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Hazels shakes her head. “Not really. He pretty much has only been able to drag her out of her house to take their hike a few times since this all happened.”

“Hmm, that’s interesting.” I rub my pointer finger and thumb along my jaw.

She busts out giggling, startling both Gail and I. We look to each other then to her as she continues to laugh. She holds her stomach as she leans forward bracing her other hand on Gail’sdesk. With a peek over her arm at both of us, she laughs harder at our confusion.

“You good? What’s so funny?” I attempt to break through her laughter.

She leans back as she wipes both of her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I can’t believe it actually worked.” She bursts into another fit of laughter.

My eyebrows are practically glued together on my forehead.What is she talking about?

Hazel leans over placing her hand on my arm resting on the arm of the chair. Laughing she says, “Did you really believe she is dating Chase?” Seeing the confusion still on my face, she laughs even harder. “Oh my god, you did!”

“Well, aren’t they?” I say as I push myself out of the chair.What is she saying? Aren’t they dating?

She leans away from me still laughing.

“What aren’t you saying Hazel?” I growl out as I pace the room.

At the tone of my voice, she attempts to cut off her laughter. “Oh, no! Listen, have you ever heard of a situationship?”

“A what?”

“A situationship? It’s where two people come together for companionship, to have ‘someone’, but there aren't any feelings between them.”

“What the fuck is that? What does it mean?”

“Essentially Chase and Aspen are nothing but friends. The situationship gives them someone to laugh with, cry with, andgo places with without feeling like a burden to the other. When Aspen realized she would never have the mate she deserved, she decided that something was better than nothing. Chase has to find his mates still. Last time I talked with them both, they were discussing helping him find his mates.”

My anger rushes out of me as I deflate.This is all my fault. She is only with him because I was such a jackass that she put herself into something where she at least had someone.“Thank you for letting me know.”

Hazel dips her head. “I’m sorry for laughing, but it was too perfect. She didn’t think you would actually get jealous of Chase since you know they can’t mate. After the last time that you had another female in your lap knowing she would be there,” she says, glaring at me, “she decided it was time to have a male for herself. If you could do it, then so could she. Too bad that she has never taken it any further than casual dating. I don’t even think she has been with someone… well, you know. Sexually.”

“What are you not saying?”

Huffing, she says, “Men can be so dense. Unlike you, Aspen has never been with a single male sexually. She tried once but ended up vomiting at the idea of it. Seems only one of you had that issue.”

I pace back and forth in the tiny office. I didn’t know that. That changes everything. Not the being untouched part, don’t get me wrong, that excites me. But I thought I would have to fight Chase for her. No, instead I just have to replace him and show her that I’m ready to be that shoulder for her, the laughter she needs, and the rock she deserves.

Hazel claps her hands down on her thighs. “Alright, I’ve been here long enough today.” She puts a hand on my shoulder as shestops next to me. “Leave the past in the past, Warrick. Show her that you can be the right guy for her future. I’ll see you tonight after I close the coffee shop.” With that, she walks out of Gail’s office.

I am still pacing hours later when Hazel knocks on my front door. I’m worried that she will hate it or think it isn’t goodenough. Pulling the door open, I find Hazel with a skeptical smile on her face.

“Come on in.” I wave to her as I move my arm out into the open space behind me.

My front door opens directly into my living room that flows right into the island that separates the living room from the kitchen. There is a hallway off to the side that leads to the master suite and the second bedroom. The room that we are working in is right off the living room on the left side. Thankfully, we don’t have to walk far because I get the impression that she isn’t keen on being here, even though she agreed to help.

“I don’t need to worry about some girl walking out of that bedroom, do I?” she asks as she points to the door at the end of the hallway.

Shaking my head, I say, “There hasn’t been a single woman in this house in over six months. So, no, you don’t have to worry about that. You’re the first woman to be here since I decided to fix my shit and become the man I’m supposed to be.”

She hums as she takes off her boots and hangs her purse on the hooks by the front door. “Fair enough.” She claps her hands together. “Where is this room?”

I jolt forward as I move towards the door right behind the sofa in the living room. “Here,” I say as I open the door and flip on the temporary light.

Stepping into the center of the room, I envision what it will be like to bring Aspen here to show her the same thing.Maybe I will blindfold her?I watch as Hazel moves toward the room, taking hesitant steps. The minute the light from the room shines across her face and she peeks around the door frame, her mouthdrops open in surprise. A soft gasp leaves her mouth as she scans across the room.

“Warrick… it’s perfect.”