Alaric Pov :
She's taking so much fucking time to make a damn coffee. What the hell is she doing in the kitchen with Ray alone?
I start biting my fingers—always do that when I stress—but why the hell am I stressing over my bestie's wife? Add to this I 'm supposed to be helping her be better than him. Am I… a disloyal friend?
But let's be honest—Frost isn't exactly an angel either.
Anyway… where is she? I glance toward the kitchen again. And again.
"Alaric," Alex says nonchalantly.
I snap out of my thoughts.
"And… you know Betha, right?"
Oh, right—the cute brunette next to him, currently glued to her phone.
I glare at him, coldly. "Well… at work, yes. Sometimes."
He stares straight through me. "And… do you talk after work?"
I roll my eyes and mutter, "I'm going to the kitchen."
Even as I walk away, I feel his gaze burning into my back.
This idiot is having a jealousy attack over Betha… and meanwhile I'm boiling inside, wondering what Cocette is doing with Ray right now.
I open the door slowly and saw her face—red, red like a tomato. Did something happen? No. No, no. I can't even imagine someone putting a finger on her. I'm not crazy—I know she's married, I know Ray is her friend… but still, they don't even hold hands, right?
"All this time for coffee and wine? You making dinner or what?" I tease, stepping close. Very close.
Her blue eyes meet mine. I can even smell her jasmine perfume.
I grab a cookie from the plate beside her, turn to Ray, and smirk. "Not bad, Ray. I mean… the cookies."
From the minute I joined this group, I decided: this is the last time I'm leaving these two alone.
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Betha POV
Alex and I were waiting for them to come back from the kitchen when he started leaning closer and closer to me.
He whispered, "Is Alaric your type?"
Of course, I ignored him. Every single time.
Men.
Okay, fine—Me and Alex had something, but being this jealous over a man I barely talk to? Seriously?
Yes, Alaric is handsome, I get it, but that's not a reason to act like this.
Finally, the three musketeers came back from their kitchen mission. What were the three of them doing in there for so long anyway?
Oh Betha, what a nasty mind you have… I chuckle to myself.
But I know Cocette. She's way too shy to do anything bold. So it's just my imagination, right?
Cocette sits next to me, Alaric takes the seat beside her, and then—out of nowhere—Ray comes up to me.
He says softly, "Move a little to your right, brunette. I'm sitting here."
"Here?" I blink. "I'm sitting here."
"Yes," Ray says again, calm as ever, "but can you give me the seat, please?"
Cocette looks at us. Alaric looks too. And honestly, it feels like he wants me to say no.
Anyway, I sigh. "Ray, your living room is huge."
I point at all the empty seats. "And you want to sit here?"
Ray nods like a golden retriever. It's kind of cute—I won't lie—but I hold my laughter.
Oh. I see what's happening now.
Ray. Alaric.
They're both into Cocette.
And from the outside? This is hilarious.
The way they're quietly competing, circling around her, pretending nothing's happening… it's comedy gold.
"Okay, Ray," I say. "It's your house."
I stand up to change places—and guess who stands up with me?
Of course.
Alex.
I sigh and sit back down. I don't have the energy to fight anymore.
I look at Cocette. She's stuck in the middle, Alaric on one side, Ray on the other, both of them throwing glances at each other.
God help me. This is so funny.
I can't handle it. I'm not a serious person—never have been.
I chuckle again, harder this time.
Finally, Alaric speaks.
"So, my idea for the publicity—Natalie Sterling."
Ray almost shouts, "You know her?"
Alex answers instead. "Yeah. He said he'd call her to be the face of our pizza brand. Imagine having her—it would make everything easier."
Ray rolls his eyes.
Cocette looks between Alaric and Ray.
"Did you call her?" she asks.
Alaric smirks and puts a hand on her shoulder. I swear I can feel Ray's brows tense—they look like they might take off.
"Yes," Alaric says smoothly. "And she invited us to her villa this weekend."
This weekend? Already?
Wow. Natalie Sterling is insanely popular and always busy—getting her time this fast means Alaric is really close to her.
Ray takes a sip of his coffee, trying to sound casual.
"And how exactly are you this close to Natalie Sterling?"
Alaric smirks. "Oh. She's my ex."
Ray chokes on his coffee.
Cocette stares at Alaric, eyes wide—was that jealousy I saw? Or am I imagining things?
Me?
I don't react much. Alaric is very handsome, so honestly, I can see it.
Not that Alex or Ray aren't handsome too—they are. But Alaric has something else.
That kind of aura that pulls you in.
And those blue eyes…