I have no idea what's going on with Kade, but it's piqued my curiosity. Taking two glass tumblers and a frozen bottle of homemade Limoncello, I walk out the front door of the house, avoiding the gathering in the back. I slip into the trees on the edge of the property, using the thick brush to conceal myself. When I get to Kade's door, I lightly knock, and his muffled voice says to come in. I open the door and find him sitting at the small table next to the window with his guitar in his hands. His hair is a mess like he's run his fingers through it dozens of times. Our picnic basket from earlier lays open at his bare feet, and the bottle of wine sits before him—the cork popped and the bottle a third of the way empty. I say nothing as I ease into the chair across from him and remove the cap from the Limoncello. I fill my glass half-full and take a sip.

Kade sets his guitar down and leans back in his chair.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask.

"I don't know; do you want to talk about it?" He cocks an eyebrow and finishes his glass of wine.

I throw my head back and down my drink. Kade pours me another glass of Limoncello, filling my cup to the top. I stall by taking a couple more gulps. My cheeks are warm, and my mind is fuzzy, but the alcohol gives me the courage to say, "My problem involves your least favorite person, are you sure you want to hear this?"

Kade takes a massive swig straight from the wine bottle. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and gestures for me to carry on.

"Nonna is not fond of Asher," I state.

"Another reason I love that woman."

"Do you want to elaborate?"

"Not really."

"So obnoxious," I mumble and take another drink.

Kade sits back in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest. "Tell me what you see in...Asher."

This is going to be a long night, and I question if I have enough alcohol to get me through it. Asher is a massive part of my life, and if Kade and I are going to be friends, he needs to accept it, or our budding relationship is going to come to a quick halt.

I stare at the light-yellow liquid in my glass and say, "After Mom died, we moved to this small town outside of San Francisco. I didn't know anybody. My dad was trying to put his life back in order, Nicky just submerged himself in college, and Nonna was there doing all she could to pull all of us out of this major depression. We had no clue what we were going to do without Mom. I just felt so alone, like I had nobody to talk to and just be normal with. Every conversation was about my thoughts and feelings, and I needed a break from that—to start being myself again. That's when Asher came into my life. He was easy to talk to, and he made me forget about the gaping hole in my chest that my mom used to fill. We became best friends, and two years later, we became more. We were inseparable until the day he left for Los Angeles to record his demo. If I had not met him, I would have been lost."

I glance at Kade, the bottle of wine in his hand is almost empty. He watches me with a worry line in the middle of his forehead. I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with how vulnerable I feel under his gaze. I can't believe I just opened up to someone who hates my boyfriend.

"What about you? Are you seeing anyone?" I ask, needing to reroute his attention.

"I'm on the road for months on end. It wouldn't be fair." He finishes the last of the wine. " I've always wanted the freedom to experience whatever I wanted to on tour without worrying about someone else. It's just not fair to the other person and myself." I admire how resolute he is about his choice not to be in a relationship.

"So, all these years of touring and you've never had a girlfriend?" I finish my drink, fill the glass again, and scoot it across the table to him.

"I didn't say that. I've tried, but it never works out. The strain on her and the temptation for me can be too much; not everyone is strong enough to say no. It's only going to work if I find the one, I want to know she's it and be true to her. I refuse to wreck someone with my career." He looks at the glass and holds it up. "Are you trying to get me drunk?"

"I'm pretty sure we're already there, Mr. Slone." Now that I have acknowledged it, I can tell that I slur my speech. "In fact, I think I need to use your restroom." I stand and my legs are like Jell-O. Kade jumps to his feet and puts out his arms to steady me.

"I'm good." I shoo away his hands. The Limoncello is stronger than I thought, and it wasn't until I stood that I felt the effects.

I finish my business, wash my hands, and sink to the fluffy mat on the bathroom floor. The room spins out of control and my eyelids grow heavy. The tile on the cold floor soothes my warm cheeks, and I'm convinced I could sleep comfortably here tonight.

Tap. Tap.

"Are you all right?" Kade asks easing the door open.

Every one of my five senses are super sensitive, yet I can't force myself to use one of them. My limbs feel like heavy metal, and I'm not strong enough to lift them. I open my mouth to reply but only an affirmative grunt comes out. Arms wrap behind my neck and knees, and I'm lifted off the ground. I burrow my face into Kade's shirt as he walks me to the bed and lies me on top. He removes my shoes and pulls the sheets around me. I snuggle down into the warmth of his mattress and take a deep breath—it smells like Kade.

"I wish you knew that you deserve better, Ari," he whispers and brushes his lips over my forehead.

My body may be in a semi-comatose state, but my mind is fully functioning. He called me Ari; nobody has called me by that in over four years—not since my mom passed away. The nickname has been off-limits, but there is something consoling in hearing him say it. I hope it's not just a slip of the tongue.