Page 26 of Stick Games
Everyone laughs, and I look around at these people who mean the world to me. Everything feels so right, so full of joy. “You guys go ahead and cut it up,” I say, my voice soft but full of warmth. “I’ve got a call to make, but I’ll be right back.”
I take Gabe’s hand, feeling the warmth of his fingers intertwined with mine, and lead him to a quiet area just off the café. The world around us fades as we step into a little nook surrounded by lush foliage, where the sounds of the café hum softly in the background. I pull out my phone, sliding my finger across the screen as Gabe watches, curiosity in his eyes.
He leans in slightly. “Who are you calling?”
“My brother,” I say softly, and I feel Gabe’s body tense beside me. His grip tightens for a brief second, and I respond by giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. I know this moment is a delicate one. As the screen flickers to life, Ryder picks up on the second ring, his familiar face filling the frame.
“Happy birthday, sis,” Ryder says, his voice full of warmth and affection, though a hint of something else lingers beneath.
“Thanks,” I reply, my heart beating a little faster. “I’m here with Gabe.” I turn the phone toward him so Ryder can see his best friend standing beside me, the connection between them immediately palpable.
Ryder’s grin widens as he speaks. “How did ‘yes’ day go? Gabe, did she torture you?” He laughs, but there’s a trace of nervousness there too.
Gabe laughs softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “You know she did.”
Ryder shakes his head, a fond smile on his face. “Well, if I can’t be there, I’m glad you were, buddy.”
A quietness hangs in the air for a second, and I take a breath, glancing from Gabe to the screen. “So, I was thinking…” I start, my voice softer, more deliberate now. “I’d like to play the ‘yes’ game with you right now.”
Both Gabe and Ryder look at me, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in their expressions.
“Uh, okay,” Ryder says, his voice hesitant.
“You’re going to say yes to everything?” I ask, my heart racing.
“That’s how the game works, right?” he replies, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“You promise to agree to everything?” I ask again, just to be sure.
His concern grows, and I see it on his face. “What’s going on, Emilia?”
I steal a quick glance at Gabe, feeling the tension in his grip, the worry flickering in his eyes. I can’t hold it in any longer. I blurt out, “When Gabe gets married, are you going to be his best man?”
Ryder’s brow lifts slightly in surprise, but his answer comes quick. “If he asks me, yes.”
I look over at Gabe, who meets my gaze, and the softness in his expression melts my nerves. “Of course I’m going to ask you,” Gabe says, his voice full of certainty.
Ryder nods. “Then yes.”
I swallow the knot in my throat and press forward, my heart pounding in my chest. “Will you stand with him… if it’s me walking toward him in a white dress?”
For a moment, Ryder goes perfectly still, the silence on the other end of the line making my breath catch. Gabe’s hand tightens in mine, and I know he’s holding his breath too. My brother is a good man, just like Gabe, and I know he wants what’s best for us. But I also know this news is going to hit him hard—he’s going to need a minute to process it.
But then, Ryder erupts. “Yes!” he shouts, louder than I expected. He jumps up from his sofa, practically bouncing around his living room. “Yes! Yes! YES!”
“Ryder!” I laugh, half-shocked, half-relieved, trying to calm him down.
He stops hopping long enough to say, “You didn’t need a ‘yes’ day for me to say yes to this, Emilia.”
I smile, a part of me not sure he’s fully registered what I said. “You realize I said we’re getting married, right?”
Ryder flops back down onto his couch, his grin still in place. “It’s about time.”
Gabe and I exchange a stunned look. “Wait, what?” I ask, completely thrown off.
“Come on,” Ryder says, shaking his head as if it’s obvious. “You two have been in love for as long as you’ve known each other.”
Gabe looks utterly flabbergasted. “You knew?”
