Page 5 of My Ex-Best Men
Meaning he had after the first six months. I swallowed back a wave of hurt and yanked away from him. “Wow, Zane. How loyal of you. I’m so touched by the obvious love you continued to carry for me after leaving me and refusing to answer my calls. I’m flattered.”
“Oh, my gosh. Zane Wilson! Can you sign my shirt?”
I didn’t bother looking back at him or the woman fanning out over him. I kept my gaze on the window seal and wondered if a swift headbutt would get it to open or just knock me out. Either way, I wouldn’t have to consciously deal with Zane anymore.
Before I had to do any serious damage to myself, though, a stewardess came over the intercom and informed us that we’d be landing soon. Still not soon enough, if you’d asked me. I clicked my seat belt back on and meticulously put away everything from my tray table. My purse being perfectly organized should’ve made me feel better but it didn’t.
While the plane began its descent Zane watched me. “Some men might not be into the chip on your shoulder, babe, but I love a challenge. Especially since I was the one who put it there.”
Just as the plane touched down I yanked my belt off and shoved my phone in the tiny pocket in my leggings. “You were hardly the only man in my life who disappointed me, Zane. Nice ego trip, though.”
His scowl was vindicating. “Who else?”
I laughed and jumped up before I was technically supposed to. “That’s none of your business.”
If I was expecting him to get up and chase after me once the plane doors opened and I made my escape I would’ve been disappointed. Luckily for me, I was done with my trip down memory lane. I didn’t want, or need, Zane Wilson chasing after me.
I did, however, need my luggage. My carry-on held only my bridesmaid gown because I was being especially type-A and cautious while packing. I’d wanted to be sure nothing happened to the dress but I should’ve been a little more worried about the rest of my things because as I stood there watching the luggage carousel, I slowly realized my suitcase was nowhere to be seen.
Twenty minutes and two frustrating conversations with annoyed airport staff later I knew I was screwed. Somewhere between London to New York and New York to Miami, my suitcase had been lost. With my current luck I was willing to bet it’d fallen out of the plane over the ocean. I was dismissed with a promise that they’d call me as soon as they found my luggage, but it could be up to seventy-two hours before I heard anything.
I was standing there wondering what I’d done to deserve the day I was having when my phone rang. I checked and saw it was Sophia calling. She was a bright spot in my day, at least. “Soph. I have so many things to tell you. Are you here?”
Sophia had been my best friend since I was ten-years-old and I knew every one of her quirks and tells. I knew the moment she let out her guilty laugh that something was wrong. “I’m not there, no. But only because Will was already going to Miami today to pick something up so he volunteered to drive you back from the airport. Surprise?”
I stopped walking and got shouldered by someone from behind for it. Hurrying out of the way, I pushed my glasses up on my nose and bit back a sigh. Sophia had no reason to thinkWill picking me up would be an issue. It just proved that I’d been cursed. There was no other explanation for my day.
“I told him not to force you to listen to his shitty music and that if he bores you to death before you get here that I’ll never forgive him.” She rushed on, unaware of the panic growing in me. “I figured it’d be okay. Is it? I mean, it’s a few hours we won’t have together but-”
“It’s completely fine! Don’t worry, Soph. You’re dealing with wedding stress. I’m glad you had the morning off from driving duty.” I swallowed down my reservations. “Um. Does Will have my number to let me know he’s here, or-”
“He’s already outside waiting for you. He got there like an hour ago. I told him he was coming off a little desperate.”
5
***Claire***
Will Callahan desperate? Not a chance in the world. The fact that he was outside waiting on me made my glasses fog up as my breathing kicked up. I took them off with a sigh and cleaned them, not sure that I shouldn’t just shove them in my purse so I wouldn’t be able to see anything or anyone for the rest of the day. Not being able to see Sophia’s big brother was about the only way I was going to relax.
“Earth to Claire? I know you’re still there. I can hear your breathing.”
I scoffed. “I’m not a mouth breather, Sophia Callahan. Don’t start that again.”
Sophia had managed to convince me that I was a mouth breather when I was eleven and I’d spent an entire summer so focused on my breathing that I started having anxiety about whether I was still breathing or not. She’d felt horrible and had just meant to play a joke but she was too good at lying back then. Or I just wasn’t as good at reading her.
“You know how when something bad happens and you start praying like you haven’t skipped the past decade of church and you start bargaining with god? Every single time I have one of those moments I apologize for that stunt. I figure if god can forgive me for making you think you weren’t breathing and for the way you started gulping with every breath you took that maybe I’ll be worth saving.” She groaned. “Everyone called you Guppy that year at school.”
“What are we doing here? Is this supposed to be making me feel better about the day from hell that I’m having?” I started walking towards the pick up area, dragging my feet as I went to put off what was surely going to be an awkward time.
“Tell me everything, Guppy.”
“I’d love to, asshole, but it’s a long story and I have to find your brother.” I bit my lip and promised myself a book store shopping day when I got back to London. “Are you going to be at the hotel when we get in?”
“Are you kidding? Of course. I’ll be the woman by the pool with the alcohol, waiting on you.” She let out an excited breath. “I’m so glad you’re going to be in hugging reach soon, Claire. I’ve missed you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and forced down a wave of emotion. So many things were changing and I’d be a liar if I said change didn’t scare me. She was getting married. I’d broken up with another boyfriend just a few weeks earlier. I was getting left behind. “I’ve missed you, too, Soph.”
After hanging up with her, I walked out of the airport’s arctic air-conditioning and straight into the pits of hell. My body immediately broke out in a sweat and I could feel my hair growing larger from the humidity. Of course I was going to look like a damp, frizzy disaster the moment I saw Will for the first time in years. Right on cue, my glasses fogged up completely, just in time for me to trip over someone’s suitcase. As I pichedforward, all I could think was:Did I piss off a witch or something?
