Alsie locked our bedroom door and has been ignoring me ever since. I needed to clear my head. From my kitchen window, I could see that Vincent's kitchen light is on. I wonder if it's him or Kenza up. I shoot him a quick text and he lets me know, he and the guys are in the den playing the game. Assholes didn't send me an invite. Slipping on my sneakers I leave out the house quietly. Not like Alsie would know, she's probably in a deep sleep by now.

The guys and I are reminiscing and joking about our college days when Chase drops a bomb on us.

"Are you sure about this?" I ask Chase and he keeps quiet.

"Dude, you can't be serious?" Miguel takes another swig of whiskey. "You can't leave."

"It's not about me. Charlotte wants to leave and that's what we will do."

"I don't want to sound like an ass, but I think it's for the best. We've been around Charles our entire adulthood life. And there are times we put her first and we can't lie and say we haven't." Vincent chimes in.

I don't know why we're having this conversation; I can fix the relationship with Alsie on my own. I don't need Charles doing things she shouldn't and inserting herself into my problems. We're not in college anymore. "She can't just leave. She has kids—she's a mother for fucking crying out loud. Chase, you have to know this isn't a good idea."

"If cupcake wants to go then we go."

"Why are you all acting like Charles is leaving the country? They're leaving Croakington Estate that's it. You want Alsie and your unborn child happy. We will still see them during holidays, right Chase?" Everett looks at Chase who makes a face.

"I see," Austin says. "She is giving us all space, right?"

Chase nods his head. "We all know how Charles is. She did a lot for us and this company. The least you all can do is let her have this. Don't worry though; you ladies still get to see me every day at work. Doesn't that count for anything?" Chase jokes, but it falls flat.

"I'm going to call her." Miguel takes out his phone. The phone rings once and goes to voicemail. "Did she just decline my call?"

"She's probably sleeping." Chase looks down at his watch. "She did get arrested and is probably exhausted. Also, listen guys, Charles was in the wrong tonight and if I hear any of you trying to sugar coat this shit with her—we will have a problem. She's a mother, not some emotionally hijacked 21-year-old. If she does bring it up you all better let her know she was wrong."

"Yeah about that, Darren, if you don't mind, tomorrow I would like to go and apologize to Alsie. I was a bit much earlier. Seeing Charles arrested definitely trigged me. It was like the party all over again."

"Couldn't believe she took the fall for us then too," Miguel adds. "Thankfully, the school didn't press charges. That would have been one hell of a story to tell all of our future kids."

The damn fire that burned down Croakington, I will never forget that day. I swear Wolf and Dove were the masterminds behind it. There was no way the kitchen would have caught on fire like that. No fucking way.

"Speaking of kids. Alsie is the mother of my child and I would like it if you guys could be a little nicer to her." I look around the room and the guys stare back at me. "Seriously, she didn't know the situation, and come on guys since when do we not treat women with respect?"

"I think I treat her nicely. I have no problem with her, I don't think any of us do, it's just you. Now if she wants us to treat her like Charles, no can do." Everett stretches. "We created one demon by mistake I refuse to do it again. Charles and my wife are enough headaches for me."

That's not what I'm asking. "She doesn't want to be treated like Charles, I think she just wants to know that you all will respect her and not exclude her—like how Austin did."

"I will apologize for how I treated her. After all, she is having my niece or nephew." Austin brings his cup to his lips. "Don't want any bad blood between us."

"You know, I think you," Vincent points at me. "You don't make her feel welcome, I never had this problem with Kenza and Charles. I always made Kenza feel and well aware that she was first." Vincent chimes in. I take in what all the guys are saying and some of it is true. Maybe it is my fault why Alsie feels this way. I would run to Charles for everything, maybe because I knew Charles would help me no matter what and wouldn't ask questions. Could I have been taking advantage of the soft spot Charles has for me?

"Age is just a number, but you gotta remember Alsie is 22. Just be patient and let her know she comes first before anyone. I mean she should, but I think she just wants to hear it from you. If you're still worried about Charles, don't. She wants to do this because in a way she thinks this will help you. She is trying to right her wrongs. So tomorrow you go to Alsie and let her know you choose her." Chase stands up next. "I need to get going. We have that damn board meeting in the morning."

"Wait my wife likes Charles so why am I being punished?" Everett shakes his head poking out his lips. "Those two are like Bonnie and Clyde."

Chase rolls his eyes walking out of the den. Everett is hot on his heels, complaining that Charles can't break the Christmas tradition this year. She had to make dinner. One by one the guys start to leave and I stay behind, still taking everything in. I know I can open up to Alsie and put her first, but what if it all backfires. The guys and Charles were my rock when I went through my breakup with Selena.

"You leaving?" Vincent raises an eyebrow at me. "Not trying to kick you out or anything, just asking."

"Yeah, let me get going." I finally stand.

Vincent walks me to the front door and I can still hear Everett screaming down the street at Chase to tell Charles not to be a traitor because he will be sending out a Christmas party email and she needs to make the food. I swear Everett hasn't changed much since college. Party emails for the company are his thing. No one sends them but Everett—Priscilla from HR always has a mini-heart attack when she reads them.

"Hey Darren," Vincent calls out to me.

"Yeah?"

"It's okay to let Alsie in, you need to let her in. She isn't Selena and she won't break our bonds. We're still going to be by your side. But if you want your happily ever after, you gotta open up. It took me a minute to realize that the women around us thought or still think Charles is our world. Yes, she plays an important role in it, but she isn't it. Kenza and our sons mean more than life itself to me. That's how Alsie and your child will be for you."

"Uh, thanks, man." I let out a deep breath. "I will talk to Alsie tomorrow. Night bro." I wave.

"Night."