When Mitch awoke, sunlight streamed through his blinds and a warm body lay in his arms. It took his brain a second to register her black hair pressed against his chest, coconut scent, and the birthmark on the side of her neck. He blinked a few more times. Had he slept through the entire night without waking her with his nightmares? And why had she stayed? He'd been a needy wreck, and she was dating Tom.

The clock read 8:00, leaving him time to scramble together decorations so she wouldn't get in trouble with Tom. Did that guy even realize how lucky he was?

Against his better judgement, Mitch kissed Maria on the shoulder as he slipped away, and he could have sworn she smiled. He left a note about running to the supermarket on her purse.

When he returned from the store, his apartment was empty again—like her presence had all been a dream except for the note on his nightstand, which now said: 'Thanks for trusting me, bestie. I've really missed you.' Mitch read it three times before tucking it away in a safe spot.

***

One of the kindergarten teachers did a cannonball into the apartment's pool, splashing the reluctant partiers who hadn't jumped in yet. Some chatted on the sides, including Maria and Tom, while others sat on the benches and chairs with plates of food. Shawn and Mitch stood in the chest-deep water with a view of the whole gathering.

Shawn chuckled. "I haven't seen you this serious at a party in years."

As much as Mitch loved the energy of Maria's reggaeton playlist and the laughter surrounding them, it lacked the warmth of yesterday's embrace. He'd trade anything to loop in that moment for the rest of the evening. "The mood hasn't hit me yet."

"Any reason?"

Mitch inhaled the chlorine-tinged air. "I told Maria about Em." It still hurt to say her name as the image of her corpse flashed before his eyes, but it was easier than yesterday.

Shawn's jaw dropped for a moment. "That's huge. How did it go?"

"I made a fool of myself and broke down the second I said her name." He hadn't been that emotional about anything since coming to Thailand. Even today, he still felt raw and nervous as to how Maria would react to him. So far, he'd only hazarded a wave as she showed up with Tom.

"How'd she take it?"

"She stuck around, made me supper." He couldn't say more without putting her relationship at risk, even if their intentions were innocent. It had opened up an emptiness he'd forgotten he possessed. But he couldn't keep relying on her for support when she was dating Tom. Hopefully, Shawn didn't mind being his emotional crutch since he'd set this all in motion.

"Did you tell her how you feel about her?"

Mitch averted his eyes to where Maria sat close to Tom, running her fingers through his hair. Why did Shawn want to break up Tom and Maria? He'd been so adamant that Mitch keep his distance in November. "And ruin what she has with Tom? That's an actual relationship—not whatever the hell I'd be capable of."

With the way she beamed at Tom and leaned in for a kiss, Mitch would hardly suspect she'd ever had feelings for himself. He was unsure how long he'd last today and why he thought a pool was a suitable setting. It displayed what he lost like a flashing billboard—if only he wasn't an emotional screw-up, unable to tell Maria how he felt.

Shawn followed Mitch's gaze. "You're not giving yourself enough credit. Everyone's happy the first few weeks they start seeing someone. It's the thrill of something new. You said for months she wasn't that into him. She cared enough to take care of you when you're hurting, and it's no secret that Tom doesn't trust you."

"That was platonic. Now, she's realized that a bland, dependable man is as good—no a better boyfriend than an exciting asshole with issues."

Shawn ran his hands through the water. "She'd be good for you."

"And I'd be terrible for her. Should I tell her in front of Tom and ruin the party?"

Shawn narrowed his eyes. "Don't be a jerk. Tell her later and give her time to decide. If she doesn't know you like her, she's not choosing Tom over you."

"It was a nice idea, but I lost my chance."

With a raised eyebrow, Shawn said, "Don't be so sure."

As a Thai beauty in a black, plunging v-neck one-piece with a thin white open robe walked in from the changing rooms, several heads turned. Damn, if only they didn't work together, and she wasn't Maria's close friend. She'd make a perfect distraction from losing Maria, although Shawn would kill him, and it could go as badly as the last time when he called the woman Maria while they hooked up. While Mitch, Shawn, and a few other guys dropped their jaws, none left their equally hot date in the pool to greet Prae.

From where she sat alone, Maria watched the exchange with a neutral expression then turned her head to catch Mitch's gaze. A grin slid onto her lips, and her body shook as she laughed, including the gorgeous breasts that attracted his attention like the magnetic North Pole. After Shawn nodded in her direction, Mitch swam to the striking Filipina in the orange bikini.

He stood beside her as the cooler, yet still warm, winter air hit his skin. "Enjoying the party?

"Yeah, it turned out great. I can't believe you set this all up yourself this morning." She stared at the basic silhouette cardstock figures he'd used to represent different countries and some postcards and souvenirs he'd nicked from his and Shawn's collection.

"My potluck dish was pretty simple. I had the time," he said.

