But then she walks in wearing a floor-length glittery green dress that shows off all her curves and…

Well, I’m only a man.

I pull on the hem of my suit jacket to remove any wrinkles even though I had it freshly pressed this morning, polish off my glass of champagne, then grab Oliver’s out of his hand and down that too.

“Jesus, dude, slow down.” There’s a humored smile on his lips.

“You tell me that when your ex-fiancée walks in wearing a dress like that, and you…” …had a moment of weakness and slept with her last night.

I didn’t tell Oliver, obviously. Knowing he and Rowan invited Iris here under the guise of trying to get us to remember what we had makes this all the more complicated. Because, dammit, Iamremembering.

And if I had held her all night last night, I think I might have gotten down on bended knee again this morning right in her hotel room.

If Oliver and Rowan find out about last night, they’re going to start encouraging me to be stupider, and I’m already fine at that on my own.

“I mean this platonically, but damn, green looks good on her.”

I glower at Oliver.

“Platonically! I promise. I think my wife is the sexiest woman in any room.” Oliver glances over at Rowan, who is chatting with some coworkers across the room. Oliver grins at me. “Iris is all yours.”

“Dude, that’s not happening.” It doesn’t come out as strong as I’ve been able to muster over the past week.

Oliver shrugs. “I’m just saying. You’re hot, she’s hot. You have been historically hot together in the past.”

I tuck my tongue into my cheek, swiping another glass of champagne from a passing serving tray.

Oliver shrugs. “You don’t want to make anything happen, fine, but then you can’t throw a fit if Iris goes home with someone tonight.”

My stomach drops. “What?”

“You heard me.”

I nearly shatter the delicate champagne glass in my hand.

“Don’t act surprised. She’s a pretty girl, and she deserves to have fun if that’s what she wants.”

“Isthat what she wants?” Desperation oozes through my words.

“Rowan mentioned the two of them talked about it the other night,” Oliver replies as if there’s nothing off about what he’s saying.

I know last night I had Rowan.Iwas the man she went home with last night, but given how she reacted to me afterward, I don’t think that will happen again. Not by a longshot.

“Has she…” I watch Iris as she greets Ash and Rye, giving them hugs and kisses on the cheeks. “Does she do that often?”

“Not my business.”

“Bullshit. You’ve already divulged plenty that isn’t your business, so just tell me–”

Oliver interrupts, staring me dead in the eye. “Why do you care, man? You’re broken up. For good. Or so you say.”

I lick my lower lip. “Are you on my side or not?”

“We’re adults. There are no sides. There’s just seeing your friends be miserable and knowing they could be happier together and wishing they’d stop being so prideful and see that.” Essentially, Oliver just admitted in a circular way to wanting Iris and me back together.

I shake my head. “I need to…go talk to someone else.”

“Do what you gotta do, bro. Just know you can’t run away forever.”