Page 84 of Stick Fight

He nods slowly, reading between the lines like only a brother can. “You’re scared. Not just of losing her, but of repeating the past. Of being the reason someone sacrifices too much.”

I nod, silent.

“What if you, and your world, is everything she wants? What if pivoting is what she wants? What if she no longer fits in that old world?”

I snort out a laugh. “Here I thought you’d be telling me I was crazy, that marriage never works out, that I should run.” I shake my head. “I thought I did wrong by you.”

“You could never do wrong by me,” he says, his voice steady. “You’re my brother. My family, and I’m looking forward to watching our little family grow.”

My heart skips a beat—because, yeah, I’m right there with him. “When did you get so smart?”

He grins, that cheeky smile I’ve seen a million times. “When my big brother wrapped me in blankets, blasted music, and danced like a fool to protect me.”

This time, there’s no stopping the lump in my throat. The love I have for Nolan hits me like a freight train, and my voice cracks. “Fuck off, Nolan.”

He chuckles softly, but I can hear the affection in it. I swipe at my eyes quickly, not wanting to break. And then, because he’s so damn smart, I ask the question I’ve been afraid to face. “You don’t think I pushed her away, do you?”

He doesn’t hesitate. “No. I’ve seen you two together. But I do think you both need to talk.”

“Yeah, we will. When she gets home from visiting her parents, I’ll tell her how much I love her.” The thought settles in my mind, and with it comes a rush of new clarity, like I can finally breathe a little easier. For the first time all week, I feel a sense of peace.

We reach the airport, and after a tight hug, we part ways. I make my way to the gate, and as I walk, I spot Avery sitting alone, waiting for her flight. She’s good friends with Taylor, who’s already left for Vegas with Elias to prepare for the wedding. I didn’t expect to see her here, let alone on the same flight. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Many friends and teammates along with their ‘plus ones’ have been invited.

I glance around, expecting to see a couple more friends, but we’ve all booked different flights, all arriving at different times because of our family schedules.

“Hey,” I say, dropping down next to her. She pulls her earbuds out and looks up, startled at first.

“Roman,” she says, her eyes scanning the room like she’s searching for someone.

“He’s on a different flight,” I tell her, and I can see the way her cheeks pinken. Yeah, there’s no mistaking it—she likes my brother. I don’t blame her. Nolan’s one of the good ones.

Her phone pings, and the blush deepens. I can’t help but grin, knowing exactly who that message is from. Nolan is already texting her.

As they trade messages, I send a quick one to Gabby. I wait. And wait. But it takes her a while to respond, and I try not to let the anxiety gnaw at me. When she’s working on her designs, she tends to turn off her phone. I try not to let that gnawing unease send me spiraling, but there it is, lingering in the back of my mind.

Eventually, we board the plane, and Avery is sitting a few rows behind me. Hours later, we land in Vegas, and the heat of the desert hits me the moment we step off the plane. I wait for Avery to catch up, feeling the hum of excitement buzzing under my skin.

“Grab an Uber together?” I ask, already glancing toward the exit.

“Perfect,” she replies, and that’s when I realize we’re attracting some serious attention. I don’t have a hat to pull down low, which means one thing—photos, autographs, and the inevitable crowd.

A few eager fans approach, and I go into player mode. Avery, on the other hand, just grins, clearly enjoying the show. Finally, I manage to break free, and we hop into the Uber.

“That was something,” she laughs. “It’s almost like you’re a superstar or something.” She nudges me, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

I laugh, still a little stunned by the attention. “You have no idea. Welcome to my world.”

The Uber pulls up to the hotel, and I can’t help but chuckle when I see another Mrs. Roper convention going on at the front. “Who the heck are they?” Avery asks, her brow furrowed in confusion.

I laugh again, shaking my head. “Old seventies show. You wouldn’t get it.”

“If you say so,” she replies, though I can tell she’s still a little puzzled.

As I step inside the hotel, the memories of Gabby flood back, and I can’t help but smile. We had such an amazing weekend together, despite the strange circumstances. I glance around the lobby, suddenly expecting to see Cass, which is ridiculous. According to social media, his wedding’s been postponed, so why would he be here?

Postponed.

Fuck.

---