Page 129 of Finding Their Place

42

Garrett

A staccato rap sounded on the door, and I shifted away from Haley’s back where we sprawled on the hard floor. “I’ll get it.”

While still grinning like a damn idiot, I pulled open the door ready to share my joy with the world, holler it from the highest mountain—

I blinked at the man filling the apartment doorway, my lips falling flat. “Alec.”

A rustle of movement sounded behind me, drawing my ex’s focus off my face. A furrow flitted over his brow before he turned his attention back to me.

He smiled with a coy curl of his lips I used to find sexy as hell, the interest in his eyes that at one time had made me want to fall to my knees and worship his dick.

I stood unmoved, my heart a damn flatline when it came to Alec Henley. “What do you want?” I sounded more resigned than pissed off that he’d shown up and interrupted one of the happiest moments I’d ever experienced. I just needed him gone again so I could enjoy the beginning of the rest of my life.

“I missed you.”

One of my eyebrows raised. It was more likely he hated the fact his dancing with that twink hadn’t gotten under my skin and he’d lost that sense of power he’d always held over me.

“It took me awhile to find you, but I wanted to apologize.” He licked over his lower lip but not in a sexual manner. More like he tried to bring moisture to his mouth. “And ask for a second chance. No one loves me like you do, Garrett.”

I opened my mouth to tell him to fuck off, but he held up a trembling hand.

“I confronted Sindy. She admitted to lying about what went down that night. I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t listen to you, baby, didn’t let to explain. I can make this better—just give me a chance to remind you how good we were together—”

“Oh, please.” Haley huffed a snort and manhandled her way into the entryway beside me, and the fire in her eyes, the imaginary claws extending from her fingertips turned me the fuck on.

“You manipulative little bitch,” she spat at Alec, her hands finding her hips, and I bit back a grin. “This man’s heart—his dick and mouth, are mine.”

Alec scoffed, glancing down over her slight form covered in nothing more than the long T-shirt Wyatt had shown up in the night before. “You can’t give Garrett what he needs.”

She lifted her chin, seeming to look down at Alec even though he towered over her by close to a foot. “Maybe not exactly,” she agreed, a smirk growing on her lush mouth, “but our boyfriend can.”

Warmth caressed my back a heartbeat before Wyatt’s arms wrapped around my waist, and he tugged me against his chest. His chin rested on my shoulder.

Haley slid in close, clutching to my side with her grabby hands.

Alec blinked as though processing what he saw—taking his good old time too. His brow furrowed, settling into a scowl as her words and both my lovers’ actions registered. “You always were a greedy—”

“Careful,” Wyatt warned, his low tone far from pleasant and neighborly.

Alec’s lips clamped shut, and I lifted an eyebrow while threading my fingers through Wyatt’s atop my stomach, my free arm wrapping around our girl.

“Obviously, my answer is no,” I told him.

“You’ll never make it in Hollywood,” he hissed at me, his face mottling as it always did whenever he didn’t get his way.

“I don’t need my name in lights—that isn’t my dream anymore. Turns out my reality is fifty times better than those old fantasies. Working beside the man who puts me first every time, coming home together to the prickliest, most empathetic woman who loves us more than anyone ever has…that is living. The only life I want.”

I slammed the door in Alec’s face and clicked the lock, shutting my ex and all things Hollywood out of my mind forever.

Haley snorted with laughter.

Wyatt hugged me tighter, his lips finding my neck.

“Boyfriend, huh?” I asked Haley, and she smiled up at me, her eyes luminous, the happiness on her face so fucking dazzling my chest ached.

“You’ve only got one.” She stuck out her tongue. “I’ve got two.”

---