Fuckin’ BBQs in the dead of winter in New York City.

Who does that?

My dick friend Ben, that’s who. And he’s asked me to man the grill, of course. On a fuckin’ balcony. In the goddamned cold. Pushing around burger patties with smoke in my eyes and icicles on my ears, while everyone else sits warm and cozy indoors.

“They better enjoy these fuckin’ burgers,” I mumble into my scarf as I do the last flip.

Their muffled sounds come through the glass sliding doors, fogged over with snowflakes and frostbite. Everybody’s inside, including the girl I slept with a few weeks ago.

What’s her name?

Oh, yeah. Sophie.

Hot and small. Exactly how I like them. Flowing, curly blonde hair that tingles my skin every time it got caught in my nipple ring, and a great ass. Only requirements I need, really.

Finally, the damn patties are done. Assholes even had the balls to request certain types of cheeses on each.

Just because I’m a chef, don’t mean I can whip up burgers on the fly. If anything, it demeans me. I got skill way more fly than cheeseburgers on a balcony.

Friends. They make you do fucked up things.

“‘Yo, food’s done,” I say as I slide open the door. Guess I don’t get no sous chef.

“Aya!”

Lily claps her hands at my arrival, the only one who cares I’ve been freezing my balls off. Or shows any excitement over the tray I’m holding. Since she’s the only woman who will ever get me down on my knees, she’s allowed to applaud charred winter burgers.

“That’s right, sweet-tart,” I say as I pass. The chains on my jeans do a little jangle, causing her to rise and toddle after me.

“Someone get the ankle-biter!” I call as I try not to trip over the cherub.

“Sorry, man,” Locke says and scoops her up. “We’re riveted over here.”

I drop the tray on the kitchen island. “By what?”

Now that he says it, it’s pretty obvious the chatter died down about the time I ambled inside.

“Astor’s case is on the news. Defendants took a plea. Seventy-five years to life, with the possibility of parole after fifty.”

“Shit, they got parole?” I ask and follow him back into the main room. “Didn’t they massacre a family?”

“The defendants are in their late forties,” Astor says as I come to a stand beside her. She’s close to Ben, whose attention isn’t wavering from the flat screen. “Parole is like a far-off dream to them. They’ll die in prison.”

“So why’d they accept?”

Astor shrugs, but there’s the barest consternation behind her relaxed pose. “The State managed to turn Garcia. He got a plea deal for agreeing to testify against Lopez. Lopez is the only one identified in the witness’s testimony.”

“Witness? Like that protected little kid?”

“Not a little kid anymore,” Astor says.

I’m kinda uncomfortable under her stare. It’s so…unwavering. Fuckin’ lawyers.

“Garcia didn’t want a trial with his best friend testifying against him,” Astor continues. “So he agreed to a guilty plea.”

“All gibberish to me,” I say.

“They’re guilty as sin. And they’re going to pay for it,” Astor says.

“Says the lawyer defending them,” I say wryly.

At that, Astor tosses me another shrug.

Okay, then.

“Dudes.” I turn to the room. “Burgers. Before they’re cold and I throw you all off the balcony for letting them sit there.”

Lily finds my pants and pulls. “Except you,” I say as I lift her into my arms. “You get first pick.”

“Buh-guhs.”

“That’s right, honey pot.”

Everyone shuffles to a stand, but are halted by Ben’s sudden, booming voice.

“Wait. We have an announcement to make.”

I pause in chopping up a patty one-handed with a spatula, Lily wriggling for a bite.

“There’s a reason I’ve asked you all to my place,” Ben continues. He looks to Astor, puts a hand around her waist, and says, “We wanted to tell you all, together, that—well, that we’re together. Astor and I.”

Silence. Lily babbles something.

Then, I say, “Who wanted the bare burger again?”

“Me,” Carter says and sidles up to the island with a plate. “If I eat any more cheese on that platter you made, I’ll become a mouse.”

“There ya go.” I plop one on her plate.

“Fuck, I’m starving,” Locke says, kissing Carter’s temple as he passes. “Gimme.”

East follows suit.

“Uh, guys?” Astor asks.

We all turn from our food, an epic feat.

“What?” Locke says with his mouthful.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Ben asks.

I shout at the top of my lungs, “Fuckin’ FINALLY!”

Lily seconds my cheer, and I flinch at Carter’s glare, but everyone else claps. Lily takes up the applause by taking the spatula from my hand and slamming it repeatedly on the countertop.

And those poor, sweet, stupid souls over there, the pair of them, are dumbfounded.

“It was a waiting game,” East says, the first to feel sorry for Astor and Ben. “We actually had bets. Who won, anyway?”

“Me,” I say. “Always me.”

“No one’s mad?” Astor asks.

“Why would we be?” Carter responds. She’s the first to sit back on the couch, balancing a full plate on her thighs. “You two hated each other so much, it was only a matter of time before you fell in love.”

“Locke, man?” Astor asks. “Are you…?”

“What, okay with the whole thing?” Locke gestures with his burger, already half-eaten. “You do know who you dated before Ben, right?”

Astor purses her lips.

“I’d say my best friend is an upgrade,” Locke says, then pounds the rest of his burger.

“Honestly, we’re fine with it,” East says.

“Great, even,” I say. “Since now we don’t have to wait for you two to fuck it out.”

“Ash,” Carter says. “You’re holding a child.”

“Yep, that I am,” I reply sheepishly. I set Lily down a traveling high chair thing Locke always brings around these days, and give her her food. I’m happy to say she demolishes it like a true member of this clan should.

“I still got one burger left,” I say to the general room. “Who’s missing—wait. Where’s, uh, Sophie?”

Carter scans the room from her seat. “She was just here…”

“Ash?”

Sophie’s voice comes from the balcony. What’s she doing over there?

“Can I talk to you a minute?” she asks.

Uh, why? I’m sure that question is all over my face, but it’s not like we announced our hook up to the crowd. In fact, we kept it on the down low, mostly because I’m reluctant to get any sort of bashing from Carter, Sophie’s best friend. Locke would probably side with her, then I’d have three people up my ass instead of one, and that ain’t no kind of orgy I want to be a part of.

“Please?” she asks again.

The rest of the people pretend deep interest in their food. I guess Sophie’s happy to blow up our spot.

“Fine.” I pat Lily on the head, then stalk to the other side of the room. “I’m pretty hungry, though.”

The closer I get, the easier it is to see the brown of her eyes turn into deep shit. “This will only take a minute.”

I’m totally at a loss on how or why I’ve pissed her off.

We step outside, and she shuts the door. I’m still wearing my scarf, but see she isn’t, so offer it to her, since I am a gentleman, despite being tattooed in every place possible. She accepts it, but won’t meet my stare.

“What’s up?” I ask, since she’s not eager to speak now that we’re alone. “You couldn’t have done this when my testicles were turning into snowballs, cooking everyone’s dinner?”

“I had to get up the nerve.”

“Why are you scared? As far as I remember, I left you satisfied the last time I had you naked.”

She jolts, surprised by my bluntness. Well, that’s how I am, sweetheart, even though we didn’t really get to know each other before we fucked each other.

“I…I don’t know how to say this.”

I lean an elbow on the balcony railing. “When that happens, I find it’s easier to just say it.”

She licks her lips and I wince, because soon that delectable mouth of hers, so plump and warm around my dick, are going to turn to popsicles. Poor, Florida girl, dumped in this polluted winter city. She shoulda waited until spring to visit. In a few days at least, she gets to go back to palm trees, and I wish her well.

At last, her eyes meet mine. I arch a brow. “Well?”

“I’m pregnant.”