"It was sweet of you to do. How are you feeling?" She focused on him without looking at Tom for a second, despite the man's interest in Prae.

"Better. Had a wonderful sleep."

"Funny you should mention it. I did too."

Mitch fed off the energy of Maria's smile. Was she flirting with him or just being nice after seeing him fall apart? It had to be the latter.

Tom's laugh carried to their end of the pool while he chatted with Prae with an ear-to-ear grin. He didn't glance at Maria once. Part of Mitch simmered. How could someone who claimed to care for her leave her like this?

"Our guest of honour is getting a good welcome," Mitch said.

Maria looked at Prae, who stepped closer to Tom and giggled. To Mitch's surprise, Maria smiled. "Yeah, she looks happy."

Was Maria that naïve, or did she like Tom enough? Mitch shook away the question. She'd been kissing Tom minutes ago. It wasn't that. Tom's ex devastated him by cheating, so Mitch doubted Tom could do that to anyone else. Still, Mitch's gut clenched.

"It doesn't bother you?"

Maria shrugged and ran her fingers through her silky hair. "It's Tom. Should it? Though I used to think my ex would never betray me either too until I found him with my best friend."

Mitch fought the urge to wrap his arms around her to make that pained expression vanish. She had a point about Tom. The guy harboured too much animosity toward cheaters to hurt Maria in that way. He and Prae were friends; though friends seldom got that much attention and enthusiasm around a romantic interest. Stop, Mitch's mind whispered. You're just trying to twist things in your favour. "Tom's a good person. Your ex was a tool."

Maria nodded and brushed her hair behind her shoulder, fully exposing her bright orange bikini.

"I see Tom returned your swimwear," Mitch said.

Her smile grew. "Yeah, a touch stretched-out, but still wearable."

Despite Tom's efforts on their little Northern getaway, the text banter Mitch had shared with her was fresh in her mind. Perhaps she wasn't as into Tom as he thought. Damn, did he ever want to lean in and kiss her; but that was a terrible idea.

"Let me help adjust it."

In jest, Mitch reached forward. But she caught his wrist in her hand. He held both arms up in front of his chest, and she gripped both wrists. He rocked her from side to side to loosen her grip until they toppled over together underwater. As they stood back up, he placed his hands on her waist. After flicking the hair out of her eyes, a smile played on her lips as she sneaked glances at him. Tom still hadn't looked at the two of them. Part of Mitch wanted to push it further to see if the redhead would notice. But he knew better. Instead, he pressed his palms to his sides and leaned back against the pool's edge.

"To think I spent all that time on my hair," Maria said.

He chuckled. "You know you look sexy right now, if not more than before... and you're baiting me."

She smiled and laughed. "You haven't been yourself lately."

"The woman I usually flirt with has a boyfriend."

"She has started seeing someone. Nothing's official yet."

His stomach shifted. This game could get dangerous, especially with her in that bikini. Not to mention the other ways he craved her company after she hadn't turned him away when he broke down yesterday.

"Oh c'mon, it's Tom. You might as well call the Mona Lisa a rough sketch. You two are always together."

Maria studied him as she wrung out her hair. Water glistened on her brown skin. "You're not a guy who gets hung up on one girl. Isn't variety what you crave?"

No, not at all.

"It's more exciting, right?" Her chestnut eyes challenged him to reveal his truth.

He didn't need exciting; he needed her. Her soft lips, curious hands, and brain that always found the right words and questions, even when he preferred not to hear them. She was perfect in every damned way, and he hated that it had taken him so long to realize it.

"I thought I'd behave for now." Despite his statement, he hadn't been with anyone since Red the night he turned down Maria's offer. As fate had it, another redhead created this debacle.

"This is behaving?" She pointed at her wet hair cascading over her collarbone and along the curves of her breasts.

It was too much to ignore. He glanced at an occupied Tom before leaning close enough to whisper in her ear. "I could have done worse, and you know it." She shivered, but it was probably from the cool water.

Not wanting to tempt fate, he invited Maria to chat with Prae and Tom. She grabbed her towel, but the air warmed Mitch's skin enough after drying off that he left his on the chair. Most women had a similar reaction to Maria yesterday as their gazes followed him, but it didn't faze him.

"We're glad you could make it, Prae," Mitch said.

Tom stepped back from the Thai beauty. His eyes widened, and he wiped his hands on his swim shorts. Prae pulled her robe closed more.

"You should try the food," Mitch said to Prae. "We have Mexican, American, Canadian, Italian, Greek, Filipino—if that's Maria's sinigang soup, it's fantastic—and Thai too if you haven't gotten enough that in your life already."

Tom stared at Mitch before replying. "Yeah, everything's over here." When Maria came closer, he leaned toward her and asked which one was her soup. For someone who claimed to be super into her, he wasn't scoring many points today. Maybe Mitch would get to confess his feelings. In the meantime, Prae needed to be cheered up.

