The woman his brother is dancing with—presumably Gabe’s ex, Candace—enjoys the attention he draws. Basks in it even when she’s not directly addressed. There’s nothing wrong with liking attention. I like it, too, depending on the situation. But bottom line, if this woman was the one who hurt Gabe, we aren’t going to be friendly.

I didn’t wake up this morning and decide to act as a bodyguard for a man twice my size, but here we are.

Murmurs on all sides of us draw my notice. Eyes shift from one brother to the other, whispers are passed between sips of drinks. There are two very distinct groups in attendance. Men and women who look at ease in their finery. And construction types who seem very uncomfortable in their tuxedos. Half of them already have their bow ties dangling from their pockets. It’s that latter group splitting their attention between Gabe and his brother, watching to see what will happen. How he’ll react to his ex-wife and brother cozied up in public.

“Are you still in love with her?” I ask Gabe, surprised to find my stomach knotted.

“No.” He shakes his head. “No, I’m not sure I ever was. I think I…”

“What?” I prompt him after a few moments of silence.

“I got my growth spurt a lot earlier than my brother.” He ducks his head slightly and shakes his head, as if he can’t believe he’s telling me this. “Growing up, I was only called outside to play if the football got stuck in a tree. I had this broom handle I kept by the door, so I could dislodge the ball from between the branches. Then we got older and I started sneaking everyone into movies, claiming to be eighteen when I was only fourteen. The lady at the ticket counter knew we were full of shit, but she let us in anyway.” He tips his chin at the dancefloor. “And then one day, he was as tall as me. I wasn’t needed for anything and I didn’t…I wasn’t as quick with the comebacks and jokes. I just stayed out of the way, so I wouldn’t have to feel like I was…out of place, I guess.” Very briefly, his gaze flickers to the woman on the dancefloor, before finding my gaze. “It just felt good to be chosen. By someone. Maybe even anyone. Is that terrible?”

“No.” There’s a catch in my throat, so I clear it. “No, it’s not terrible. It’s human nature.”

He seems relieved by that assessment. “The mistake was mine, you know? I should have seen what was happening. Should have recognized my own weakness.” He pauses. “I need to take my broom handle and go inside. Let them be happy.”

“As long as you make yourself happy, too,” I say, tugging him toward the center of the ballroom. “Come on. Let’s dance.”

“Ah, Elise.” His fingers stiffen within mine. “I don’t know. I don’t really dance.”

I grin back at him. “You do tonight.”