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“It’s not a big deal.” I gesture at the focus mitts. “I’m here now, aren’t I? I’m fine.”

He looks at Alexander again. My older brother meets his worried expression with disbelief of his own that I don’t know what to do with.

I let out an exhausted groan. “Can we not do this? I know I work too much. This isn’t news.”

“That’s not what—” Nico stops himself, his lips pinching, like he’s nervous to continue. “It’s more like the type of work you’re doing a lot of,” he finally admits. “It seems like the cases you’re working are taking a toll. You seem stressed.”

I sigh and prop my gloved hands on my hips. “It’s not a big deal,” I repeat lamely. “It’s just one of those months where I’m glued to my firm. It’ll pass.”

Nico quirks an eyebrow. “You just had the biggest win of your career. Have you even taken a pause? Gone for a hike? Taken an afternoon off to rot on the couch? Anything?”

I can’t bring myself to admit that when I attempted to do that, I passed out ten minutes into the movie—and then woke up six hours later to work because my mind wouldn’t stop spinning.

“Stop mothering me,” I grumble. “I’m fine.”

“Are you?” Alexander asks pointedly.

I shoot him a glare. “Oh, so this you’ll talk about?” Apparently, my defensiveness is stronger than my surprise. Alexander is someone who communicates mostly in grunts and gestures, so for him to join this conversation…

“My brother’s well-being? Yeah.”

Immediately chastised, I swallow and look away.

“I swear it’s not that bad,” I say, softer now. I look back to meet my brothers’ eyes. “I promise. It’s just…one of those months.”

I can see they don’t believe me. I don’t know if I even believe me.

But instead of pushing like I expect them to, Nico asks, “Do you remember that kid I cornered as a stand-in last month?”

My lips pull down, wondering where this is going. “The young redhead? Yeah. Why?”

“He’s insanely good. I swear he got to 6-0 on sheer will and talent alone. But he’s struggling with management. He keeps getting bad offers.” There’s something lingering in his eyes that makes me think there’s more to this. “I was hoping you could look at his upcoming contract. Help him out a little.”

“Uh…sure, I can take a look.” My frown deepens. Since I was Nico’s manager when he was fighting, it’s not uncommon for him to ask me for contract help, but this doesn’t seem like that. “But why him? You’ve never asked me this before.”

And I realize I’ve hit the nail on the head when he ducks his head to avoid my gaze. “Nico, what is this?”

He picks at a thread on the focus mitt. “Look, I know we rip on you for the career you chose, about being in it for the money, but we just want you to be happy. And lately…I don’t know, you seem worked to the bone for all the wrong reasons. I wanted to offer you something that might feel a little more purposeful.”

I sigh. I know my brothers just want what’s best for me, so I can’t really be mad at them. “How long has he been pro?” I ask.

“Three years. He’s undefeated, but you never hear about him because his coach keeps him on the back burner and his managers have been useless. He could use your help.”

I mull it over. “Fine. Give him my number, and I’ll work it out with him. But Nico…” I wait for him to meet my gaze. Then I turn to meet Alexander as well. “I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine. I swear. It’s just the phase of life I’m in.” Realizing I’ve found the perfect way to convince him, I quirk an eyebrow and add, “Does that sound familiar? I believe a certain someone went through this just a few months ago.”

Nico chuckles at that. “Exactly. And I ended up quitting my career because of it.”

I sigh heavily. “Technically, I think that had more to do with your love life than your career.”

“Maybe that’s what you need, then,” Nico muses. “A girlfriend, instead of your usual casual thing.”

Fat chance of that happening. Any stress I have is work-centered, not woman-centered.

“Nah. I think I’ll stick with casual for now. I’ll leave the whipped status to you.”

Nico’s smiling as he rolls his eyes, which leads me to grin crookedly and add, “Unless Alexander’s also decided to join the dating world…?”

Nico and I both turn toward our oldest brother, a stoic veteran who rarely talks, who spends all his time working at his private security firm and occasionally hanging out with us. Who has never really shown an interest in dating seriously, but definitely not since his last deployment. The odds of him dating are less than Nico breaking up with the girlfriend he’s obsessed with.