“Watch me. Who’s going to turn away Felix Barlowe?” I run a hand through my hair, panic starting to set in. “But all my dressy clothes are down in Denver.”
“You can borrow a suit.” Ian stands, assessing me with a critical eye. “You’ll just need to suck in your gut.”
I look down at my washboard abs. “I’ll do that.” I take a deep breath as I think about the question I have for my brother. I guess Piper isn’t the only one who has trouble asking for help. “Can Ellie stay here?”
“Of course,” Ian agrees like it’s no big deal, then turns toward the blanket fort. “Hey, Riva. Want to make twenty-five bucks an hour babysitting for Uncle Felix?”
My niece pops her head out of the fort, blue eyes lit with excitement. “Yes!”
“Yes!” Ellie echoes from under the blankets, even though I doubt she understands what we’re talking about.
I stand frozen in place for a moment, as the reality of what I’mabout to do explodes through me. I don’t care about showing up to a wedding reception uninvited, especially now that I’m part of the hometown team. But what if Piper truly doesn’t want me there? The old voices start whispering—the ones that say I’m not enough, that I’ll screw this up like I screwed up everything with Ronnie and the two girlfriends before her.
Ian smacks me on the shoulder, hard enough to snap me out of my pointless ruminations. “Bro, are you waiting on a gallant steed for the white knight routine? Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I follow him upstairs to his bedroom, my thoughts churning. Ian heads straight for his walk-in closet, flipping on the light.
“Stop it,” he says without turning around.
“Stop what?”
“Whatever spiral you’re going into.” He pulls out a dark suit, checking the jacket. “I can hear you overthinking from here.”
I lean against the doorframe. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Because she’s twenty-three and trying to figure out who she is without someone swooping in to decide for her.” Ian turns to face me, holding the suit.
“I don’t want to make her decisions for her.”
“You also haven’t really let her in.” He raises an eyebrow. “You’re both so busy trying to be independent and prove something that you’re missing what’s right in front of you.”
“And what’s that?”
“You’re better together.”
“I’m sure as shit better with her.”
But I’m also terrified of being found lacking again. How can I try again with a proposal—a real one—when I don’t even know that she wants me in her life?
He shoves the suit into my hands. “Stop letting the past dictate your future. Piper needs somebody in her corner right now. Are you going to be that man?”
The question hangs there, and something clicks into place. All this time, I’ve been so focused on not getting hurt again that I’vebeen holding back. I’m keeping Piper at arm’s length while simultaneously wanting to pull her closer.
But she’s not like Ronnie, or my other exes.
She’s infuriating, brilliant, beautiful Piper. The woman who makes me want to be better. She’s carrying my baby and taking care of Ellie and trying so damn hard to stand on her own two feet that she won’t ask for help, even when she needs it.
“Hell yeah, I’m going to be that man.”
Ian grins. “There’s that annoying AF Felix flash. Now take a shower. You need it.”
I take a whiff under my arm. Oh, I need it alright.
“And Felix?” Ian waits until I meet his eyes. “Don’t fuck this up.”
“Super helpful.”
“I’m serious. If you hurt Piper, Sadie’s going to murder you, and I’ll have to help her hide the body.”
