Gray heard about the plea deal from Monty who had forged a friendship with Sinclair. Gray didn't mind, except Doyle's sister was engaged to Monty's new friend. Every time he drove to an event, he sat in the car waiting for Doyle to come see him. When she didn't, he felt a mixture of relief and disappointment.

"Now it's over, let's get away." He stood in the kitchen while Monty made his famous Pad Thai recipe.

Monty turned to Sofia. "You'll be okay if we book our tickets." They hadn't been out of the country since before Sofia's pregnancy.

Sofia kissed Ana. "We'll be okay, but we'll miss Daddy and Uncle Gray, won't we, bebé?"

"Daddy will call every day."

Sofia's smile had love written all over it. Gray turned away. His head made the right decision, but his heart had trouble believing it. Hopefully, another continent would be far away enough for his heart to heal. The problem was he broke his own heart. It would have been easier if she had because then he could be angry or another emotion besides sad.

Gray sat and ate with his family, before retreating to solitude, and distracted himself by working on his book. When he couldn't concentrate, he worked out. Once he reached mental or physical exhaustion, he slept. In the morning, he worked out and kept busy. Eventually, one day and then the next passed by.

They left Boston on the first of February. Standing in front of the terminal, Gray said, "Sofia, don't worry. I'll take care of him."

She nodded. "I know. I trust you. Monty, take care of Gray. He needs you."

Monty stepped towards his wife and whispered in her ear before kissing her. Gray walked through the automatic doors. Monty caught up and pounded on his back. "Are you okay?"

"Yup. Ready for some new scenery. Will you survive?"

"I'm gonna have to. I'm not ready to retire."

The long flight was the worst part of traveling. Gray couldn't sit for long even in the larger first-class seats. When he stood to stretch his legs, a woman waiting for the lavatory flirted with him. He nodded and moved past her. The old Gray would strike up a conversation to see where it led, but he just wasn't interested.

Two weeks later, they were back in first class. Monty slept beside him as Gray read a Mazzarelli novel. They didn't bike as much as they liked, instead they traveled by car to cover more ground. Monty had CEO responsibilities at home, along with his wife and baby.

He looked up from his book as the flight attendant asked if he wanted a drink. She had a nip of vodka in her hand. He shut his eyes and wondered if one shot would release the pressure in his chest. Feeling weak, he elbowed Monty. "Drink." He hissed.

Monty stretched. "I'll have seltzer and give my friend a Coke. Maybe it'll sweeten him up."

"I can add something to your drinks. It's a long flight."

Monty's voice didn't falter. "No thanks. We don't drink alcohol."

"Okay then. Were you traveling for business or pleasure?"

"Pleasure." Monty yawned. "We're exhausted."

After she handed them their drinks and started talking behind them, Monty laughed. "She's eyeing you."

"Not interested. Not yet." Not ever.

"Get back on the horse, cowboy."

"Do you remember your past? You had a broken heart for ten years. Give me time to get over her."

Monty nodded as he reached for his laptop. "I might as well work since you woke me up."

Once they were home. Gray tried to settle into life. He started going to Whole Foods during the day with Sofia and Ana, instead of the evening when single women liked to flirt. No one was flirting at ten am, although Sofia teased him. "Even the abuelas look at you."

He laughed and shook his head. "I'll pass."

Gray picked up the ingredients to make fresh guacamole. Devin had invited him to a gathering with the guys and their families on Sunday. They had all served although not together, but he felt a camaraderie with them.

On Saturday night, he played chauffeur for a charity event at the Harbor Hotel on the waterfront. Gray parked in a loading zone behind the hotel and took out his book. He felt safe because even if Doyle was inside, she wouldn't find his car.

He had finished his draft and his agent had passed it on to Oliver Sumner. Like with Trista Montgomery, he was using his connections with Monty's childhood friend. Oliver promised to assign it to a junior editor looking to create a best seller. "Be prepared for lots of changes."

Gray was afraid if it changed anymore it wouldn't be recognizable. He should have been working on his second story, but his heart broken character depressed him more than he already was. Instead, he read a real bestseller. Maybe he would have his shot.

Lights illuminated the interior. He looked in the side-view mirror and watched as a cop walked up to the driver's side. Gray pressed the button to put down the window before he knocked.

"This isn't a parking spot."

"Did anyone complain?"

"Hell no. Who makes deliveries at ten on a Saturday night? You hanging around ready to throw on your cape and save a damsel in distress."

Gray smiled. "Isn't that your job, Benny? What kinda donuts you eating tonight?"

"Not me. Britney has me watching my weight."

