Page 63 of My Ex-Boyfriend's Brothers

“If none of us are ready to accept defeat, what are we doing?” Finishing his beer, Jackson grunted. “This is the only time I’ll ever say this, but fuck what she thinks she wants. She’s happier with us. She loves us. There’s no one else in this world who can take care of her better than we can. She belongs with us.”

“What are we waiting on?” I felt nervous and out of sorts, quickly backtracking. “We’re just drunk. This can’t be a good plan. Tell her to fuck her wishes and scoop her up?”

“No, that plan sucks.” Ryan nodded. “That plan sounds like a felony charge.”

“Are we going to do this? If this is just more of the same talk we’ve been doing, I’m leaving. We’re either going to her or we’re not. Which is it?” Jackson growled under his breath. “If one of you says we’re not going, I’ll kick your ass.”

“I love her.” I cleared my throat and said it louder. “I love her.”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “No shit. We all love her.”

Jackson nodded. “Yeah, that’s old news.”

Sighing, I pulled out my wallet and left several bills on the table. “Gregor is still mad at me but maybe he’ll want to drive us to the airport.”

“This is happening? We’re really going to show up and tell her that we’re finished waiting?” Looking at his phone again, Ryan swore and stood up. “Fuck it. We’re already at rock bottom.”

“She’s going to marry us.” I swayed as I stood up. “Shit, I’m drunk.”

“Okay, so maybe we sober up first.” Jackson burped again and scowled. “We can’t show up like this. Why would she want us? We can’t be stupidandfunky.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m not funky.” I sniffed myself and sank back into my chair. “But, yeah, let’s sober up first.”

Ryan sat back down and groaned. “I’m going to apologize for her getting stuck with us. Among all the other things I need to apologize for. This will just be an extra apology.”

“We’re not the worst.” I hiccuped. “We could be Brad.”

Jackson snorted. “Fucking hell.”

53

***Maggie***

“Maggie? You okay in there, honey?” Mom’s worried voice was drowned out by the sound of the toilet flushing. “Sarah brought you some crackers and ginger ale.”

I pulled myself up and stood in front of the mirror, frowning at my reflection. I’d been fine all morning but my stomach had suddenly soured and I’d been in Mom’s bathroom for long enough to worry her and her nurse, Sarah. “I’m okay, Mom.”

I could hear the two of them whispering and barely suppressed a groan. Mom had brought Sarah over to her side and they’d both been hovering over me since I got back from the wedding that wasn’t. Sarah had become a second mother hen, poking and prodding me with questions just as much as Mom did. I dreaded opening the bathroom door and facing their concern.

“Let me take your temperature.” Sarah was on me as soon as the door opened. She tugged me into the chair next to Mom’s bed and pushed me into it. “Sit.”

I groaned over their fussing. “I’m fine. Really. I think I just ate something weird.”

“You’ve barely eaten anything at all.” Mom scowled at my waist. “You’re losing weight.”

“Since when has that ever been a bad thing?”

“Maggie Lately. You’re never too old for me to spank or wash your mouth out with soap. I don’t want to hear a single bad thing about your body. You’re beautiful.”

I was saved from answering by Sarah shoving a thermometer in my mouth. When she pulled it out and saw that it was normal, she just grunted.

“I know you’re in your heartbreak era, babydoll, but you have to take better care of yourself. Your mom’s right. You’re barely eating and you’re losing weight. You look like a strong wind could knock you right over.” Sarah knelt in front of me, her knees creaking as she did. “Your momma and I are just worried about you.”

“I’m fine.” Seeing their scoffs, I sighed. “Okay, I’m not fine. I’m sad. Everything tastes terrible so I don’t feel like eating. I’m exhausted but I can’t sleep. Yesterday, a car commercial made me cry. I’m doing about as good as a woman can be expected to do after getting a triple heartbreak in one go. Other than all of that, though? I’m fine.”

“I still think you should call them.” Sarah was older than my mom by five years, putting her over the age of retirement and in a generation that should’ve been scandalized by my relationship with three men at the same time. Yet, she hadn’t batted an eye. “I looked them up, you know? Talk about sexy.”

I closed my eyes and breathed through another bout of nausea. “Not helping.”

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