Page 40 of Stick Work

“…and maybe we can find you someone before that. Someone you like who can take my place at the wedding.”

He swallows hard. “Yeah, maybe.”

I touch his arm. “Thanks for telling me.” I shake my head. “I guess I now know why you’ve been spending nights alone with me since I arrived a few months ago.”

“Yeah.” He reaches for his door. “We’d better get in there.”

I nod, and step from the car. He circles it and guides me to the café with a hand on my lower back. When we reach the café, the party is already underway. With music playing, and food being handed out, the mood is high and a very pregnant Gina comes running over to give us a hug.

“It went so well. I’m so happy for Kalen and Sahara,” she says, as Roman saunters over with a beer for Elias. He accepts it and takes a big swallow like he really needs it. “What can I get for you, Taylor?” Roman asks, sidling up close to me. He usually only does that when Kalen is in the vicinity. For some reason, he likes to get my brother going.

Gina tucks her arm in mine. “Come on. The wine is in the kitchen. Let’s go get a glass.”

Before she leads me away, Roman calls out, “Save me a dance.” I glance back and he gives me an all-knowing grin. “Unless, of course, your dance card is already full.”

Elias shoves him. “Fuck off, Roman.”

Roman grunts. “Hey, what’s your problem?”

For a second, I wonder the same. Elias catches my eye. “Kalen is busy, so someone has to watch out for her around you.”

Ah, okay, so this is about protecting me from Roman, although nothing about Elias’s actions seem brotherly. Roman laughs like he knows something I don’t, and Grandma’s words come racing back to taunt me.

“I can tell he’s happy and in love by the way he looks at you.”

Oh boy…

12

Elias

I shove my stuff into my locker and glance around the room, taking in the solemn faces. Dammit, it’s a game we should have won, but Dallas pulled their goalie during the last play and scored, leading to overtime and their win. The mood is somber, and Coach comes in to talk to us, telling us all to go get a good night’s sleep before we’re off to Nashville.

Grabbing a towel, I make my way to the shower and step under the spray. Kalen turns on the water next to me. “Tough one,” he mumbles. “We’ll kill it in Nashville.”

He’s been much happier now that he has Sahara, even when we lose a game. Granted, I’m happier when I’m with Taylor too, and maybe tonight’s bad mood isn’t entirely about our loss. When it comes right down to it, the team played well, and even our rookies kicked ass out there.

So what’s the bad mood about then, dude?

Fuck off.

“Grab a drink and something to eat back at the hotel?” Kalen asks.

I nod and dunk my head under the water, scrubbing my face and hair. Roman snags the shower next to me.

“How’s Taylor?” he asks, a smirk on his face.

At the exact same time, Kalen and I say, “Fuck off, Roman.”

I glance at Kalen and we both laugh, which helps lighten my mood tremendously. “I really appreciate you letting her stay at your place while I get the dance studio finished.” He does air quotes around the words dance studio, because we all know he’s building his fiancée a special room just for her, and it’s a huge surprise.

My new place is in shambles, and I have more rooms than I know what to do with. Would Taylor like a special room for herself? Even when this is over, that doesn’t mean we won’t be friends and I told her my place is her place. I expect her to come over and crash whenever she needs a place to stay.

“Taylor is still going to Easton’s wedding extravaganza in Vegas?” Roman asks.

“Yeah,” I mumble.

He gives a whistle. “You two must have really fooled your family, Elias.”

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