: Aleck?

Unknown: No, it’s Aladdin. Just letting you know how long it took me to wake the genie. Yes, it’s Aleck, dumbass. The Aleck that just had his tongue so far up your pussy I felt your heartbeat.

Me: I already regret it.

Aleck: You don’t, but keep lying to yourself. I’d tell you to climb into my bed when your friends leave, but that would be breaking two very important rules of mine.

“Earth to Winter!” Dottie snaps her fingers from across the fire.

“Sorry, Dot. I was just… just responding to a work thread.”

I hate lying to my friends, but they notoriously try to set me up with available men. If there were anyone less available than Aleck, color me surprised. So the last thing I need is them getting involved. And they would get involved, that’s what they do.