Alaric POV –
"Boom!" I shouted as my golf ball dropped cleanly into the hole. I raised my arms and turned to Frost with a grin.
Frost ran a hand through his hair, annoyed.
"Yeah, good job, Alaric. But only because I'm tired today."
"Tired of what? Work?" I laughed. "You barely do anything there except check on us, Frost."
He forced a laugh. "Yeah, well… it's because of Coccette."
My hand froze mid-swing. "What's wrong with Coccette?"
He leaned back against the mini-golf cart and sighed heavily.
"She changed, bro. She used to be obsessed with me—like, actually obsessed. But these days? She doesn't care. She comes home late, she barely talks to me…"
I nodded, trying to keep a straight face, even though a twisted little smile pulled at my mouth.
God, I'm a terrible friend.
Why am I happy his relationship is falling apart?
Maybe because I kissed his wife a few days ago…
And that kiss…
Soft, delicate, magical—
I snapped out of it. "Why did she change? Did you do something to her?"
Frost sighed again. "Well… not really. I mean, I don't think she knows."
"know what ?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "What did you do, Frost?"
He groaned. "I cheated on her. But I don't think she knows. Still, she's acting different, so… I don't know. I'm lost."
Heat flashed through my chest—anger, sharp and unexpected.
I should be happy he cheated on her. Shouldn't that give me a chance?
But no. I think I'm starting to… care about her. Really care. Enough that seeing someone hurt her makes my blood boil.
Before I even realized it, I shoved him hard against the mini-golf cart. He stared at me like I'd lost my mind.
"What the hell, man?!"
I snapped back to reality. "Sorry, Frost. I just… I don't understand."
He frowned. "Understand what?"
"How a man can cheat on a woman like Coccette," I said flatly.
He rolled his eyes. "Look who's talking—the player himself. You've played with more women than I have. Compared to you, I'm an angel, Alaric."
I rolled my eyes right back. "I used to. I've changed."
"Mm-hmm. Sure," he muttered.
I didn't care whether he believed me or not.
Coccette changed me—made me want to be better. Even if I'm fantasizing about my best friend's wife… he deserves it. He disrespected her, cheated on her, treated her like she was nothing.
Well, I won't.
I'll make her feel like she matters. Like she's my world—my universe, my whole damn galaxy.
"If you don't know how to treat her," I said calmly, "one day a man will do your job for you, Frost."
His eyes darkened. "What do you mean?"
I shrugged. "Anyway… who are you cheating on her with? Let me guess: some old, ugly woman."
Frost's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
He paused, then added, "She's not old. She's a mature woman."
I snorted. "Mature? Is she mature, or is her bed mature? Do I know her, Frost?"
I froze as the realization hit me.
No. No way.
I'd seen the way he looked at her.
The way he talked to her.
The way he treated her like she was some queen at the company.
I shouted across the mini-golf park, "Don't tell me it's—"
I gasped.
He couldn't have.
Cheating on Coccette is already a high-level asshole move, but cheating on her with her own—
"You did it with Anika?" I yelled.
Frost paled. He looked left, right, anywhere but at me. "Talk quieter, Alaric!"
"So you really cheated on her with her own stepmother—her only family?" I hissed.
"Don't say it like that. You're making me feel—"
"—like a horrible person," I finished for him.
"Alaric! You're supposed to be my friend!"
"I am your friend," I shot back, "but this is twisted. Absolutely unhinged. How can you cheat on her with her own family? The only family she has left? Frost, that's disgusting."
He covered his face. "I know I messed up, okay? But Anika flirted with me, and she's… a mature woman."
"Yeah, and she's also your wife's stepmother. Are you insane? I used to be a playboy, fine, but at least I have boundaries."
"Okay, stop! Let's not talk about this." Frost ran a hand through his hair and walked away. "I'm going. I have work."
I watched him leave, disgust twisting in my stomach.
I mean, who am I to judge?
I'm the guy who wants his wife.
The guy who kissed her.
But still…
I guess I'm the kind of asshole who saves the princess from her diabolic husband.
So that's a win, huh?