Page 68 of My Ex-Best Men
He shook his head. “Nope.”
“Whatever.”
Zane laughed. “Don’t leave us to deal with his billionaire bullshit by ourselves ever again, Claire. He’s impossible when you’re not here.”
“I’m great all the time. I’m just better with you around, Claire. Maybe it was wrong for me to lie to get you back here but I also kidnapped you, so… I don’t think I should start looking too closely at my morals where you’re concerned.” Anthony glanced out the window as the plane eased onto the runway. “I’ll just say this now so we’re all clear. If you’re thinking of running once you get off this plane, I will chase you down. I’m not losing you. If you need me to keep my hands to myself and my mouth shut until you’re ready to forgive us, that’s fine, but I’m not letting you go. Ever. I love you. We all love you. Maybe alone we didn’t deserve you but there are three of us andyoudeserve this much love and care. Okay?”
My breathing sped up as my heart raced. Maybe I wasn’t ready to let everything go but I could concede that much. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
I nodded. “I won’t run away. Being kidnapped one time is enough for me. Plus, after taking the longest nap in a luxury bed on a private jet, I’m afraid to admit that I never want to fly economy ever again. Just this morning… Yesterday…? Whenever I was on that flight alone to London, I think someone sneezed on the back of my neck from two rows back. And I definitely caught a guy trying to take a picture of my ass while I tried to get to the bathroom.”
“So you’ll stay for my plane?” Anthony said it without any hint of malice. He sent me a soft smile after. “Whatever it takes. Whatever I have is yours, sweetheart.”
The pilot came over the clear intercom to announce we’d landed and spouted off the temperature and weather before going silent again. I stood up and realized the three of them were watching me with tension clear on their faces.
I rubbed my eyes and looked down at my feet. “I’m not ready to say things are fine just yet but I’m not crazy. Even just the few hours I was away from y’all I felt like my chest was cracking open. You each love me. I’m not ready to saythatback yet, either. I’m not going anywhere, though. I should’ve stayed here and talked everything out. So that’s what we’ll do now. After we find Madeline.”
Will interlaced our fingers and his big body shuddered as he exhaled. “I’ll make it right.”
I believed him. I also felt like a fool for letting Madeline trick me. One thing about Will that I should’ve known down to my bones was that he was a good man. He wasn’t an asshole who would’ve done anything to hurt me. On purpose, anyway. He was the same man who’d taken my virginity so sweetly and patiently that when other friends told me their horror stories later in life, I’d had to look away guiltily because mine had been perfect. Because of him.
Zane cupped my chin and tipped my face up to his. Before I knew what he was doing, he stole a kiss and then sent me a devilish wink. “If Anthony can be heavy-handed and unapologetic I can, too.”
I followed them out of the plane, a smile trying to fight through my stoic expression.
59
***Claire***
They’d taken me to the rental house so I could shower and change into clean clothes before Will led us across the island to Madeline’s apartment. I tugged the hem of my dress down my thighs but it did nothing to make the outfit any longer, or more appropriate for what we were going to do. The bubblegum pink color and bouncy material felt way too happy and fun for the occasion.
Will still held my hand tight as we walked, his eyes moving over me every few moments. “Are you sure you want to be there?”
I huffed. “She hurt us. The things she said… I need to see her face when she realizes she failed. I need to see her understand that she can’t have you.”
He tightened his grip. “She never had a chance.”
Zane spoke up. “And what are you going to do and say if she claims her last living relative died?”
Will growled. “It won’t trick me twice, asshole.”
“We need to hear it. You’re too goddamn nice for your own good and it’s up to us to asshole you up.” Zane pitched his voice higher. “But, Will, my godmother’s brother’s ex-girlfriend’s dog got his rejection letter from Harvard. Hold me!”
I giggled at the ridiculousness of it all.
“Did the dog not have backup schools?” Will flashed me a grin. “I’m sorry for his loss but there are plenty of great state schools.”
Anthony groaned. “Why do I like you idiots?”
Zane continued. “Will, I just miss you. Be my friend! Ignore all the bad things I’ve done and will continue to do!”
That hardened Will’s jaw. “No.”
“Again!” Zane grabbed his shoulders from behind and shook him. “Tell her to take a hike!”
Will let go of my hand to turn around and lunge at Zane. “Alright, asshole, I don’t need your coaching.”
