Page 28 of My Ex-Best Men
“My pride got the best of me back then, Claire. When you weren’t willing to be with me in front of everyone, I took it badly. I thought it meant you didn’t want me enough to face the shit that could’ve come our way. My feelings got hurt and I sent you away.”
“I wanted you more than anything. That was never the problem. I just didn’t want to hurt Sophia.”
He kissed the side of my head. “I know that now. I also know that I’ve never felt anything even close to what I felt for you for someone else.”
I pressed my face into his arm harder. “I-”
“Come on, losers!” Sophia shouted from the water. “We’re playing chicken!”
Will stood up and pulled me to my feet and straight into his chest. With his back to the water no one would be able to see me and he took advantage of that by running his fingers inside my bikini top under the guise of straightening it. “You’re on my shoulders, Claire. It’s not exactly how I want your thighs around my head but I’ll take it.”
I grabbed his hand and stretched up on my tiptoes to kiss the corner of his mouth. “I don’t know what’s happening right now with the three of you but what I feel for you is as real as it ever was.”
Ducking around him, I hurried into the water and saw Anthony leaning over the edge of the boat, watching me. I didn’t know what was happening to me because I really did have feelings for Will. I also had feelings for Anthony and Zane.
I didn’t get to analyze those thoughts, though, because Will grabbed me from behind and hefted me onto his shoulders. I grabbed his head and screamed as I swayed in the air. “I think you’re too tall! This feels dangerous!”
He gripped my thighs and laughed. “Don’t lose this for us, Claire. Take my sister down!”
“Hey!” Sophia giggled as Jake scooped her onto his shoulders. “You’re my brother, asshole! You have to support me.”
I gripped Will’s head tighter and sent Sophia a panicked look. “Don’t come over here! I’m not ready! I have to be like eight feet in the air!”
“I can take your place if you’re scared, Claire.” Madeline bounced next to Will in the water, her boobs doing a dance that even I had to admit was admirable and eye-catching.
Will tightened his grip on my thighs and grunted. “Claire’s doing it. Isn’t that right, Claire?”
There was no way I was letting Madeline put her tits on Will’s head. I tightened my thighs around his head and loosened my grip. “I’m doing it.”
Just as Sophia started to reach for me Uncle Sal’s voice cried out from the boat. “Shark!”
26
***Claire***
Ifrowned at Uncle Sal’s back as he finger-waved at me and headed back to his trailer and his man. Crossing my arms over my chest, I scuffed my borrowed flip flop over the sidewalk. “That man is going to kill me one day.”
Sophia grinned next to me. “Come on, C. Itwaskind of funny.”
“Two of your bridesmaids have black eyes.” I turned to face her. “Soph, I planned an event that ended with nearly half of the wedding party wounded! Lizzie and Fiona nearly killed each other trying to get back on the boat. Your wedding photos are going to be full of black eyes thanks to me! I even got Will!”
“Honestly, C, it was a blast. I don’t care about the wedding photos being perfect, not as long as we all get to spend the time together and I have proof of it. If Uncle Sal didn’t fuck with us, I’d worry he was sick. I’m happy, babe. You should be, too.”
I wanted to be. I just felt like I was going to ruin her wedding. I wanted it to be perfect because she deserved the very best. I feltterrible but I didn’t want her to worry about it so I forced a smile. “Did you see Zane when Uncle Sal yelled shark?”
She howled with laughter. “I think he walked on water!”
We headed back to the hotel but I stopped outside the main entrance. I knew she had dinner with Jake’s parents and I had a date with a giant bowl of mac and cheese. I hugged her a little extra tight. “I love you, Soph.”
“I love you, too. Go have a little fun.” She thrust her hips at me. “The fun kind of fun, if you know what I mean.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed her away. “Get out of here, weirdo. Have fun at dinner.”
“Pervert. Not in front of Jake’s parents!”
I walked next door and let myself into the massive house Anthony rented. I didn’t know where the guys had disappeared to but I didn’t care right then. I needed comfort food and I didn’t want to gorge in front of the three of them. Not when I was having so many confusing feelings over them.
There was still no sign of my suitcase so I hurried upstairs and changed into the closest thing to lounge clothes that Uncle Sal had given me. A small shorts and chemise set in a pale pink silk wasn’t exactly something I’d typically relax in, but it was better than the bikini I’d been wearing all day. I changed out my contacts for my glasses and then headed downstairs to grab the frozen mac and cheese I’d seen in the fridge.
