Page 25 of Dr. Stone

“That’s all in your mind,” Jake interjected. “Just wait until your heart takes the wheel, and we all stand back and listen toyou bitch like a little girl the next time you see Andie out on a date with someone else.”

I frowned at the thought. “I don’t know what got into me last night,” I said, still baffled at my reaction to seeing Andie with another man.

“We all know what got into you because we went through the same shit,” Jim said. “I wasn’t looking for love or marriage. I was already married to my fucking empire, and the next thing I know, the woman I insisted on bringing to my English estate wound up becoming the woman I obsessed over until I found her again.”

“Yeah, be grateful that you know where to find your lady, Jace,” Avery chuckled. “Jim almost lost me for good. It’s strange how fate brings you back where you’re supposed to be, though.”

“It’s because she’s your soulmate,” Ash interjected. “That’s what happens when soulmates meet, you know?”

I grinned at Jake’s wife, who was always going on about all kinds of new-age hippie stuff.

“Yeah,” I hung onto that word. “Unfortunately, my scientific mind doesn’t work that way, Ash. And so, while it’s fluffy and cute, I don’t buy into it.”

“They all say that, but you will,” Ash grinned. “Trust me, you will.”

“Can we shift the focus back to how Jim’s shocked he even got an invite after outbidding my dad for that private charter company?” I said, trying to drag the conversation back where it belonged.

I wasn’t thinking about Andie. I wasn’t talking about her. She was a great time—one of the best—and that was all. This wasn’t my heart overruling my head. I’d never let that happen. I was just stuck on a flawless night with a stunning woman. Nothing more.

“Stone.”

That deep, smooth voice—laced with a Spanish accent—could only belong to one man. I turned to see Titus, immaculate as ever, grinning like the world belonged to him.

“Thank God your parents got married fifty years ago,” he said, shaking my hand. “I can’t imagine surviving this hellish life without you.”

“It’s been a while,” I replied, returning his grip. “I saw you at Seraphina last night.”

And just like that, jealousy sucker-punched me.

I’ll have you know she’s mine, I thought, grateful I kept it in my head—especially when I saw the knowing curl of his mouth.

“You should’ve said hello, hermano,” Titus said easily. “Though I might’ve been… distracted. I was enjoying a perfect dinner with a truly remarkable woman.” His gaze flicked to Ash while everyone else’s eyes slid to me. “Ashley, thank you for your graciousness at your lovely gallery. Your director guided me to the perfect piece—and was kind enough to let me take her out afterward. She intrigues me.”

Oh, fuck. Titus didn’t get intrigued—not by anyone. If she had him using that word, then whatever happened between him and Andie was more than I wanted to picture.

“Andie Miller is… intriguing,” I said evenly, ignoring the knowing smiles flashing around our circle.

“You’ve purchased art from her as well?” Titus asked, oblivious—or pretending to be—that he’d just crossed into enemy territory. We were both intrigued by the same woman, and that made him my problem.

Jake shot Jim a look that said,Is that what they’re calling it these days?Titus didn’t notice.

“No.” I kept my voice steady. Claiming her in front of her friends would make me look like a jealous idiot. “She and I had drinks on Jake’s yacht.”

That was all I was giving them. And from the flicker of irritation on Jake’s face, he’d been hoping I’d spill more—maybe even planning for it since the night Andie and I hooked up.

“Just drinks?” Titus pressed, his tone dripping with amused disbelief, like I was some rookie.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not one to kiss and tell. You know that.”

Which was a joke—everyone here knew I had no issue swapping hookup stories. My friends’ muffled laughs confirmed how unconvincing I sounded.

Titus scanned the group, his smirk pure Hawk—cocky, amused, and utterly sure of himself. “Well, that’s a blatant lie.” His gaze lingered on me, curious now. “Makes me wonder why you won’t share when it’s obvious there’s more to tell.” He almost looked pitying. Almost.

“That’s the million-dollar question, Hawk,” Jake said, finally stepping into the ring.

Because why not? That’s what best friends are for—piling on when you’re most exposed.

“Ah,” Titus said, eyes calculating. Too calculating. This was a natural-born shark circling.