Page 67 of The Companion Love Trap

But the real winner was last year when a guy I’d been sleeping with for a few months decided to throw me a surprise party. Not only did I hate being surprised, but he dropped down on one knee and proposed to me in front of his family. Of course, I had to open my mouth and do what I did best when put on the spot… embarrass us both.

“Will you marry me, Everly?”

“You know we’re just fucking, right? Like we don’t even kiss. So, unless that’s a cock ring, I’m unsure what you hoped to accomplish here.”

Cue awkward crickets, and I slowly backed my way out of that clusterfuck Homer Simpson style, embarrassed for us both.

So, yeah, birthdays were not my favorite, but I think I could get on board with them with these three.

“Thank you, guys, for this. How did you know?” I asked once I had devoured my weight in cake. Only then had I let them have any. And like the good boyfriends they were; they’d patiently waited.

Well, patiently was a stretch for Jace, who acted like the golden retriever in a Chihuahua’s body he was—loyal and possessive, with too much big dick energy.

“Your passport,” Jace said, his voice smug. Cruz winked, and I took that to mean he’d help me get him back for it. I could so get on board with punishing Jace together.

Once the cake had been cleared away, Cruz had Buns join us on the bed as the four of us lay together in a tight pile of bodies. I was tired, but I didn’t feel like sleeping yet.

“Do you think it will be like this off the ship?” I asked, voicing the fear I had.

“Better, Meu Tudo. We won’t have to hide or spend most of our time kissing asses,” Cruz answered instantly.

“Really?” I asked, hopeful, and leaned up on my elbows, looking around at them.

Jace’s eyes were closed as he lay between Cruz and me, his head on our bossy boyfriend’s stomach, his legs entwined with mine. Cruz casually stroked Jace’s hair, the intimacy of that small action making my heart swoon. Well, damn.

Kieran was wrapped around my other side, his head right under my boob and his hand casually making circles on my belly. Buns was nestled between my legs, her happy snores making me smile.

I could almost see us all together like this forever, and it didn’t terrify me for once. Laying back down, I finally drifted off to sleep as the sun started to rise, hoping in my chest the rest of my birthday would be just as great.

CRUISE DAY SEVEN

That hope came crashing down when I walked into dinner and saw the last two people I ever wanted to see.

“Beverly? Is that really you?”

Well, fuck.

Was it too late to jump ship? Those lifeboats worked, right?

“You know them?” Kieran asked, his forehead creased.

“Know us?” Briony Carlisle asked, scoffing as she stood, her hand gripping the arm of Bartholomew Carlisle. “We’re her parents.”

Yep. They were one of those families where everyone had the same initials. Gag me.

Kieran’s face paled as he looked back at them and then at me.

“Sorry, I didn’t know. They’re guests of the Woodwards as potential investors. That’s why they weren’t at any other events,” he whispered. His eyes pleaded with me to understand, like he thought I might blame him. I squeezed his arm and kissed his cheek, pulling him closer.

“It’s okay. I know you didn’t do this on purpose. Just promise me you’ll still like me after this. They bring out the worst in me.”

“Everly, I know this started as fake, but it’s as real as it gets for me. Nothing I could learn about you would make me feel anything less.”

Letting out the tension I’d been holding, I kissed his lips softly before stepping back and pulling up all my shields. Jace eyed me curiously, but Cruz had a look of murder on his face, the only one who had any clue about the damage they’d caused me.

It looked like I was going to be thirty and dirty because there was no way I wouldn’t go down without a fight. Bring it, Mother. It was time to settle the score.

twenty-two

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