Page 97 of Love is a Game

He half-smirks. “Really? You know it became a huge mess, right? All the bad press. Angry investors. Restaurants closing down. I was pretty fucked up. Life went sideways. The kind of sideways where you wake up one morning and realize you don’t like who you’ve become. Don’t know where you’re headed.”

“And the program helped with that?”

He nods. “Gave me clarity. Taught me how to get back to basics. How to replace toxic highs with natural ones. And it was the right timing, because Vivian came back into my life. Then discovering our history, learning about Finn. Yeah, it’s been a huge shift, that’s for sure.”

I pull open the dishwasher against the billowing steam. “You figured it all out.”

Brady shrugs, but there’s pride in his eyes. “Took a while. But yeah. And man, I love my work now. The food tour we set up is helping put local businesses on the map. Beekeepers, cheesemakers, herb growers—so much talent. Feels good to be part of something bigger than just running a restaurant.”

I nod, setting clean pans aside. “I get that.”

He looks over. “What about you? You still fired up about the fashion empire?”

I chuckle, but there’s no real humor in it. “It’s running itself now. Wildly successful, ridiculously profitable. And yet…” I shake my head. “The drive’s not there anymore. I need a new challenge.”

Brady studies me for a moment, then grins. “That’s where Pen comes in? Hard to think of a bigger challenge than her. Are you here with an update on how things are going?”

I pause, drying my hands off. “I think…I mean, I don’t wanna jinx things. But I might have an outside chance.”

Brady laughs. “I’d never bet against you, buddy. So what’s your next move?”

I fold my arms. “I think I need something really big. A grand gesture. Something she can’t ignore.”

“Great. Just don’t go too full spectacle on me, okay?”

Brady grabs the stack of clean pans, stores them away with practiced ease, then leans back against the counter, rubbing a hand over his face.

“With Mason’s damn swans on the lake and fly-overs for their engagement, plus this wedding that’s shaping up like a royal coronation— ” He groans. “All I need is for you to whisk Pen off to Paris, or rent out the Empire State Building, and suddenly I’m gonna need a flash mob and a fireworks permit just to propose to Vivian.”

“Brady! You’re proposing to Vivian?When?”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “Relax, man. Not until our work hours drop below sleep-deprivation levels and we actually have enough energy left to celebrate it properly.”

I nod, makes sense. Then, I notice Brady glancing at the clock over the service bench.

“Hey, I should let you get back to it. Or, you know, actually take a break with your staff.”

“Yeah, thanks for the help, Tuck. We’re prepped fine, so I might sneak in a power nap before service.” He stretches his arms over his head. “And I can let you off the hook tonight. Finn’s really stepped up lately—he’s a great kitchen hand. Won’t be the same without Viv here, but we’ll manage.”

“Yeah, good she could make the girls’ day out,” I say, as we head into the dining area. “Really not Pen’s usual scene, so I’m sure she appreciates having Vivian there for backup.”

Brady huffs out a laugh. “Well, whatever happens, it’ll be a hell of a lot tamer than Mason’s party.” He shakes his head. “Fuck—that was traumatic.”

“Not sure which was worse,” I say heavily, “the spiked drinks disaster, or the way Mia tore into me for being a shit best man.”

“Serious?” Brady looks stricken. “That wasn’t even your fault. I’m the idiot who invited a famous chef with an addiction problem and an axe to grind.”

“Don’t sweat it. She was also pissed about some of the other…entertainmentthat I was responsible for.” I rub a hand over my jaw. “I guess Mason spilled everything. Like, aren’t some things supposed to be sacred?”

Brady shrugs.

I squint at him. “Let me guess, you tell Vivian everything, too?” I pat my pocket for my car keys, then freeze. “Wait a second. Did you tell her all the stuff I told you about Pen?”

“Didn’t have to.” He shrugs. “She already knew about the baby deal. She asked me about it.”

“What?” I take a step back. “What exactly did she say? Did she mention me?”

Brady scratches his head. “Nope. Don’t think so. Wait—” He frowns.

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