More crowded than normal, I push through the throng at Ollie’s Pub, nodding at people on my way to the long oak bar. With his back against the wood-paneled wall, Will knocks back a bottle of Heineken. The skinny blonde on the bar stool next to him giggles as if he said something funny. He wasn’t even talking to her, which makes me laugh.

Stupid puck bunnies.

His eyes grow wider when I stop in front of him. Setting the beer on the table, Will whispers something to the girl, who slides off the stool in a hurry. She smiles up at me as she leaves, flashing a set of pearly white teeth that are too perfect to be real.

“You showed.” Will pats the open seat. “Come drink with me.”

Concern bubbles up in my chest. Will is far too calm after his reaction this morning. I sit next to him and prop my elbow on the bar, leaning over it to catch the bartender’s attention. She takes my order with a smile and saunters off to grab me a beer.

“About this morning,” I say, turning to face Will. “Look, I’m sorry you had to find out about us that way. I never wanted to sneak around with Mia behind your back, but it just happened. I didn’t plan it out. I tried to tell you so many times and pussied out.”

Will holds up his hand to silence me. “I have been drinking all day. Ever since I left Mia’s apartment.” He slurs some of his words, though he’s not completely shitfaced. One thing about Will, he can handle his alcohol. “My sister loves you, I know she does. I thought long and hard about this today. I’m pissed at you for lying to my face and for fucking my sister. But I only care about one thing. If you love her back, then I can try to get used to the idea of the two of you being together. But if this is just some fling, I will bash this fucking bottle over your head without another thought.”

“Kinda harsh, don’t you think?”

The bartender returns with my beer, and I hand her my credit card to start a tab.

Will presses his lips together, his jaw clenched in anger. “Answer the question. Do you love my sister?”

I pound half the bottle in one gulp and set it back down on the bar. Serious conversations require a lot of alcohol. “Yes. I told her this morning after you stormed off.”

Will pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers and sighs. “Okay…Fuck.” He mutters something to himself under his breath that I cannot make out. “I guess it’s better than Mia hooking up with some random dude I hate. But you know what this means, right?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “No.”

“Our friendship won’t survive if you hurt her. Because I will kill you. Do not break her heart.”

I reach out to touch his shoulder and give him a reassuring squeeze. “I promise. I will take good care of Mia. Isn’t that what you have wanted for her all along? Someone to look out for her.”

He takes a sip from his beer, staring at me, his face expressionless. A beat passes between us before he bobs his head in agreement. “Yeah, I guess so. All I care about is that she’s happy. If this is what you both want, I don’t have to like it, but I can accept it. Maybe the idea of you two will grow on me over time.”

“That’s all I can ask for,” I mutter. “I’m glad it didn’t come down to us beating the shit out of each other.”

Will laughs. “Why? Because you know I would kick the shit out of your punk ass.”

I smirk. “No, because I would have let you do it just to get out your anger.”

“Now that’s just stupid.” He shakes his head, amused. “We move back to our condo tomorrow. What are you planning to do about Mia?”

“Not sure I get what you mean.”

“Are you going to bring her over to the condo? Is she moving in with us? Like what the hell is going on with you two?”

“We’re dating, not getting married. At least not anytime soon. This is almost as new for us as it is for you.”

“Promise me one thing,” Will says.

“Anything.”

“Don’t fuck my sister while I am home. I will need lots of fucking therapy if you do.”

I chuckle. “You already need lots of therapy.”

“True, but I would need a lobotomy if I had to hear that shit. It was bad enough seeing your bare ass this morning when I went into Mia’s bedroom to wake her up.”

We break out into a fit of laughter. My friend has returned, slowly but surely, and with each swig of beer he swallows.

“I can do that,” I promise.

“This sucks.” Will tilts his head back against the wall and glances over at the wall of expensive liquor bottles behind the bar. “No more talking about girls with you. No more chasing after them together either. I need a new wingman.”

“Liam would be happy to take a few girls off your hands. You can always give him a call. Just because I’m with your sister doesn’t mean I am dead. I am still your wingman, bro, only in a different capacity now.”

“You got that right,” he hisses. “If I ever see a girl around you that doesn’t share my DNA, I will kick your ass into next week.”

I smile at his threat. “Duly noted.”

“Enough with the talk about my sister.” Will holds the beer in his hand up to mine and taps it. “Drink up, motherfucker. Moving day is tomorrow.”

As if I needed a reminder.

It’s my last night in the apartment with Mia.