“You reach a lot of women now,” Abbi says. “How many followers do you have on Instagram? You’re, like, the biggest influencer I know.”
I make a face. I hate the word influencer. I get it, but I hate it. “First of all, I’m the only influencer you know. And it’s not the same. I want to be . . .” I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. If I show up to that meeting without a fiancé, I already know what will happen.”
Stella passes me her lemon-drop martini.
“Why not have someone pretend to be your fiancé?” Brinley asks.
I freeze with Stella’s glass halfway to my lips. “What?”
“Hear me out,” she says. “I’m not saying you should get married or anything. Just show up to the meeting with a friend. Have him pretend to be your fiancé and pretend he plays an active role in planning your program. It’s icky, but you’re right. The ends justify the means.”
“The only guys I’m close enough to for that are attached to my best friends, and I’d rather not find myself in an awkward there’s-only-one-bed scenario with Marston, Dean, or Kace.” I shudder. “No offense. And the only other person I can think to ask is Smithy. Can you imagine him playing that role?”
Abbi snorts. “Oh God. Please do. And film it for me.”
“I’m all about sculpting dat ass,” Stella says in her best Smithy impression.
We laugh, and for a minute, my worries fall away. I’ve missed time with my girls.
“What about Alec?” Brinley asks. “He could do this for you.”
I look down at my hands. “No. I can’t ask him.”
“Why not?” Stella asks. “You two are ‘friends,’ right?”
“Why the air quotes?” When she doesn’t bother to bite back her grin, I roll my eyes. “It would feel like using him.”
She waggles her brows. “From what Brinley’s said, I get the impression he would very much like to be used by you. And then you’d have someone you could really enjoy that one-bed scenario with.”
I put my head on the table and focus on the clinking glasses and laughter at the tables around us.
“Worried you might like it?” Abbi asks.
“Staaahp,” I whimper.
“Alec is coming into town tonight,” Brinley says, and I can feel all their eyes on me.
I bite my bottom lip. Alec Hayes still haunts my dreams in the very best way. Only it’s not so great because I can’t have him. “That’s nice. It’ll be good to see him.”
Stella grins. “Good to see him like hey, old friend, or good to see him like I’m ready to quit being stupid about this amazing guy who wants me in his life.”
I shift awkwardly, wishing our server would hurry over and supply me with a vat of liquor. “Um . . . the first one?”
Brinley shakes her head. “My point is, you might as well run it by him. I’m sure he’d be thrilled to help.”
Abbi stares at me so hard I’m convinced she’s trying to peer into my brain. “I don’t understand you. Alec is still head over heels for you. Do you realize that?”
“I’m sorry, but he is so fucking hot,” Stella says, biting her bottom lip. “Tell me again why you aren’t climbing him like a tree?”
Abbi arches a brow. “I don’t think my brother would like hearing you say that about another guy.”
Stella scoffs. “As if that man has anything to worry about. He knows he owns me heart and soul, and there’s nobody who does it for me like he does in the bedroom.”
Abbi cringes. “I retract my objection. Please stop.”
Brinley bites back a laugh. “I think what Stella was trying to say is that we know you’re attracted to him, so what gives?”
“There’s more to relationships than how hot someone is,” I object.
“Yeah,” Abbi says, swirling her martini. “Like how kind they are and how wanted and loved they make you feel.”
Brinley hides her smile behind her hand, but it doesn’t mute the sound of her giggle.
“Hardworking and successful are qualities that also don’t suck,” Stella says before snagging her martini back and taking a sip.
“You guys, shut up. It’s just not gonna happen with me and Alec, and I’m not going to use him to get a job.”
The girls hum in unison, an agreement to drop it for now, but I know this isn’t the last I’ll hear about it. I just need to figure out a better solution, because if I can’t give Alec the relationship he wants with me, I’m not going to ask him to do me a favor this big.
ALEC
“Good to see you, brother,” Marston says when he greets me at his front door. He wraps me in a big hug and slaps me on the back.
“You too,” I say, returning his embrace.
He waves me in and leads the way to his and Brinley’s family room. With a vaulted wood-beamed ceiling and warm colors, it’s simultaneously grand and inviting. A home. Marston deserves this more than anyone I know, but that doesn’t stop envy from twisting my gut.
“How was the flight?” he asks.
“Who knows? I slept the whole way. We could’ve flown through a tsunami, and I wouldn’t have known.”
Marston chuckles. “Can I get you a drink?”
“I’m good. I’m going to do some work when I get back to my hotel.”
He shakes his head. “Why the fuck are you still staying in a hotel when you come to town? You know we have plenty of room.”
“I know.” I don’t want to interfere. Marston and Brinley are finally getting all the time together they deserve, but after all the years they spent apart, it still feels too precious to intrude on.
I look around the room and realize it’s quieter than usual. “Where are Brinley and the kiddo?”
“Cami is with her dad for the weekend, and Brinley’s at girls’ night,” he says.
My stomach folds itself into a knot at the thought of her friends gathered around a table at Smithy’s, laughing and smiling. Looking beautiful as hell. Well, it’s only one of Brinley’s friends who gets me all tied up.
“Ah,” Marston says. “I get it.”
“Get what?”
“You won’t stay here because you’re hoping you’ll convince Savvy to come back to your room with you some night.”
I cough out a laugh. “Seems pretty unlikely.”
He cocks his head to the side and studies me for a beat. “You’re still hung up on her, aren’t you?”
I wish I weren’t. “If she wanted anything to do with me, I’d be there in a heartbeat, but she’s made her feelings on the matter clear.” Except I catch her watching me when we’re in the same room and find her leaning into me anytime we stand close.
He studies me for a beat, and I can tell he’s trying to decide whether to say more.
It’s not like I haven’t tried to get over Savvy. Over the last couple of years, I’ve dated around, even had a couple connections I thought might go somewhere. But for some reason, she’s still it for me. Even after all this time.
Marston sighs and shakes his head, clearly choosing to let it go. “When’s the crew arriving?”