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But I would.

And I just hoped the man snoring softly beside me would stay.

Chapter 23

Riley

That was the worst night of sleep I’d had since my combat days. Even after laying down the law with my parents, I’d managed to sleep. Probably because I’d been more relieved than anything.

After Sophia’s bachelorette—fuck. There were too many pieces trying too hard to snap together in my mind. I didn’t want them to. I didn’t want to acknowledge the truth that was plain to see right in front of my stupid face.

But I couldn’t ignore it, either.

Not when Nolan’s body language gave him away at every turn. Not when…

Jesus. Was I reading the situation all wrong? I hoped I was, but every time I turned it all over in my head while he slept beside me, the truth sank in a little deeper.

And with wedding festivities ramping up and family events getting more frequent, I needed to know the truth. More than anything, I needed Nolan to know I had his back.

So, after we’d both showered and were about to head out to find breakfast, I said, “Before we go, can we talk about something?”

Nolan froze, eyebrows up. “Uh. Okay? What about?” His guard was fully up, though; I had a feeling he knew where this was going.

“Um. Well. There’s something I want to ask you about.” I searched his eyes. “About last night and… not just last night?”

He watched me, even more walls going up. “Okay?”

I schooled my voice and chose my words carefully. “It was her, wasn’t it? Leann?”

The way he clenched his jaw and swallowed answered well enough.

“You don’t have to tell me what she did,” I said quickly. “If you want to, I’ll listen. But I’m not going to drag anything out of you. I just… After last night…” I grimaced and shook my head. “She’s not exactly subtle.”

“No, she isn’t.”

I exhaled. “Not gonna lie, before last night, I thought it was that neighbor.”

Nolan furrowed his brow. “Neighbor? What—” But then the piece seemed to fall into place. “You mean Gordon?”

I nodded, not sure why my face was burning. “I mean, he seems creepy, and everyone was keeping their kids away from hm, so…”

“No, no, it’s nothing like that.” Nolan shook his head. “I don’t like him because he’s a homophobe. He’s always been a dick about me being gay. Honestly, I think the only reason my parents still put up with him is that it’s easier to be friendly neighbors with him than it is to be on his shit list.”

“But what about everyone keeping their kids away from him?”

Nolan half-shrugged. “That’s just because he’ll start talking about whatever, even with kids right there. Dude’s got no filter at all, and he taught most of us to swear before we were in firstgrade. He’s obnoxious, but he’s not dangerous. Not that I know of.”

“Oh.” Well, damn. My cop instincts were batting a thousand on this trip, weren’t they? “And Leann—nobody knows what she did?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “Nobody but me and her.”

“Have you thought about telling—”

“Of course I have, but I can’t say anything now!” He stared at me, expression full of—not anger or defensiveness—but panic and desperation. “I’m not going to ruin my little brother’s wedding!”

“But she ruined—God, whathasn’tshe ruined for you? You wouldn’t be ruining a damned thing. You’d just be making her face the music for what she did!”

“Not now,” he said plaintively. “Even if I wanted to say something, I’ve had over a decade to do it. Letting it out now would be a dick move.” He swallowed hard. “It can…IfI’m going to do it, it can wait until after Matt’s wedding.”

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