I didn’t know what the fuck was going on. After an awkward as hell introduction Vanessa and I left her brother downstairs while we put on some clothes.

She raced around the room. It didn’t look like she could put together an outfit if she wanted to.

“Here.” I shoved a Warriors T-shirt in her hand. “Put this on.”

She was in shock.

I rummaged through her drawers and grabbed a pair of running shorts. “And these.”

She was in a trance getting dressed.

I pulled up my jeans, fastening them as I tugged on a white shirt.

“When was the last time you saw him?” I asked.

She used the pool towel to dry her hair. “Eight years?” She looked at me.

“Damn.”

“I don’t know why he’s here. I don’t get it.”

She paced in front of the door.

“Let’s go find out.” I held her hand.

“What if he wants the team?” I saw the panic in her eyes. “What if that’s why he’s here?”

I shook my head. “That’s not going to happen.”

She was frozen in the doorway. I couldn’t get her to cross the threshold. “You don’t know that. I don’t know that. I don’t know him anymore.”

“I get that I’m not the first man people turn to for advice, but I’ll tell you something Isaac has always said.”

“What’s that?” She looked hopeful.

“Nothing happens if you don’t make it happen.”

I saw the cute little crinkle in her forehead. “That’s the advice?”

“Yeah. It means get your ass downstairs and find out what your brother is doing here. You know we’ll take care of you darlin’. Isaac will be home tomorrow, and we’re not going to let anything happen to you.”

She seemed to accept my approach for now. She squeezed my hand harder than usual as we walked down the stairs together.

When we reached the kitchen Vanessa’s brother had made himself at home, helping himself to one of our beers. It was weird how I could see the familiar resemblance. He had bright blue eyes and high cheekbones, but when I looked at her, I couldn’t see a trace of him.

“So new fiancé, huh?” He chugged my favorite beer.

“So long-lost brother, huh?” I retorted.

“Hey,” Vanessa hushed us both. “I’m surprised to see you, Danny. Shocked really.”

He hopped on the counter, swinging his legs. “Grammy tracked me down.”

“Where?” Vanessa asked.

“Singapore,” he answered. He took a swig of beer. “Hell of a trip.”

“You’ve been on vacation for eight years, Danny.”

I didn’t like drama. I didn’t like family problems. Girl problems. Relationship shit. This wasn’t my scene. But I was in deep with Vanessa. We may never have a wedding. Our entire engagement might have been fake, but I had fallen for this girl.

For her laughter. The sparkle in her eye when she saw a piece of art she loved. For the way she thought through the team’s problems. How she loved me. How she took a chance on a man who had never spent more than a week with the same woman. And I wasn’t going to bail on her now. It wasn’t my fight, but if Vanessa was involved, then it was my fucking business. Her brother would have to get used to that.

I grabbed a beer from the fridge and stood next to her. I would stand by her side as long as she needed me.

I felt her relax into me. I tucked my hand against her waist.

Danny cocked his head. “So this thing looks legit.”

“This thing?” Vanessa stared at him. “Are you talking about our engagement?”

“Grammy said it’s not going to last. Thought I should at least check out the guy who’s going to marry my little sister. Dad would want me to do that.”

Vanessa’s eyes fired. “Don’t even pretend you care what Dad would want. You checked out of this family a long time ago.”

“I’m still your brother, Nessa.”

“The brother who didn’t show up for our grandfather’s funeral. The brother who missed my college graduation. The brother who never answered a call or a single email in eight years. That brother? Is that what you call a brother?”

I tightened my grip on her. I could feel her shake under my fingers.

“Nessa, who are you? Running a football team? Sounding like Granddad already, trying to fit me into a box.”

She groaned. “I’m not trying to fit you into any kind of box.”

Danny hopped from the counter. He had finished his beer. I eyed him closely.

“Grammy wants me here. I’m staying at the house. Maybe we could have breakfast tomorrow.”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I have meetings and Isaac is being released—” she stopped, catching her mistake before she said too much.

“Who?”

I stepped in. “My best friend is going to be released from the hospital in the morning. It’s a big deal around here.”

“Huh. Ok.” Danny walked toward the front door. “Think about the breakfast. I’m still on Singapore time so I’ll be up. My clock is going to take a few days to recalculate. I know Grammy would love to see you.”

I thought I heard her hiss. I held on to her.

Danny strolled to the foyer. “Nice meeting you, Dylan. You two can get back to whatever kinky stuff you had going on. I’ll have to tell you about the shit in Singapore sometime.”

“Man, I don’t think so.” I shook my head.

Danny paused at the door. “But really, congrats on the engagement.”

“Thank you.” Vanessa clenched her jaw.

The door closed and she turned toward me. I didn’t know what to do when women cried. It always made me uncomfortable. But Vanessa’s tears started to fall and I knew I had to hold her. I had to love her until the very last tear dried from her cheeks. We sank to the floor and I pulled her to my chest.

“Shh. Shh.” I calmed her as the sobs wracked her shoulders.

She crawled into my lap like a little girl. I didn’t know what in the hell I was doing. But I hoped I was doing something right.