"Smart wife. You have kids to stay healthy for."

"I heard you're coming to Dev's tomorrow."

"Yeah. I miss your wife."

Benny smirked. "If she nags me about my eating, you can have her."

"Nah, she only has eyes for you."

"I'm surprised you aren't out front flexing your muscles trying to pick up a socialite."

Gray frowned. "Are you all gonna give me shit, or can you let 'em know you already did?"

"No fun in that. So did you really date the gorgeous damsel?"

Gray shrugged. "We were friends until the entire world found out, including her family."

"Knowing you, you were looking for an excuse to bail, anyway."

Gray nodded. "Yeah. It was just a matter of time."

"I can't decide if I'm jealous or feel sorry for the hot chicks, but I love my wife and only having sex with her means I never sleep alone."

"Unless she makes you sleep on the sofa."

"Once. Only once because I was an idiot."

"You called her sister fat."

Benny shook his head. "I said you wouldn't be interested in her because you only like skinny girls with big boobs."

"That's not true." K didn't have big ones. Hers were perfect.

"The funny thing is her sister lost weight and got implants. She's single, but she's looking for a husband."

"I'll pass. I like Britney and wouldn't want to piss her off when I dumped her sister."

The radio crackled on and off. It went off again. "I gotta go. Tomorrow."

Gray smiled and shook his head. It didn't kill him when Benny gave him shit, but he expected to get more from all the guys. It was the wives with their romantic ideals that he wanted to avoid.

After a text from Monty, he pulled around front into a line of cars. He watched as four people approached a large SUV. His heart stopped when she looked in his direction. She laughed at something her driver said as he helped her into the car. Why couldn't he forget her? Seeing her brought back the memory of her, her taste and fragrance.

When he pulled forward, he went to the other side of the car to open the door. Sofia slid in first, then he nodded to Monty. "Good evening, sir?"

Monty didn't answer because he was already in the car so the show was over. As he pulled the car away from the curb, Monty said, "We had a nice evening. No visitor?"

"Benny found me parked illegally and talked until he was called away."

"Which do you want to hear? That she looked miserable most of the evening or that she danced with a guy close to her age."

"Her brother?"

Sofia laughed. "Not her handsome brother."

Monty demanded, "Should I be jealous?"

Sofia whispered her reply and Gray felt like a real chauffeur. After a few minutes, he interrupted them. "Please don't make Ana's brother in the backseat."

Monty laughed, and Sofia giggled. Gray felt the familiar emptiness in his chest. When they piled out of the car, Monty put his hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." He lied.

"Should we workout?"

Gray shook his head. "Your spicy wife is waiting for you. I don't want her to hate me."

Sofia turned around. "Never." She kissed his cheek. "Get some rest. You see your friends tomorrow."

"Yes, Mami."

Sofia said a string of Spanish he didn't understand. Gray shook his head and entered his empty apartment. He plugged in his phone in the kitchen and went to his room. Not having his phone nearby prevented him from sending texts when he had trouble sleeping in the middle of the night. His fingers wanted to tap, you looked beautiful tonight.

He slept but dreamed of K. She was dancing with him and then switched to another man's arms as she laughed at him.

With freshly made guac, he rang the bell at Devin's house. Angela Murray answered with a bright smile. "Gray, I'm so glad you came."

"I made some guac. I know you like it."

"I do. I can never get it to come out as good as yours."

Monty taught him or was it Trista?

He stepped into the house to a bunch of shouts and greetings. Kids were running around legs and the guys had beers.

Angela handed him a glass of water. "We have coke and lemonade too."

"Water's good. Thanks."

"I read the interview your friend gave to Rock & Roll. She skirted over your relationship."

Gray's jaw dropped. "When did it come out?"

"The week before last I think."

He was on the other side of the world. He stopped looking at the lies online, including rumors that Doyle was pregnant. "How was the article received?"

"Good. I guess. She's not trending anymore. Unhinged Rage is though. Tons of girls are telling about their experience with the band. They are all over TikTok."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, I can show you."

"Nah. I'm good."

"I'll send some links later in case you change your mind."

He nodded and went to stand with the guys. Benny said, "I heard you were away. Where did you go this time?"

"Some place warm. He's tan."

Gray always lied to protect Monty's secret. He didn't want anyone connecting him to the place Trista had been. "Just to the Caribbean for some rest."

"It must be nice," Dev said.

The island was nice, but Gray hadn't been in years.

Benny's wife said, "Leave Gray alone. Let's be glad he came."

Gray smiled at Benny and nodded. He loved these guys. They had his back. Monty was his best friend, but they were his gang.

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