Page 3

Gabby

I pull my hand back when I feel his rough calluses. What the heck am I doing? My thoughts are a mess, tangled and frayed. How could they not be after what I just walked into? But maybe, maybe there’s a part of me that’s desperate for human contact, a connection…warmth.

Male warmth, specifically.

Why, you ask?

Oh because, well, the truth is Cass hasn’t touched me in a long time. I guess I now know why. A hollow laugh escapes me, raw and broken and the sound is painful even to my own ears. Roman tilts his head, sharp, knowing eyes locking onto mine like he’s unraveling the mess inside me, piece by piece.

I steel myself. Cirque du Soleil might be in town, but this isn’t his circus and I’m not his monkey. I try to summon Gabrielle, the composed, accomplished fashion designer who has it all together. But I’m not sure I can fool him.

Maybe because Roman spent years reading the competition on the ice. Or maybe because he remembers me from before. Before I started shape-shifting to fit in with the expectations of others. Before I forgot who I was.

“I’m sorry.” I plaster on a smile that I already know he’ll see right through. “If you want to gamble, you should gamble. I hope you win big.”

His gaze doesn’t waver. He doesn’t look away. He’s studying me, peeling back the layers, the high-priced silk I’d carefully wrapped around myself. I turn, retreating into the burn of my drink. It’s awful, but at least it dulls the edges.

“I don’t really gamble,” he says, and I glance back at him.

And then, he takes my hand.

This time I don’t pull away. This time I let myself absorb his warmth, his quiet kindness. We weren’t that close back in the day, but Roman was always kind. And now, as his fingers tighten just slightly around mine, I realize how much I need that.

“I just thought you might want some privacy,” he murmurs softly. “But my gut tells me you don’t want me to leave.’

I laugh softly, shaking my head. “You always were at the top of the class, Roman.”

He shrugs, holding my gaze. “I did okay. And…” His grip tightens, solid and protective. “I don’t really want to leave you, Gabby.”

Since he’s being honest, I let myself be honest too. “Good,” I whisper. “I don’t want you to leave. I could use the company.” I take another sip of my drink and try not to wince.

Roman sets his glass down, puts his hands on my shoulders, and walks me backward until my knees hit a plush chair. “You also need to sit.”

I laugh. “Picked up on that, did you?” The man seems to pick up on a lot.

He drops down onto the coffee table, a deep seriousness about him. It’s something I only ever see when he’s playing hockey. The social media pictures are of a happy-go-lucky guy who has the world in his hands. Dammit, I don’t mean to be bringing him down this weekend.

Rethinking all this, I set my drink down and put my hands on the cushiony arms of the chair. Before I can push to my feet, he speaks.

“Gabby, don’t.” My gaze flies to his. “I want you to stay.”

My heart thuds and fresh tears press against the backs of my eyes.

“I’m really sorry this happened to you.” I try to speak, but can’t.

“What I’d like to do is go say hello to…

” he pauses, and I’m about to tell him my ex-fiancé’s name when he shakes his head.

“No questions. Besides, I don’t even want to know his name.

But what I’d like to do is say hello with my fist.” I’m about to protest, but before I can, he continues.

“That’s not what you want or need.” He taps my phone.

“This has been lighting up. Is there anyone you need to call?”

I shake my head. “No. I mean, yes. I need to talk to my parents.” I lean forward and press my palms to my eyes. “It’s so embarrassing.”

“I can go talk to them for you, or bring them back here. I’d hate for them to be waiting for you to walk down the aisle.”

That’s when it occurs to me. “Roman, no. I was only trying on my wedding dress. The ceremony is tomorrow. I was in my suite alone. Cass…” I catch myself.

“I mean, my ex-fiancé had his own room for the night. I was having trouble with the zipper, and went next door to ask my now ex-friend, Todd for help. That’s when I saw… ”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

“I am such an idiot.”

“No,” he shoots back quickly. “Your ex-fiancé, and your ex-friend are the idiots, and while all this sucks, Gabby. I’m glad you found out who he—they—really were before…you know.”

“You’re right.”

His phone pings, and he stands, to pull it from his pocket.

He quickly reads the message and once done, he says, “Why don’t you get comfortable, maybe take a soak, have another drink.

” My stomach tightens, and I grip the arms of the chair.

Is it one of his wedding party bridesmaids wanting to hook up? I don’t want to keep him from that.

