We spend the day cruising around in my Jeep to current hot spots in LA. None of the guys have been before, so it's fun taking them to iconic places. Mostly all the places Cece and I love.

Santa Monica Pier. Venice Beach. Hollywood Boulevard. Typical tourist trap shit.

After a quick afternoon run at the Memorial Coliseum (where Nate shows us all up), we head back to my apartment for showers and lunch. I text Cece to meet up so I can introduce her to the guys, but she's stuck in a shoot all afternoon.

The guys tell me they'll all be in NYC next weekend. I get updates on Trix and Meg and Whit, and the baby. Can't help but notice a walking on eggshell vibe when Travis mentions all the bridesmaids will be there next weekend.

Of course I know Emmy is going. She wouldn't not go just because of me. Not that she'd have any reason not to. She's the one who didn't use the plane ticket.

I think about the group text, about the pic Emmy sent with herself and some guy. I know his name, but he'll always just be some guy to me.

Zero reason at all for NYC to be weird between any of us.

...

We go back to Edge for dinner and a night cap. Cece is finally able to join us around 8 PM. She arrives, looking celebrity as ever, with Randa and Florence and a third girl in tow.

I know all my boys are wifed up or soon to be wifed up, but it doesn't hinder their appreciation of the smoke show models on the rooftop right now.

"Cece, these are the guys," I say, fanning my arms out. "Travis, Alex, Nate –This is Cece."

They're all charmed, instantly taken by her rapturous beauty. Seriously who even uses that word anymore and why does Cece make me want to have better vocabulary.

"Hi guys. I'm so glad to officially meet you," Cece says, beaming.

She hugs them one by one, and I'm surprised by how easy the introduction feels. Like maybe I've always been dating Cece and the guys have always known her.

"So what did you guys do today? Was Brooks a good host?" Cece asks, leaning her head into my shoulder.

"Course I was." I squeeze her waist.

Travis and Alex start recapping our day, I finish my drink and leave it at the bar.

Randa makes us fresh caipirinhas and we settle into the couches beneath the infested pergola. A nice floral scent invades the air and I can't tell if it's the flowers or Cece beside me.

The night is filled with laughter and the sounds of photos snapped by Randa. Even Florence is more personable than usual.

Nate asks Cece tons of questions about the movie premiere. Apparently Meg showed him the pics of us on the red carpet. Cece goes on and on about being semi-famous but how she doesn't think of herself as a celebrity.

I laugh to myself. Only a celebrity would say that.

It is the most relaxing night in a while and I wonder if it's because of having the guys here or just being happy that Cece has finally met them sans any disaster.

The girls leave around 10 PM. Cece has an early start in the morning, so I can't blame her. I kiss Cece goodbye and promise not to stay too late and already apologize for how rowdy the boys will be later.

"Okay, let's have it," I say, falling into the chair again.

"Have it?" Travis asks, doling out cigars across the fire pit table.

"What do you mean?" Nate asks, polishing off his drink.

"Cece." I stare at them, waiting.

"Great. Love her." Nate says.

"Seems really great." Travis agrees. He flips the lighter cap open with his hand. "Super chill. Suits you."

"And you?" I narrow my eyes at Alex. Can't help but notice he's been awfully quiet this whole time.

"Super cool," Alex parrots Travis. "Seems down to earth."

"Sure," I answer, unconvinced.

"Seriously, lock it up man. What's it been, a year?" Nate asks.

"You thinking about marriage with her?" Alex asks. I can't place something in his voice.

I shrug nod but can't help smiling. Travis picks this up real quick.

"Dude?" He asks.

"I mean," I roll my eyes. "I might have a ring."

"WO-HOO!" Nate shouts. "Another wedding finally. Don't skimp out like this douche."

Alex shoves Nate's shoulder in defense.

"We'll see." I pull out my phone at stare at the favorited photo of the ring again.

"Sooner the better," Nate says.

"Yea, what are you waiting for?" Travis asks.

A wave of cigar smoke crashes against my face. It smells like Harold's from last week.

"Nothing, really," I admit, taking the lighter from Alex and inhaling my own cigar.

"So it's settled then," Nate says, clapping his hand on my shoulder. "Our Brooksy boy is all grown up and getting married."

I laugh into my cigar and then place it on the edge of the table and stand up, stretching. I go over to the bar for some beers. No more fancy cocktails now that Randa's gone.

I crack a cold one and lean against the railing that overlooks the backside of Edge. So the guys approve. What am I waiting for? Cece is absolutely perfect. We are absolutely perfect. I can't imagine it getting any better.

"Yo."

Alex joins me at the railing, avoiding eye contact and looking sus as shit. He gets like this when he wants to say something but doesn't want to say it.

"What's up?" I ask, calling him out without actually calling him out.

"You seem pretty talked into it," he says, shrugging.

"I wasn't talked into it. I was already into it," I defend. "They just gave a confidence booster to make me realize."

"Realize? Realize what?" He frowns.

I stare at Alex, analyzing his vibe and wondering what on earth his end game is right now.

"That I don't have any reason to wait. That I'm just scared for other people," I say. He catches my meaning of other people.

"Maybe you only think you're scared for other people, but you're really scared for you." Alex shrugs again.

"Dude, come on with the codes. Quit dancing around. What is this shit?" I half laugh-half ask.

"Cece is great. Really I like her," Alex says. "But it isn't about ending up with someone great."

"It's not?" I raise my eyebrow.

"It's –Who you're supposed to end up with." He sticks his hands in his pocket and looks out over the railing.

"Uh huh," I say. "Right. Where's this coming from?"

I can hardly imagine Emmy or Trix or anyone else putting him up to this.

"Just from me." Alex glances at me again. "You know I've always been team you and Em."

"Funny way of showing it." I cross my arms.

"Dude come on. I love you both," Alex adds.

"That why you slept with her when we were–"

"When you were what, Jay? Not dating? Broken up? Trying to just fuck with each other some more?" Alex asks loudly.

"Harsh," I tell him.

"Maybe I thought it would do some good somehow." Alex shrugs.

"Do some good? I'm supposed to believe you were trying to help us?" I laugh at him.

"Do what you want. Marry who you want. I just care about you. Seems like you're trying to let this whole new life takeover. Even if they can't see it." Alex jerks his head back to the floral-festooned pergola.

Travis and Nate sit idly, laughing, with zero clue what conversation is going on right now.

I sigh and rub my eyes and pushing my hair off my face.

"Look," I say to Alex. "I get it. Everything's –different. But this life I have here, it's pretty fucking great. I'm not running away from my old one."

"Right." Alex nods. Defeated or resigned or both. "Forget it man. Let's grab some beers for them."

I watch Alex pull bottles from the mini fridge behind the bar. Disgust bubbles inside me. Or annoyance.

He's wrong. I'm running away from shit. I can't help what's found me. Can't help where I've ended up or who with.

I see the ring so clearly in my mind. I no longer see it in the velvet box in my sock drawer, but on Cece's slender finger.

My mind is made up.