"I heard everyone had a great time celebrating New Year with your family," Mitch said.

Prae crossed her arms over her robe. "Yes, it was very nice."

"Can I get you anything?" Mitch asked.

She stepped closer and said under her breath, "I am not interested."

"In any food?" Mitch offered her a paper plate. "If you're not hungry now, I'm sure they'll still be lots later, but it tastes nicer when it's hot."

"Thank you." Prae took the dish, and her gaze flickered to Tom and Maria for the third time. She tensed when he rested his hand on the small of Maria's back.

Oh shit, no wonder Prae had a terrible holiday. She was into Tom. Mitch distracted her with descriptions of the different dishes as they circled the table while Maria and Tom were absorbed in conversation. Mitch checked the pool area to check if anyone had invited outsiders, but everyone looked familiar. Couldn't Emma find one guy in her endless list of hookups who was clingy and in Bangkok? Although, a man who'd slept with Emma would appeal to Prae. That poor woman looked ready to crawl into a hole.

"Prae, you look great, doesn't she, Maria?" Mitch placed a taco and some pasta on his plate. Since he still made Prae uncomfortable, he hoped involving Maria would downplay the creep factor of the compliment. Prae smiled politely.

"I wish I could pull off those bathing suits. You look amazing."

The smile grew until Tom put his arm around Maria's waist. "You could pull one off."

"Tom, doesn't Prae look good in that swimsuit?" Mitch asked.

Tom stared at the food table then at Prae for half a second. "I hadn't noticed, but yeah, it's a nice style for you."

Prae looked like she wanted to become a silhouette on the wall. That was a terrible plan. Way to go, Mitch. Shawn sat alone at a table on the opposite side of the pool. Mitch served himself a bowl of Maria's soup and Prae's Thai Khao Soi dish, then grabbed some steak and salad. Prae had taken small portions of each dish too. "Want to join Shawn and me? I'm positive Emma will pop by in a second. We're over at the other end."

"Sure, thank you, Mitch."

As Maria mouthed 'thanks', Tom still was oblivious.

Shawn stood to give Prae a hug when she arrived at the table. He flipped his shades onto his head. "Glad you came to our little get-together."

Prae laughed at the dozen foreign coworkers and a few of their significant others. "You have a funny idea of little. But thank you for the food. I am very excited to try everything. Did you make any?"

"Mitch and I covered the barbequed steaks and the Greek and Caesar salads."

"How did you barbeque?"

"We borrowed one from a street vendor," Shawn said.

Prae raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "Borrowed?"

"We have friends in the neighbourhood. You know Lawana who sells pork satays and salad?" Shawn asked.

Prae laughed, glancing over at Mitch. "No need to say more, I understand."

Mitch frowned. Lawana had a reputation, especially among the foreign staff. She was young, adventurous, and beautiful, but Mitch made a point not to complicate future interactions. As pretty as she was, he loved those pork satays more than a quick thrill.

"Mitch tutors Lawana's younger brother, so she has a soft spot for him." Shawn took another sip of the sangria that created this secret-spilling chatterbox.

The expression on Prae's face confirmed why Mitch tried to keep this to himself. Altruism and his reputation didn't mesh well. "A street vendor has the money to hire a foreign tutor?"

"He's a sweet kid, and her family can't afford to send him to a private school. I stop by a few times a month."

"Oh," Prae's gaze changed, lingering on Mitch's face for a few seconds. "That's kind of you."

"Don't think I'm too nice. I eat a lot of free pork satays and home-cooked soup for basically talking to the kid." His lessons were often more involved, but she didn't need to hear that. "And you brought this Khao Soi, right?" Mitch inclined his head toward the bowl with coconut broth, chicken, and two sets of thick and crispy noodles.

Prae nodded. "I didn't realize how popular it was with foreigners."

"Tom won't stop raving about it so I have to try it." Shawn grabbed Mitch's bowl.

She smiled a little. "Maria cooked the one he had."

"What? That woman has been holding out on me." But a glance in her direction reminded Mitch he'd burned the bridge where he could receive her cooking and affections. She reserved those for Tom now. Last night was just a pity exception.

"This one is kick-ass, Prae," Shawn said after a spoonful of noodles.

"I'd compliment it too, but someone couldn't get their own bowl," Mitch teased.

"You've known me your whole life, buddy. You should have grabbed two bowls."

Prae giggled, prompting Shawn to raise an eyebrow. "You are so serious at work. It is different to see you relaxed."

"Let's get you a glass of delicious sangria so you can do the same," Shawn said. "Mitch, you want one too?"

Mitch's gaze flickered to Maria, who laughed at something Tom said. The hollow feeling grew in Mitch's chest, and if he didn't take care of it, he'd be too tempted to spend more time with her. "Yeah, thanks."