“It’s Rip,” he tells me. “He got your things.”

“Did he see…”

“Apparently your ex is irate. Searching everywhere for you. He went to your parents’ room.”

My stomach twists. “Oh no.”

“I’m going to go get your things, and I’ll be right back, okay? Is there anything else you need.”

“Maybe for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.” I gulp.

What am I supposed to do now? My whole damn life, my work, was centered around Cass.

God, my internship. Gone. I reach for my phone and try to settle my shaky hands.

I glance at my screen, and see all the calls and messages from my parents and from Cassian.

There’s even a few from my former best friend, Todd.

How could he do this to me? “I need to call my parents. They must be so worried.”

He stands over me, and his presence doesn’t feel overbearing, it feels protective. “Want me to wait?”

“No. I appreciate it, though.”

“Okay.”

He stands there a little longer, uncertainty in his dark eyes. “You’re going to be here when I get back, right?”

“I have nowhere to go, Roman.” As that reality hits, it steals the air from my lungs.

My God, not only do I not have a room to go back to tonight, I don’t have a home to return to in New York.

I moved in with Cassian months ago, letting my own place go.

When we got engaged, he thought it was a good idea, and my rent was killing me as it was, so I agreed, even though I wasn’t sure it was a great idea.

There was something in my gut…warning me.

Then why did you do it, Gabby?

“Gabs?”

Shoot, I’d lost myself for a second there. “Yeah?”

“I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here, and a long, hot soak does sound nice.” I wave my phone. “After this.”

“I’ll leave you to it.” He turns and I stare at his broad back as he walks to the door, giving me one last reassuring look that everything will be okay before he leaves. But I know that isn’t true. Nothing will ever be okay again.

I swallow, and fight back the tears as I call my parents. It rings only once before Mom picks up.

She must hear my tears because she quickly asks, “Gabrielle, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

“I’m okay, Mom,” I tell her quickly, even though I’m not, and wince as she calls me Gabrielle.

I’ve always been Gabby to her, but after entering the fashion world, my ex-fiancé and his fashion mogul father had thought it best I go by Gabrielle.

They thought a lot of things. All things I complied with.

“Cass and I…” I fight to say we’re over.

Dad takes the phone. “Where are you? We’ll come get you.”

“No, it’s okay.” I try again. “Cass and I…” I can’t bear to tell them what happened. It’s embarrassing that I wasn’t enough for him. How could I ever have thought I could be? “We had a fight. The wedding is off.”

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. Come to our room or let us come to you.”

The thought of crawling back to them and letting them soothe my hurt sounds appealing. But they’ve done enough for me, have always been in my corner and I need to stand on my own two feet.

I inject a measure of confidence into my voice. “I’m with a friend.”

A beat and then, “Is it…Todd?”

Why are they saying it like that? Like they might have known something I didn’t. Am I the only fool who didn’t know my fiancé and my best friend were into each other?

I start to sob, and I’m not sure if it’s just hearing their voices or the fact that the two men I cared about most both have betrayed me.

That, and when I told them I was with a friend, they assumed it was Todd. Why wouldn’t they? When it comes to friends, I don’t have a whole lot anymore. I immersed myself in the fashion world, leaving those I once knew behind. My ex-fiancé and his father wanted me to be around the ‘right’ people.

Todd, also in fashion, was one of those people.

When he and I first met Cass at a fashion show, back when we were still in college, and Cass asked me out, I was thrilled.

I had no idea what a guy like him would see in a girl like me.

Now I do. He saw compliance, a girl struggling for her career… a shapeshifter.

That’s right. I became the doting, loving girlfriend who never asked too many questions. Everything he wanted me to be. When it comes right down to it, I’m not even sure who I really am anymore.

Wait…was he only with me so he could secretly be with Todd?

Ohmigod, have I been his beard all along?

“Do you guys remember Roman Marinelli?” I manage to push past the lump in my throat.

“Of course, we know who Roman is,” Dad responds, his voice strained and quiet and I hate doing this to them. But of course he knows Roman. Dad is the world’s biggest hockey fan, and I remember how thrilled he was when he found out Roman had signed with the Bucks.

“I ran into him here at the resort. I’m in his room.

I’m going to stay here for the night, until I can figure out what’s next.

” I know Mom and Dad would travel the world for me, and driving to Vegas for my wedding wasn’t that much to ask, but I still say, “I’m sorry you guys had to come all the way only for this to happen. ”