Page 17

My fingers brush against the fabric of her dress, and a low, involuntary growl rumbles from my chest as I run thehideous, polyestermaterial between my fingers. “Actually… you’ll be lucky to last an hour with this on.”

She shivers, her breath hitching. “Romeo, you’re really starting to scare me.”

I chuckle, leaning in slightly. “Be afraid, Gabs.Be very afraid. ”

But then I soften. “Seriously, we don’t have to stay long. Just make an appearance, watch some fireworks…”

“I’m looking forward to the fireworks, and we’ll stay as long as you want.

I don’t want you rushing from your friend’s wedding.

” Her eyes light with amusement. “Wait, what do you think your friends are going to say when they see you with…” She pauses, gesturing over her entire outfit with a sweeping motion. “This?”

I don’t even hesitate. “They’ll think I’m the luckiest guy on the rooftop.”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s no hiding the pink rising in her cheeks. “Oh, Romeo, you are such a sweet talker.”

“It’s not sweet talk if it’s true.” I wink, smirking. “And trust me, Red. I don’t lie.”

She crinkles her nose in thought. “I think we should just keep a low profile.”

I raise an eyebrow, glancing down at the orange monstrosity she’s wearing. “Hard to do in this dress, but it will be dark, and the wedding party is big, and of course, fireworks will be stealing the spotlight.”

She takes in a big breath, her chest rising as she exhales slowly. Her eyes gloss over for a moment, and I can feel the weight of the thought she’s trying to push down. “I can’t believe tonight…it was supposed to be my wedding night.”

My stomach tightens at the rawness in her voice. “Regrets?”

Her lips tremble just slightly, but she’s doing her best to hold it together. “I have lots of regrets.” She lifts her chin, a sign of her resolve, but I can see the cracks. The vulnerability hiding just beneath the surface. “Not marrying Cass, isn’t one of them.”

I know that, deep down, she’s relieved to have seen his true colors before making that commitment. But I can tell it still stings, the uncertainty, the feeling of not being enough, the quiet ache that’s harder to erase.

Tonight I plan to show her she’s more than enough. She deserves to know how amazing she really is, especially after everything she’s been through.

“Okay.” I tug on her hand gently, pulling her closer, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. Wanting to lighten the mood, I offer a teasing smile. “The wedding didn’t happen, but baby, this is Vegas. Anything can happen in Vegas, including a non-wedding night to remember.”

Her lips curve into a smile, her eyes softening as she cups my cheeks. “Thanks, Roman. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“Hey, what are rebounds with benefits for?” I joke, trying to ease some of the tension.

I reach up and tuck a loose curl behind her ear, admiring the way it falls against her skin.

Then I step back and give her a slow, appreciative whistle as I look her over.

“Honestly, Gabs. I’m going to be the envy of every guy tonight. ”

She laughs, light and easy, but then smacks my chest with a mock scowl. “Stop trying to sweet talk me. I’m already coming back to this room with you tonight.”

I growl low in my throat, pulling her closer by the waist. “Right.”

She smiles, but there’s a flicker of something softer in her eyes. “Let’s go.”

She steps away and grabs a small bag, and I open the door, glancing up and down the hall instinctively. I’m not sure why. Maybe I’m half-expecting to see that asshole again. I pull her gently with me, and the door clicks softly behind us.

On the elevator, there’s an almost palpable sense of excitement.

People bustle around us, heading to their own destinations, but all I can focus on is Gabby beside me, her warmth next to mine.

We reach the rooftop, and the warm night air rushes over us.

Gabby lifts her face to the sky, inhaling deeply, and for a brief moment, it feels like everything in the world is just right.

“Nice to get out of the room, huh?” I ask, my voice quiet, just for her.

She chuckles, a soft, genuine sound that tugs at my heart. “Very.”

I glance around, my eyes settling on a cluster of the wedding party, laughing and chatting in groups. As I think about introducing her, I feel Gabby’s grip tighten slightly in mine, and I meet her gaze.

“We should say hello,” she suggests, her voice a little uncertain.

“You don’t have to,” I say, not wanting her to do anything she’s not comfortable doing.

She shakes her head, though, and her fingers play nervously with the sleeve of her dress. “I think it might be better to meet them. If we don’t tear off the band-aid right now, we’re going to be the topic of conversation all night.”

Does she really think that?

She lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “I can hear the whispering now. You don’t want that, Roman.”

Clearly the fashion world she’s used to is cutthroat, full of whispers and gossip. I get it. But my friends? They’re not like that.

“Well, tell them you’re with the convention, okay?” I smile at her, trying to ease the tension in her shoulders.

She chuckles, and I can see a flicker of amusement in her eyes. “How else will this make sense? We’ll say we met yesterday?”

Nodding, I give her hand a reassuring tug. “Yes, and that we’re also old friends.”

She agrees, and I gesture with a nod toward the group. “Come on.”

We walk over to Rip and one of the bridesmaids, and the moment Rip sees us, a wide smile lights up his face. He opens his mouth, about to say something, but then he pauses, raising an eyebrow, a silent question in his gaze.

I can tell he’s trying to figure out how much he can say, if he should mention whoGabby really is.

To answer his unasked question, I place my hand gently on the small of Gabby’s back, offering her that steadying touch. “Rip, you remember Gabby from high school.”

Rip’s eyes widen for a moment before he grins and opens his arms wide. “Gabby, it’s so good to see you!” He pulls her into a light hug and tugs on one of her curls, his smile broadening. “Love this. Suits you.”

Gabby laughs softly, and I see the tension in her shoulders melt just a bit. “Another sweet talker.” Her eyes glint with playfulness. She looks over at Gemma, one of the bridesmaids, and her voice drops teasingly, “We need to be careful with these two.”

Gemma chuckles, clearly taking it all in stride. She notices that Gabby doesn’t have a drink, and her smile is warm and welcoming. “Come on, Gabby,” Gemma says, her voice friendly and light. She winks playfully at her. “I’m Gemma. Let’s get you a drink and trade stories.”

Gemma loops her arm through Gabby’s, guiding her away from the group, and I can’t tear my eyes away as they walk toward the bar. Every few steps, Gemma stops to introduce Gabby to someone new, and I see Gabby’s smile widen as she gets comfortable, the compliments pouring in for her outfit.

I stand back for a moment, just watching her. Something about seeing her with my friends,comfortable and laughing , makes something in my chest warm. Gabby fits in here.

“How’s it going?” Rip’s voice breaks through my thoughts, low and serious.

“Good. Told you that outfit was a good idea.”

He chuckles, slapping me on the back. “You’re a good guy, helping her out like that.”

I nod, feeling the weight of his words. It’s not just about the outfit—it’s about her, and I know I’m doing what feels right.

But I can’t let her think there is more going on.

Rip was right about that. I spot Elias and Taylor in the distance, and I figure I better introduce Gabby now, considering they’ll meet her back in Boston and will probably have questions.

“I better go make the rounds,” I tell Rip, and start heading toward the one person who stands out more than anyone on this rooftop, not just because of her bright, glowing orange dress, but because of the way she shines brighter than any woman here.

When I reach her, a smile pulls at my lips. I pull her to me, and as she melts into me when I wrap my hand around her waist, I can’t ignore how natural it feels. How right it feels. We fit together perfectly, like two pieces that were meant to be.

I grab us a drink at the bar, and we make our way around, introducing her to my friends. The conversations flow easily, everyone laughing and chatting, and by the time the night moves on, I pull her away from the crowd to find us a quiet corner, just before the fireworks start.

“I can’t believe how nice everyone is,” she says, her voice soft as she touches my cheek.

“Why wouldn’t they be?” I ask.

“I don’t know. I guess I just didn’t expect it. I figured they’d be judgmental.” Her laugh is quiet, but it carries a lightness that I haven’t heard from her before now. “I am in a Mrs. Roper dress.”

More people spill onto the rooftop, and I pull her closer, my arm wrapping around her as my eyes scan the crowd. The last thing I want is for him to show up and ruin her night.

She glances at her phone, her excitement mixed with a nervous energy. “It’s almost time.”

We lean against the railing, our bodies pressed together, and I can feel the warmth of her close to me. The countdown begins and when my gaze drops to her lips, I’m suddenly reminded that she was supposed to be kissing a different man tonight.

But she’s not.

She’s kissing me.

Even though we don’t have a future, we have tonight.

That’s all I want.

At least I think it is.

The countdown hits zero, and as the fireworks explode in the sky, our lips meet.

That’s when I realize, I’ve never been more unsure about anything.

Shit.