Page 29 of Stick Fight

My heart is in my throat as I call Cass. It’s a conversation I don’t want to have, but the wedding is tonight, and I at least owe it to the people in attendance. The only people there for me were my parents—and Todd of course—but the last thing I want is for all Cass and his father’s friends is to have them waiting for me to walk down the aisle. That’s just not fair.

He answers on the first ring, and the anger in his voice hits like a windstorm.

“Jesus Christ, Gabrielle. Where the fuck have you been all night? We’ve been searching the hotel.”

“Where I’ve been is none of your business. Not anymore, anyway.”

He exhales, like I’m some disobedient child getting on his last nerve.

“Where are you? I’m coming to get you.”

“No, you’re not. We’re done, Cass. I’m only phoning you out of courtesy for the guests. The wedding is off.”

A moment of silence and then. “Gabrielle, come on. What you saw. That was nothing. Todd doesn’t mean anything to me. You do. I love you.”

I snort out a laugh, and when I take a step backward, my legs weak, Roman is on his feet, right there in front of me to catch me if I fall. I give him a grateful smile, but suspect it’s about as shaky as my hands. I grip the phone tighter, and take a fueling breath.

“It’s over, Cass. I’m leaving.”

“Gabrielle, sweetheart,” he begins, changing tactics like that will somehow get me to change my mind. No way will any kind of sweet talk work with me. Not anymore. “Think of our future. You designing clothes, me modeling them for you. We’re a team.”

“We’re not anything.” I hear a bang in the background, then a curse. “Ohmigod, Todd is still with you?”

“We’ve spent the night looking for you.” Anger once again laces his voice. “We didn’t sleep.”

Good God, he’s acting like this is all my fault.

“Maybe if I didn’t find the two of you in bed together, neither one of you would have had to stay up all night.”

“Don’t you dare do this to me,” he fires back, his voice venomous. “If you do, I’ll ruin you.”

My heart lurches, and my gaze locks with Roman’s and somehow just his presence gives me courage. “I’ll be just fine.”

“No, you won’t. Your career is over if you do this.”

He’s right. It is. “I’ll land on my feet,” I say, even though I don’t believe it. Roman gives my elbow a reassuring squeeze. “I’m not coming back.”

“What about all your belongings? Your designs? You gave up your apartment. Are you moving back to your parents’ place? I’m not sending any of your things to California. You belong with me. You know it as well as I do.”

“Keep my things. I don’t need them.” My knees wobble as I do a mental check on what I have in my checking account.

“Let’s not do this. Take some time. Think this over. I know you’ll come to your senses. Think about the family we were going to have.”

“It’s over,” I state clearly, really hoping he’ll get it through his brain this time.

“No, it’s not. It’s not over. I’m going to find you. I’m going to make this right and bring you back home where you belong.”

I have no idea why he’s fighting so hard. I’m sure lots of women want to be with him.

Ah, but would they be as understanding as you’ve been, Gabby?

All the late nights.

The sudden overseas trips.

His unexplained absences.

Yeah, I get it. I was his beard, and not too many women would put up with the long, lonely nights and lame explanations. Honestly, he didn’t even really try that hard.

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