Page 43 of My Ex-Best Men
She squeezed my arm. “Will, you can talk to me. I’m worried about you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“This is going to sound strange… We were competing for her attention at first. We even made a stupid bet to see who could win her over first.” I rolled my eyes. “Things changed, though, and now we’re just working together…as a team? That sounds insane, I know. I don’t want this getting out to anyone else, Mad, not until I know Claire is okay with people knowing. I’m only telling you because you’re my friend and you’ve known meand Claire for forever. I’m crazy about her. I always have been. Probably since the day she showed up at our house when she was still just a kid. I’d do anything to be with her. Including sharing her.”
Madeline looked like a stiff wind would’ve blown her away. “Sharing?”
I waved it off. “The details don’t matter.”
She cleared her throat. “Wow. I’m just shocked, I guess. Do you and the other guys…?”
I choked on my beer and ended up coughing part of it up while the rest shot out of my nose. I grabbed some cocktail napkins and wiped my face while trying not to think about how red I’d gone. I was hoping it’d just fade away. “No. Dear god, no. It’s all about Claire for us.”
She laughed and pinched my cheek. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush before.”
“Thanks for noticing.” I shook my head and smiled. “Look, I know it’s not conventional. I don’t think any of us have thought it all the way through yet. It’s only been a few days.”
“I’m not judging you, Will. I’ve been your good friend for years and years. We’ve seen each other through some odd times before. This is no different.”
“It is, though. This is it for me. It’s always been Claire and now that she’s probably coming back for good… I’m not letting her go.”
She nodded and looked down at her beer. “She’s coming back?”
“It’s not set in stone yet.” I took a deep breath and pulled out my wallet. I opened it and turned it to show her the picture of Claire with her cheek pressed to mine when we were just kids. “I’ve kept this close the entire time she was gone. I kept up with her as much as I dared without killing myself. Honestly, Mad, I’ll follow her to London if I have to.”
She gasped. “But your job! You love being a firefighter, Will. What would you do inLondon?”
I laughed and shrugged. “I’d figure it out. That stupid bet? I won. Even though I never expected those idiots to pay up, they did. I have enough money to live off of for a while. I could take my time looking and find something perfect. But maybe it won’t come to that. I really think she wants to come home.”
“Wait. The bet? Explain that a little more. I’m confused how a stupid bet could earn you enough money to live off of.”
I groaned and rubbed the back of my neck, more than a little embarrassed by it. “Promise not to judge us?”
Madeline laughed and drained the rest of her beer. “I’m not going to judge you, Will. Promise.”
“We were all trying to get Claire and we made this stupid bet that whoever got her first won and got a large sum of money. It was just the three of us guys being idiots and talking shit to each other, really. I never expected them to ante up the money. Lord knows I had no intention of paying them if they’d won. I tried explaining that but they’re both as stubborn as a couple of mules.” Sighing, I cringed at my own behavior. “That’s all in the past, though. What we feel for Claire is so much more than some stupid bet. WhatIfeel for Claire is more than anything I ever expected to feel again.”
“How much?” Madeline grinned and then rolled her eyes. “Come on. I’m not judging you but I at least want to know what you fools were willing to bet over Miss Perfect.”
That Miss Perfect taunt made my hackles rise. I trusted Madeline and expected her to get on board Team Claire. Just like any other friend would. “Madeline, is there something between you and Claire that I don’t know about? You seem a little standoffish with her.”
She shook her head so fast that her hair whipped around her face. “No! No, Will. I don’t have an issue with Claire. I think I’mjust… I mean, I told you that I’m afraid with Claire back that you and Sophia will forget me. I guess I’m just worried. You’re so crazy about her, so suddenly, and I know how people can get lost in their relationships. You’re one of my best friends, Will, and I’d be really sad to lose you.”
I felt like shit when I saw the tears in her eyes. I pulled her in for a hug and then pulled back so I could squeeze her shoulders while looking her in the eye. “You’re not going to lose us, Mad. I’d love it if you and Claire became friends. We could all hang out and you could stop worrying about losing us. Who knows? Maybe Zane will bring one of his rich, rockstar friends with him and you’ll meet the love of your life. Then it’ll be me telling you not to forget me when you run off to LA or New York.”
“Maybe.” She swallowed and shrugged. “I guess we’ll see.”
39
***Anthony***
Iwas already on the porch waiting for Claire’s vanishing act the next morning. After another night of insane sex, I figured she’d be too confused and conflicted to stay and chat. I was ready for her, though. She stepped out on the porch with a pair of heels in her hands and silently closed the door with her face pinched in concentration. Just as she shut it and stepped back, she looked over and saw me.
“Shit!” She dropped her heels and grabbed her chest. “What are you doing?! You scared the hell out of me!”
I stood up and flexed when her eyes drank in my bare chest. “I figured you’d try sneaking away again so I left a note for Zane and Will to let them know that I stole you away for the morning.”
“But you didn’t…”
I took her hand and pulled her with me towards the beach. “But I did.”
