"Beautiful, isn't she?"

"What? Oh yeah. She's one of a kind. A real work of art."

Alex chuckled. "You know who I'm talking about, Gil and it's not the painting."

I turned around to look at him. He's a few inches taller than I am, I realize. Nice trim haircut, great green eyes.

Oh, God. Do I sound gay?

Catherine invited me and the rest of the team for some breakfast at her home. Alex's cooking, she said.

In all honesty, I don't feel like going but I don't want to be rude either. I dodged out too many invites from her already; gave her some lousy excuses not to attend. I hope she didn't suspect a thing.

I don't have any problem with Alex, really. He's a great guy: a wonderful husband to Catherine and a doting father to Lindsey. He gets along well with everybody. Once, he manage to get 4 tickets to a football game and invited me, Nick and Warrick. I declined and Sara went instead. Turns out she's a big fan of the game.

"Listen,Gil. I know that you and I haven't really had a chance to talk since the wedding."

"Yeah, about that. Look, I'm really sorry…"

"No, no, it's fine. I understand. I know that you are very protective of Cath and that you two have been best friends for years."

"Yes, we have."

"I know you mean so much to her and that she means a lot to you. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I really like us to be friends too. Maybe that way you realize I'm not so bad after all."

"I don't think…I never…"

Nice work. Now you just hurt this guy's feelings. Catherine is so not going to be happy about this.

"I'll take care of her, Gil. I promise you that. I'll take care of her and Lindsey with every breath that I have. I'll love them both till the day I die."

I know he meant that, because I feel the same way too.

"I know you will, Alex. I trust you. We all do. Besides, if you hurt her, you have me to answer to."

He patted my shoulder and grinned.

"You ladies done talking about me?" Catherine asked as she appeared behind me.

I turned around and smiled.

"Not everything is about you, Cath. Get over yourself." I chided.

She laughed and gave me a hug. I know how much my being here in her new home meant to her.

I looked at Alex over her shoulder. He nodded and raised his mug with a big smile.

At that moment, I knew that she's in a good hand. Alex will take care of her and make her happy.

Probably more than I could.