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start to laugh and once I start, I can’t stop.
    He hands me the cup of coffee, then strikes a pose with a smirk because he’s noticed me checking out the goods, and says, “Something amusing, Miss Sloane?”
    This makes me laugh even harder. So I grab my stomach to try to contain myself and manage to get out between laughs, “No, E, not at all. Just me. I’m a piece of work, that’s all. Just taking in your male perfection and thinking if things were different, and you were into girls, that I’d jump your bones. ‘Cause baby, it’s not even fair that you look like that and you’re in my bedroom with me in my skivvies, and you, with everything on display. What a fucking display it is too. But yeah, so not fair.” I laugh again and stick my tongue out at him.
    He grins and jumps on the bed with me, catching himself with those tree trunk arms before he crushes me, and starts tickling me. “Well, Miss Sloane, I’m flattered that you find my total package so amazingly awesome. Well, not my total package,” he corrects. He kisses my head and hugs me close and I burrow into him. “Lex, if I was straight, you’d be in trouble. You are beautiful. I don’t think you even realize how gorgeous you really are. You always have been and you just get better with age. You captivate people.”
    I sigh and roll onto my back, and he places his arm behind my head as we both look at my ceiling. He picks up the photo that has fallen to the mattress in our playfulness and gives it a deep look. I see him looking at it and the worry lines between his brows, as he lets out a long sigh. “I lied. I don’t hate him, E,” I whisper.
    “I know, love. Believe me, I know,” he replies still looking at the photo.
    He sits up and pulls me into a sitting position as well, stretching his legs on either side of mine and arranging me between them, with my back against his chest.
    “Do you miss him, E? I know that when we split, you chose me. You loved him too. Do you miss him?”
    He places the photo on my lap and looks straight ahead while answering my question. “Honestly, yes, I miss him. I miss my friend. I miss the guy I grew up with and loved like a brother. I miss the guy he was when he finally took his head out of his ass and admitted his feelings for you. I miss the three of us. And I didn’t choose you. I love you, and you were hurting and needed me. I swore to you, and to him, that I’d always protect you. You and me against the world, remember?”
    “I remember. Ok, well enough of this… we can’t change the past. What’s done is done, and we’ve both done ok. But it’s a busy day and Java and Sweeties isn’t going to run itself. I have a long day of baking ahead of me preparing for the Masons’ wedding, and I plan on helping you in the front today too, so get your sexy ass out of my bed and get dressed.”
    Erik raises a brow at my bossy tone and says, “Yes ma’am, Boss. So, you’re really ok?”
    “I am ok. Something has to change and I plan on doing what I can to move on with Jude. Things will never be like they were, but we have to coexist and it’s time to forgive him. And smartass, I am not your boss! We’re partners 50/50.”
    He hops off my bed and gives me a salute. “Ok, as long as you’re certain that’s what you want to do, I’m behind you. You know that. Now hop to it! You’ve got half an hour before this train is leaving the station.”
    Two hours later, I’m in my element. I’m covered in flour in the kitchen of Java and Sweeties. I pop the last cake pan for the seven tier wedding cake into the oven, set the timer, and go to the sink to wash my hands. I take a quick look in the mirror to make sure I’m presentable and head to the shop to help Erik out with the customers, and make sure everything is running smoothly.
    As usual, we’re packed. A couple of chairs are empty in the shop, but for the most part, the place is buzzing. People are talking quietly, pecking away at laptops, writing