24. Henry
24
HENRY
I swirl the amber liquid in my glass, watching it catch the low lighting of the private dining room. The familiar burn of scotch isn't doing much to take the edge off tonight.
"So this asshole actually smashed her restaurant window?" Leo leans forward, his jaw clenched tight.
"Not just the window. Spray-painted the walls with some bullshit about the restaurant's food being garbage." My knuckles turn white around the glass. "Monica's co-workers walked in and found the place trashed. Display case shattered. It's fucking personal."
Aston signals the waiter for another round. "And you're sure it's the ex?"
"Who else would it be? Benjamin's been showing up, trying to get back with her. Telling her he misses what they had." I down the rest of my scotch in one gulp. "What they had was him tearing her down every chance he got. Told her she'd never make it as a chef. Called her dreams stupid. Classic manipulative shit."
Leo's expression darkens. "And now he's escalating."
"I confronted him at his apartment." I accept the fresh glass from the waiter. "Warned him to back off. He just smirked like it was all a game."
"Sue the life out of this guy," Leo says, slamming his glass down. "I've got lawyers who'd take this case pro bono. Destruction of property, harassment, stalking—we'll bury him."
"Leo's right." Aston nods. "Hit him where it hurts. These types only understand consequences."
"Monica's hesitant to escalate things. She's worried it'll make him worse."
"And what happens when vandalism isn't enough anymore?" Leo asks. "This pattern doesn't just stop. Trust me, I've seen it before."
I run a hand through my hair. "That's what keeps me up at night. She finally told me everything. How he'd twist arguments to make her feel crazy. How he'd get jealous if she talked to other guys. Fuck, she couldn't even hang out with friends without him accusing her of something."
"You care about her," Aston says. It's not a question.
"Yeah." I don't bother denying it. "A lot more than I expected to."
"Then protect her," Leo says. "Document everything. Security cameras. Restraining order. The works."
"You're stepping into murky territory with this fake marriage, Henry," Aston says, eyeing me over his drink. "Sounds like it's becoming real for you."
I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with how easily he's reading me. "It's complicated."
"Is it?" Aston raises an eyebrow. "Are you falling in love with Monica?"
The question hits like a punch to the gut. I take another sip of scotch, buying time while my thoughts race.
"Love is a strong word," I finally say, my voice rougher than I intended. "We started this as an arrangement. Mutually beneficial. I needed my mother off my back, and she needed financial stability."
"Well, now you're just using that to distract us from the real shit going on," Leo cuts in. "You confronted her psycho ex. You're losing sleep worrying about her safety. You're sitting here with us instead of at some model's penthouse. You must be heading down that path."
I stare at the ice melting in my glass. "I care about her. A lot. More than I've cared about anyone in a long time."
"That's what we're saying." Aston leans forward. "This stopped being fake the moment you decided to step between her and danger. Trust me, I think Leo and I are the only dudes in this entire city who know exactly what you're going through right now."
"Look," Leo says, his tone softening slightly, "I've known you since we were kids. You don't do this—get involved in other people's messes. You keep things casual. Surface-level."
"Monica's different," I admit. The words feel raw coming out of my throat. "She's been through hell with this asshole, and she's still standing. Still fighting for her dreams. She's talented as fuck, but she doesn't even see it because he spent years convincing her she wasn't good enough."
"And now?" Aston asks.
"Now I want to be the one who reminds her how incredible she is." I run a hand through my hair. "Every damn day if I have to."
Leo exchanges a knowing look with Aston. "Sounds an awful lot like love to me, cousin."
I don't have a comeback for that. Maybe because I'm afraid he's right.
The waiter brings our entrées, and I welcome the distraction. The conversation shifts to safer territory as we dig into our steaks, but not for long.
"You know," Leo says between bites, "Olivia and I started as a business arrangement too."
I raise an eyebrow. "You don't need to tell me that story, Leo. It's already gone down as a legend. What Monica and I have is a bit different."
"Yeah, you needed to get your mother off your back. But it's a fake marriage all the same, is it not?" Leo counters. "Point is, I didn't expect to fall for her. But here we are, years later with a kid."
Aston nods, cutting into his ribeye. "Celia and I weren't much different. Started as a stunt because I got accused of having an affair with one of my dad's investor's wives. Crazy fucking shit. My dad wanted to rip my head off for that, and it wasn't even my fault."
"And now you're disgustingly in love," I mutter.
"Exactly." Aston points his fork at me. "So don't act like you're special because your fake relationship is turning real. It's practically a tradition at this point."
I can't help but laugh at that. "A fucked up tradition."
"But it works." Leo shrugs. "Sometimes the best relationships start when you're not looking for one."
I push food around my plate, appetite fading. "Monica's still dealing with a lot. Benjamin's not just an ex—he's a threat. She's only just started to open up about what she went through."
"So?" Leo challenges. "You think she needs to be completely healed before she can be with someone?"
"No, but?—"
"But nothing," Aston interrupts. "That's not how life works. People don't heal in isolation, then emerge perfect and ready for love. They heal while living, while connecting."
"Since when has Aston Saint-Pierre ever sounded so wise?" I ask with a smirk. "I must be dreaming."
He shrugs. "You missed out on a lot while you were over there in Europe, Blackwood."
I take a long sip of water, letting his words sink in. "And what if I make it worse? What if I push too hard when she's not ready?"
"That's the risk with any relationship," Leo says quietly. "But from what you've told us, she's strong as hell. Give her some credit."
He's right. Monica's resilience is what drew me to her in the first place.
"Benjamin complicates things," I admit. "As long as he's lurking around, she can't fully move forward."
"So help her deal with him," Aston says simply. "Not by fighting her battles, but by standing beside her while she fights them herself."
I nod slowly, considering their advice. Maybe it's not about waiting for the perfect moment, but about being there through the imperfect ones.