“Can I take this one outside?” He gestures to the second tray.
“Yes. Do we have enough napkins out there, or should I bring more?”
He shakes his head. “Plenty.”
Then Felicity looks up, and her smile tilts in that way that always spells trouble. “Well, hello, Colin. It’s... not sure what to call it. A surprise, definitely.”
Colin’s expression doesn’t waver. “Good to see you too, Felicity.”
He picks up the tray and walks out to the backyard without another word.
I arch a brow at her. “What was that? I know you insist on being protective on my behalf, but I didn’t realize the tension between you two was that bad.”
Felicity sighs and drops onto one of the island stools.
“The day after your divorce—when I came home from checking on you—Colin was at our house with Oliver. And I... kind of went off on him.”
She winces at the memory, running a hand through her hair. “You were holding yourself together by a thread, trying so hard not to fall apart, and I just... I snapped.”
I cross the space and pull her into a side hug, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“You’re a wonderful friend, you know that? But you don’t have to slay my dragons for me. I’ve got that part covered.”
“I know,” she groans. “I blamed it on PMS afterward—which, to be fair, wasn’t a total lie. Oliver showed up five minutes later with a giant chocolate sundae loaded with M&Ms, trying to calm me down.”
I laugh, picturing it. Those two have always had their own brand of delightful disorder, hard to understand, but impossible not to love.
Then her eyes turn to me with a knowing glint. “So... any news from your Italian stallion?” she teases.
“For God’s sake, Felicity,” I sigh, exasperated. “You’re not letting this go, are you?”
She lets out a loud laugh, stealing another appetizer. Ever since she saw Alexander and me at the bakery near the market, she hasn’t stopped bringing him up. That night, she called me with more questions than a detective on a case.
And when I told her, repeatedly, that Alexander and I were just friends, she groaned and said I was impossible. That I didn’t know how to enjoy life even when it literally handed me opportunities. Her parting words?“God gives nuts to those who have no teeth.”
She doesn’t understand that I’m not looking for a new relationship just to fill the void Colin’s betrayal left. And what Alexander and I share—this friendship, this rare connection—is far more precious to me right now than anything else.
I won’t play dumb and say I haven’t noticed how handsome, attentive, and charming he is, or that I haven’t thought that any woman would be lucky to have someone like him. I clear my throat at the thought.
So yeah, I’m just grateful to have him as my friend.
Chapter 06
Buttercup
Colin
I knew I wouldn’t be greeted with open arms. I wasn’t expecting a welcome cocktail or a warm smile waiting for me when I showed up at the door.
But the moment Mark opened it, grinning wide and telling me to come in because Cecily was in the kitchen, I should’ve taken it as a bad sign.
Even now, hours later, I can’t get the sound of her laughter out of my head. God, I can’t even remember the last time I made her laugh like that.A year ago? More?
And who the hell was on the other end of that call? Who was she talking to with that light in her voice… that warmth I’ve been starving for?
Mark called himtheir friend.
Cecily never used to have friends I didn’t know about. Now... she probably has a dozen. Men who looked at her with that same hunger—even when she belonged to me. Men who, if they ever get the chance, will be smart enough not to throw it all away the way I did.
