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“You could at least tell the rest of them,” she said, keeping her voice low.

We’d arrived earlier than the others, and I’d taken advantage of it to ask Alex for advice.

“Groundbreaking,” I whispered, throwing her a half-hearted sneer. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Don’t get like that,” she deadpanned. “I’m actually trying to help you right now.”

But I shook my head. “It would only cause more drama than necessary,” I explained. “Things are complicated enough without havingallof you on my back about Mia.”

“Which isn’t going to change until you adm-”

“No,” I interrupted, cutting her off immediately. “Time and place, and this is neither.”

“All I’m saying is that maybe you’d feel a little less burdened with this secret if you let us help you,” she said. “It’s just a suggestion, and one you should probably consider because you’re still wearing your wedding band.”

My eyes snapped to my left hand and widened in horror.

Fuck.

I wrenched it off my finger and stuffed it into my pocket.

“This is going to be the death of me,” I groaned.

“What is?”

Hayden’s sleek voice cut through my inner turmoil and Alex and I looked up to find her and Frankie a few steps away.

“You,” I shot back with a grin, happy to see my friends regardless of the drama I’d practically inflicted on myself. “Hey, Frankie.”

“Hi, Reid,” Frankie replied, flashing her dimpled smile before sitting next to Hayden. “Hi, Alex.”

Alex spared them both a wink over the brim of her glass, her brow arching when she spotted the rest of our little group.

“Didn’t start without us, I hope,” Taylor said, her arm linked with Cameron’s. Behind them, Elliot chattered away on the phone, her smile soft.

“Always,” Alex and I said in tandem, raising our glasses at the same time.

Frankie giggled at Hayden’s scowl, and Taylor looked downright appalled.

“I can’t believe we’re still friends after all these years,” she huffed with a mocking grin, sitting next to me while the others chose their seats.

“Who else would we have if not for each other?” Alex hummed, and I laughed.

“Can’t argue with that logic.” I chuckled.

We ordered food amidst the usual flood of news and interesting developments in our businesses and lives. It was something I held onto when I needed it most; that no matter what happened, there would always be a sense of normalcy if I was at brunch with them.

“Reid, we heard the news,” Hayden said, leaning forward slightly to look at me.

My heart dropped through the ground beneath my feet, and it was sheer will that kept my gaze from darting over to Alex.

“What news?” I asked hesitantly.

“Pioneer of the Year?” she said, resting her chin on her fist. “You didn’t even tell us about it!”

“It wasn’t reallymyaward,” I pointed out, and heat bloomed in the apples of my cheeks. “All I did was invest in the right game and fund the creation.”

“Yadda yadda, blah blah blah,” Hayden drawled, rolling her eyes theatrically. “It’s always someone else’s hard work; could you just take that award for what it is?”