Page 20 of The Best Man

I’m such a fool.

I truly believed he loved me.

It’s clear now he never did.

Marcus comes over and draws the key out of his pocket. He fits it in the lock, and finally I’m free from the cuffs.

I rub at my wrists, and Marcus retrieves my panties off the floor and hands them to me.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice small.

He grabs my arm to guide me off the bed. “Why don’t you put those on and clean up in the bathroom real quick and I’ll take you home.”

I nod woodenly, avoiding Joey’s hateful gaze as I hurry into the bathroom we used to share when I slept over.

I find my purse on the counter with my phone inside.

I forgot I texted Joey from my miserable bachelorette party earlier. When I grab my phone, I see he eventually replied.

“Looks like you’re having fun!”

I frown, looking back at the last texts I sent.

It didn’t look like I was having fun.

I was fucking miserable. How could he have thought I was having fun? Because I sent him a sad shot of my half-empty drink on the chipped wooden bar?

I guess he never really paid attention to me.

It was something I tried to ignore. My dream man would notice when I’m feeling down. He’d want to fix it.

You sound sad.

I shake it off.

I’m sure it’s just because of everything that happened tonight, the insanity of how Marcus made me feel throughout all of it. I always thought he hated me, so hearing him say he didn’t want me to marry his brother becausehewasn’t good enough forme…

Well, I’d never have imagined.

I do my best to wash up in the bathroom, but honestly, I need a whole shower.

Marcus is waiting for me right outside the door. He grabs my waist almost protectively, then he touches the small of my back and ushers me out of the bedroom.

We’re halfway down the hall when I hear a thud behind us, then Joey cursing.

Did he… punch the wall?

I glance back, but Marcus reaches over and catches my chin, forcing my gaze forward. “No more of that,” he tells me.

I look up at him. His dark gaze is so sure, so forceful, but also… so dependable.

I like it.

I nod obediently, then I look straight ahead as he hauls me toward the door.

We have to pass through the living room, where all the guys are gathered, on our way out. My stomach drops when I realize they’re all going to see who was in the bed now. They’ll all know it was me they fucked.

“What the…?” James says before trailing off.

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