Page 129

TEN

AIDEN

With an agreement to meet at the arena tomorrow and a plan for helping Lennox without having to lie to her, I push War and Brooks out the door.

Once they’re gone, I head out myself. On Gavin’s floor, a group of guys are lounging around the communal space, controllers in hand and beers on the table in front of them.

Training doesn’t start for another month, but several of the guys who’ve been home with their families are in town for Camden Snow’s birthday. The forward rarely travels home to Vegas because of a tragedy that plagued his family years ago, so we’ll celebrate here.

Because that’s what we do—we support each other. We’re the only family some of these guys have. For others like me, who are lucky enough to have big, overly involved families, we’re bonus brothers.

“Hey, bro,” Hall calls from the couch, controller in hand. “Wanna play?”

Camden nods a silent greeting, then turns back to the game.

“Nah, I’m going to stop by Gavin’s. You guys going out tonight?”

With a shrug, Hall leans back against the cushions and focuses on the TV. “Maybe. We’ll probably stay here, but if we change our minds, I’ll shoot you a text.”

Nodding, I head toward my brother’s apartment. As I pass Lennox’s door, I force myself to keep my eyes forward. Laughter from inside has me pausing, though.

My heart squeezes at the sound. Who’s she laughing with? Is she dating someone?

I glance back at the guys, cataloging who’s here and who’s missing. Has she been hanging out with one of them?

Nah, they wouldn’t.

Right?

Shit . Why wouldn’t they? None of them know how I feel about her. Hell, they think I’m engaged. There’s no way they’d even consider that I have a thing for her.

She is available. She doesn’t belong to me.

My blood pressure spikes at the mere thought of anyone touching her.

A burst of laughter startles me. The responding giggles, though, calm my racing heart. I let out a long breath and flex my hands. That is definitely a group of women.

Saying a silent prayer that she isn’t laughing about some other guy, I keep moving forward before the guys notice that I’ve stopped in front of her door.

When I reach Gavin’s door, I don’t even bother knocking. “Hello,” I call as I push the door open.

“Ever heard of knocking?” Gavin growls from the kitchen. He’s holding a bottle of red wine in one hand and a glass in the other.

“Perfect timing. I’d love a glass of wine.”

The door to their bedroom opens, and Millie appears.

“No wine. You’re not staying,” Gavin says without taking his focus off his fiancée.

She rolls her eyes, but her face lights in a smile. “Hey, Aiden. How are you?”

“Don’t ask him about his day,” Gavin grouses. “We’re having sex. I’ve waited all day. My baby is finally asleep. You’ve had your girl time. It’s my time now.”

Laughing, I stride over to him and snag the glass from his hand. I take a slow sip, then shoot Millie a grin. “Man is grumpy when he doesn’t get attention, huh?”

“We’ve been in a little bit of a drought this week,” she replies, slipping beneath Gavin’s arm and squeezing him.

“We aren’t discussing this with my brother.”

“Good idea,” I tease. “I’d rather not know about how depressing sex is when you get older.”

Millie guffaws, smacking a hand to her mouth, probably to keep from waking the baby. Gavin just glares at me.

“Anyway,” I say with a dismissive wave. “You’re going to thank me when I tell you why I came to visit.”

“Doubtful,” my brother grumbles.

Millie smacks him in the stomach. “ Gav .”

“Yeah, Gav ,” I mimic. “Seriously, though, come sit down and let me tell you all about the wedding I planned for you today.”

“Weren’t you with Lennox this afternoon planning your wedding to Jill?” Millie’s eyebrows knit together as she studies me.

“Yeah, no. I’m not marrying that money-grubbing woman.”

Millie gasps, blinking rapidly, then zeroes in on Gavin. “Why don’t you seem surprised?”

He gives her a sheepish smile. “You know, little brother, you may just be onto something. Peaches, weren’t you just saying you didn’t have time to plan a wedding?”

“ Gav. ”

“Or is it that you just aren’t ready to get married—” Gavin looks away, but not before his face falls. “It’s okay if that’s the case,” he says, his attention locked on the baby grand piano in the corner. “I know I still have work to do.”

Millie steps in front of him, sets her hands on his cheeks, and tilts his head until he’s forced to look at her. “Gavin Langfield, I can’t wait for the moment I’m your wife. If I had the time to plan, I’d marry you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow would be nice,” I say, “but July twenty-eighth would be preferable. All the potential venues are available that day.”

Gavin shoots me a glare, but Millie smooths her thumbs over his cheeks, and the expression immediately softens. “Would that make you happy, Peaches?” He grasps her wrists. “We can go to a justice of the peace tomorrow, but I think your father would kill me if he didn’t get to walk you down the aisle.”

Millie pops up on her toes and presses a kiss to my brother’s lips. “You make me happy, Coach. July twenty-eighth sounds perfect.”

“Did we just set a wedding date?” Gavin murmurs as he palms Millie’s ass.

“I think I’m gonna head out.” I throw a thumb over my shoulder, but neither is paying me any mind. “I’ll let you know about the venues, though. Tomorrow, we’re cake tasting. Chocolate or vanilla? Or something crazy like lemon meringue?”

“ Out ,” Gavin growls as he lifts Millie into the air and pulls her legs around his hips.Then he’s practically sprinting toward their bedroom.

Millie’s giggles echo around the space. “Vanilla with peach filling, please,” she whisper-shouts.

“Sure, guys,” I say as their bedroom door clicks shut. “I’ll just let myself out. You’re welcome, by the way. I’m happy to do the wedding planning. Have a good night.” I head for the door, but halfway there, I spin and dart to the kitchen, where the half-full bottle of red wine sits and snatch it up. “Tip for all my work.”