“Not that you had a choice,” Sasha murmured. Enzo didn’t hear, but I couldn’t stop my mouth from twitching.
“To all of us, then,” I added as we clinked glasses. I took a sip and laid my napkin in my lap. “So, what did you want to talk to us about?”
“Finn, please,” Enzo looked mildly offended. “Can’t we enjoy catching up first?”
“Catching up about what?” Sasha reached for sourdough and burrata. “We’ve been at your house since yesterday and you text me nearly every day anyway.”
“Has Oliver said anything else about selling the studio?” He stuffed a large bite in his mouth.
She stiffened slightly, glancing at me. “He texted today, but I haven’t responded.”
“The studio?” I asked, genuinely interested in any information about her life I could gather.
“I co-own an animation studio,” she shrugged, sitting back and looking at me without quite meeting my eyes. “Seven years old and profitable enough to fund indie game development on the side.”
“She’s being modest,” Dom rolled his eyes affectionately. “Catalyst is anaward-winningstudio. They sometimes contract with larger companies for games and animation. They did Titan’s Legends of Heliox.”
“Shit. Well done.” I was impressed. From what I’d heard, the game based on Dom’s wildly successful movie franchise had dominated the gaming market.
Genuine pride bloomed across her cheeks. Most people in Dom’s world name-dropped their projects and experience like currency, but Sasha had downplayed her success until Dom called her out. I wanted to know more—what drove her, what made her create something so massively popular, and why she mentioned it like it was nothing special.
“I assume Alex works there too?”
I couldn’t help myself. I needed to know, so I ruined the moment.
“Alex works there too,” she confirmed, offering nothing more—the blush fading. Damnit.
“Finn,” Dom turned on me, “how’s Louise?”
I nearly choked on my cheese and glared at my brother. I caught Sasha’s head tilt from the corner of my eye. Mercifully, the server interrupted.
As soon as she left, Enzo jumped back in. “Lou was Finn’s high school sweetheart,” he clasped his hands to his heart, batting his eyes. “But he ran away and joined the Navy instead of marrying her. She’s been texting him ever since he got back.”
“She never married?” Sasha asked, her tone carefully neutral.
Maybe she was jealous too. Maybe I wasn’t the only one feeling whatever this was between us.
“Divorced with a kid,” I shoved potatoes into my mouth, chewed, swallowed. “And I texted her first to let her know what had happened.”
“Lou works on the ranch where Dom and Finn grew up,” Enzo continued his gossip session while Dom watched with unmistakable delight. “Just outside Jackson Hole. Most gorgeous place you’ve ever seen.”
Something flickered across Sasha’s face before she reached for her glass, taking a longer sip than seemed normal.
“Technically, she works at the lodge,” I corrected. Why was I helping him? And why did I suddenly feel the need to downplay Lou’s connection to me?
“Is she someone you’re interested in...” She raised her eyebrows instead of finishing, her voice casual in a way that felt anything but.
“No.” I didn’t feel like elaborating, but I watched her face for a reaction to my answer. Her shoulders relaxed slightly—so slightly I might have imagined it if I wasn’t tracking every micro-expression like I’d have to report on them later.
“Speaking of the ranch,” Dom cleared his throat. “We’vedecided that’s where we’d like to have the wedding in September.”
My chest tightened. I’d purposely stayed away from North Star Ranch except for one trip in late January so my parents and grandmother could confirm I was still breathing. I shouldn’t have texted Lou, but it was nice having someone to talk to who knew me before everything. I didn’t know about her divorce until a couple months ago.
“Oh, that’s going to be so romantic,” Sasha sighed, a dreamy look crossing her face.
“I’m glad you think so,” Enzo grinned, reaching across the table for her hand, “because I wanted to ask you to be my Maid of Honor.”
“Of course!” She beamed.
