Page 54 of The Love Wager

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. “It’s about the bar. I think you need to tell Nick what’s going on. He knows something’s up. He went to Taylor about it.”

At the mention of the bar situation, Brooks’ entire demeanor shifts. His eyes, usually warm and happy, harden with an intensity I’ve never seen in him before. It’s like a switch flips, and suddenly, he’s distant, closed off. The coldness in his gaze hits me like a punch to the gut. I hate it.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he says, his voice much sharper than before. “I don’t want to put that worry on him. Especially when I’m so close to getting everything back on track, it’s almost handled.”

“What’s almost handled?”

We’d been so caught up in the moment that neither of us noticed Nick’s approach. He looks no more relaxed than when he stormed out of the room, away from me and Taylor. If anything, he seems like he’s spoiling for a fight, his posture rigid, jaw clenched, and eyes flashing with a barely contained frustration.

Fuck.

“This isn’t the time or the place for this conversation,” Brooks says, his tone now bordering on pleading as he tries to calm his brother’s rising ire. He steps forward, placing himself between Nick and me, but Nick doesn’t back down.

“So, you’re admitting a conversation needs to be had.” Nick’s voice cuts through the tension like a blade.

Brooks hesitates, clearly torn. “Fine, yes. We need to talk about something, but not now, Nick. Don’t do this to Taylor and Spence.”

The words offer peace, but Nick doesn’t seem ready to let it go. His eyes flick to me for a split second, and I catch a glimpse of the lighthearted jokester I started to get to know. But beneath it, I see something else, a silent plea for an ally, for someone to bridge the gap between him and his brother.

I can’t just stand here and watch them skate around the truth, festering a hole in their relationship. I cut in quickly,hoping to defuse the situation before it escalates. “Listen, I should go check on a couple of things before the bride and groom leave for the night,” I say, forcing as much calm as possible into my voice. “Why don’t you two go talk? Figure this out.”

Brooks looks at me for a long moment. He knows I’m lying and don’t have anything else to do. I just came back with Taylor. But he doesn’t call me out on it. He nods, his jaw tight, as though he understands I’m trying to play the mediator here.

Nick doesn’t hesitate. “Great. Let’s go,” he snaps, turning on his heels and heading toward the barn doors without even glancing to see if Brooks is following.

“Don’t hate me,” I say softly.

His lips curl into the slightest smile, but there’s an edge to it. “Don’t you dare leave without me,” he orders.

Then he’s dropping a swift kiss on my forehead and turning to stomp after his brother, his footsteps heavy with determination.

TWENTY

Brooks

“What is your damage? You choose tonight of all nights to do this?” I ask him, following him toward the back of my truck, still parked in the field.

“Well, yeah. When the bank couldn’t reach you, they called and left a voicemail on my phone. I’m freaking out. Five days, Brooks? We have five days to pay them or lose the bar; until you lose your apartment. Dad’s apartment! Tell me this isn’t fucking real. Tell me that they’ve got it all wrong!”

I pop the tailgate handle and let it down, hopping up to sit as Nick spirals. I hate this. This is what I wanted to avoid in the first place.

“It’s real.” I sigh, scrubbing my hand over my beard as I try to find a way out of this.

“It’s real. What I saw earlier was you dealing with it?”

I quirk a brow. “I don’t know what you mean.”

He gives me a look that says he saw just what Indie and I got up to before heading into the reception, and I clear my throat, looking away from him.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Isn’t it? You’re my brother, Brooks. I get that you’re older, but it doesn’t mean I can’t look out for you. Doesn’t mean I don’t worry about you.”

Silence rings between us before he breaks it. “Tell me this isn’t how you paid for the center.”

Closing my eyes, the reality I hoped would never come crashes down on me.

“Fuck!” Nick screams, and it echoes through the night.

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