Staci was still gone.

It had been three weeks since I had seen her.

One text. That was it. One measly little text message was all that I had gotten from her.

After I had called her three different times, the only response:

I was so damn angry I couldn’t see straight. She was sorry? I didn’t want her apologies. I wanted to know what the hell happened. I wanted to know what I had done.

“Calm down.” My sister was typing on her computer and watching me like I was crazy as I stared into Staci’s tattoo room. A room that hadn’t been touched since she left. “You will see her in Vegas.”

“She’s coming?” My eyes darted to my sister.

“Of course, she’s coming. Her, Parker, and Brandon are all three being featured at the convention, and it has been planned for over a year. She kind of has to be there.”

“And I have to be there, why?” There was no way in hell I wasn’t going now that I knew she was going, but Livy was still adamant that I be there.

“Because I’m tired of watching you mope. Staci will be there, you’ll be there. Maybe the two of you can finally make up or get your shit together or whatever you need to do.”

“I haven’t been moping.” I leaned against the counter.

“Yes. You have.” Brandon’s voice carried from his room.

“Fuck you, Brandon.”

He chuckled then started talking to the guy he was tattooing.

“We leave at seven in the morning, so I need you to make sure that you are completely packed tonight and are at the house by four thirty.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m the responsible one. You need to talk to your boy Brandon.”

“I can hear you, asshole.”

I smiled at my sister.

“Don’t worry. I’m making him stay the night with me.”

I chuckled as we heard Brandon talking to his client again. “They are a pain in my ass.”

I had no idea what we were doing. All I knew was that I was instructed to be in the hotel lobby by seven o’clock sharp by Livy and to wear something nice.

We had arrived in Vegas around noon, and the four of us came straight to the hotel where I took a nap. I didn’t know if Staci was already here. I hadn’t seen her, and no one had mentioned it either.

But I was dying to see her.

I knew there was no way that I wouldn’t go looking for her, so when Parker and Livy told me they were going to check out the casino, I left them on the casino floor and Brandon already talking to some chick while I went up to my room.

Now I stood in the hotel lobby alone, and I can’t stop searching every face in the crowd for hers.

I straightened my jacket and cringed at the black pants and jacket Livy told me to pack. I wasn’t really a suit kind of guy, but Livy was adamant and impossible to say no to.

I looked up just as the elevator door opened and Staci stepped out. She was laughing at someone behind her, and I clenched my fist when I saw Brandon walk out behind her.

I had no right. Brandon was her friend. Hell, he was my friend, but it still made me insanely jealous to watch her with him.

It made me downright angry.

Staci’s gaze hit mine and her steps faltered.

She didn’t know that I was here. I could read it all over her face. She had no idea, and she hated it.

She hated that I was here, and she hated that she wasn’t prepared.

I could see the wheels turning in her head, trying to think of what she was going to say to me.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I hadn’t seen her in weeks. I had been going crazy, but here she was in front of me, just as fucking beautiful as the last time I saw her. Somehow more.

I just stared at her as she walked toward me, but as soon as I saw the woman walking around the corner behind her, my heart completely stopped.

Staci noticed my gaze move away from her, and she coyly looked over her shoulder to see what had grabbed my attention.

But none of us were expecting what we saw.

My sister was walking hand in hand with Parker, and she was wearing a short white dress and carrying a bouquet of flowers in her hand.

“What the hell?” Brandon reached his arms out for my sister, and she ran into them with a squeal.

“We wanted to keep it a secret.” Livy laughed as she looked over at Parker while a smile took over her face.

“You two are getting married?” Staci sounded as shocked as I felt.

“Yes. Man, that sounds crazy. We’re getting married.”

Staci grabbed my sister’s hand and twirled her in a circle to look at her dress, and they both looked so damn happy. Parker reached his hand out to me and I shook it before I pulled him into a hug.

“I’m so happy for you, man.”

“Yeah?” He chuckled as he clapped my back.

“Absolutely.”

He pulled away from me and rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Does that mean we have your blessing?”

I looked my best friend in the eye. “Are you asking for my sister’s hand in marriage?”

“I am.” He looked so uncomfortable, and I wouldn’t be the good best friend that I am if I didn’t let him at least sweat it out a bit.

It wasn’t until he narrowed his eyes at me that I said, “Of course, you have my blessing.”

“Well, let’s go get married.” He smiled then and I knew that I would never again have to worry about my sister being happy.