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I’m not a coward. “I do, but she’s your and Cam’s sister.”

He smiles, and I don’t know what to make of that. Is he telling me to fuck off?

“She is, and I would break the balls of anyone who hurt her. God knows I’m dying to put my hands on that fucker out there. But she’s a big girl.” He rolls his eyes. “I just don’t want to see her suffer. She needs some time alone to wash that asshole off her palate.”

“I would feel the same if I had a sister.” At least a sister who recognized me as a brother and wasn’t ashamed that I had a different mother.

“You’re a good man, Coach. Cam and I agree on that. Lux is not in a good place to get into a relationship. She needs to let that bullshit out there go for good.” He hooks a thumb on the door.

“I get it. I do. I’m not making moves.”

He nods. “You’re by the book, and you’ve proven to be a good friend to me and my wife.” He smiles wider as he says it. “Lauren is my wife now.”

He tells me like I wasn’t there when they walked down the aisle, when they took their vows, and when they danced together for the first time as husband and wife. I understand, though. He loves his girl. Everything reflecting on his face is what a man should feel on his wedding day.

A man shouldn’t feel tension or reproaching stares from family members at his wedding. A man shouldn’t be wondering if he was making the biggest mistake of his life.

I did. Because I had.

“You’re both going to be very happy.”

They are, because there’s an understanding. Because their love is palpable whenever they are in a room together. Because Chase is really a good guy who has taken her nephews as his own sons.

From the dance floor, Lauren and the boys are waving at him to come over.

“I can’t hide from the dancing forever.” Chase doesn’t stop smiling.

“Go over there and shake your hips, but not too much. You shouldn’t look like a girl.” I laugh at the way the smile slides off his face. “Don’t be scared. It’s just bachata.”

He smiles again and goes to join them. Ayla is holding Avelyn, and they’re all dancing and passing the baby around.

I look to the door and head to find Luciana. I nearly bowl over Cam.

“Hey,” I say.

He sighs. “It’s taken care of. One of my drivers is taking Marilyn and Mateo back to the airport.”

“Oh.”

“Thanks for your help, Coach. I’m going to go see if Adri needs help.”

I go out into the lobby, but Luciana is not where I left her. I walk to the end of the hallway and find her in one of the sitting rooms. It’s a sunroom with a view of the backyard. She’s looking down at her phone, but the screen is all dark.

“You okay?”

She looks up and pastes a smile on her face, one that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah. I just needed some time to breathe.”

“How’s the air?”

She laughs. “Good. I guess. Thank you for your help earlier.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Too bad it didn’t work, and Chase found out anyway. I don’t want his day ruined.”

“Last time I saw him, he was headed to dance with his wife and sons. He had the biggest smile on his face. Nothing can ruin that man’s day.”

Her lips curve in that big wide smile of hers—the one that makes my mouth dry. I want to kiss her so bad. “He’s so in love. Lauren is too. Before, she was more guarded about what she felt for him, but now it’s so open. It’s beautiful and uncomfortable to see.”