Page 37 of The Marriage Negotiation

As soon as the guard glanced at me, I rolled my eyes. "If he continues to cause a disturbance, call the cops."

The man looked greatly relieved by my words, the tension in his shoulders fading. "Yes, Mr. Scotton."

I turned my attention to my raging brother. I didn't raise my voice when I spoke—Peter was doing enough of that already—but I did use a firm tone. "Peter."

When Peter whipped around, I was astonished at how haggard he looked. There were deep lines in his face around his eyes and mouth and the color of his skin was almost pasty white.

The man had not aged well.

I leaned down toward Zaq. "Did he look like that when you two were dating?"

"Dating implies that we actually went out and did stuff together," Zaq retorted. "If you're asking if he looked like this when we were together, then the answer is yes."

Damn.

"I think you traded up, baby."

Zaq snorted. "I know I did."

I straightened up and looked back at my brother. "Is there a reason you are causing such a ruckus in the lobby of this building?"

"Patrick!"

Man, he was loud.

Loud enough to bring two more guards from the back. They walked around the security counter, standing at each end as if waiting to jump into action. I hoped there wouldn't be a problem, but this was Peter we were talking about. He created chaos just by breathing.

"Peter, could you just say what you came here to say?" I asked. "I can't stand here all day. I have a meeting to get to."

"They have meetings for convenience store employees?"

Apparently, insults were my brother's fallback.

"They probably do," I replied. "I wouldn't know. I haven't worked at a convenience store in years."

Peter's customary smirk crossed his face. I'd seen it a thousand times when we were growing up. "What? You got promoted to janitor?"

"Can we go?" Zaq asked as he tugged on my arm. "This conversation isn't worth the time its consuming."

"Zaq!"

"Oh, my god, would you stop shouting?" Zaq snapped. "Everyone can hear you."

"Is this where you've been?" Peter snarled. His lips curled back in a scathing glare as he looked Zaq up and down. "Are you sleeping with my brother now? I didn't realize you were such a slut."

I stiffened, my hand clenching into a fist ready to punch him, but Zaq pressed his hand against mine.

"Unlike you, Peter," he stated firmly, "I don't sleep around."

"With the way you're hanging onto Patrick, it sure looks like you do."

I didn't know what to think of the smile that crossed Zaq's face.

"It's perfectly acceptable for me to hang onto my husband." Zaq tightened his grip on me and leaned into my side.

I snickered when Peter's jaw dropped. How he couldn't already know this information was a mystery. Everyone that had attended the wedding knew I'd married Zaq. I was surprised no one had said anything to him, especially our parents.

"You can't be married," Peter snapped. "You're supposed to marry me."

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