Page 42 of The Best Man

“And for that matter,” he says, frowning theatrically like he’s trying to remember something. “Who was my best man? Who planned my bachelor party? Whohiredthat fucking stripper, Marcus?”

“I said, enough,” Marcus says sharply, glaring at his younger brother.

Joey glares back up at him, shaking his head. “Who put the idea in my head? ‘Last night as a single man, might as well enjoy it.’ Isn’t that what you said? Who put the condom in myfucking hand, Marcus?”

“He said that’s enough.”

Surprised gazes turn in my direction as I speak up. All but my ex-fiancé and my husband. They’re still glaring at each other.

“It’s enough, Joey,” I say more gently. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Joey nods, but with acceptance of his defeat this round, not with true acceptance.

I hope someday it will be.

I’d like to give him a hug, to tell him I’m sorry for any pain I’ve caused, but I know Marcus won’t let me. Joey won’t apologize for the pain he caused me, and my husband won’t allow me to bend over backward for someone who doesn’t show me any respect, even if I feel an apology might be warranted. It doesn’t make me feel bad to apologize to people if I’ve done wrong. It doesn’t make me feel bad to move on and let things go when that’s the best path forward.

Marcus is right that I’m forgiving.

But I’d rather be that than what Joey is right now. Bitter and angry, holding onto old grudges that have no possible resolution over situations that panned out the way they were truly meant to.

I may have said yes to Joey when he proposed, but I know now we never would have been happy together. We weren’t a good fit. If he could be honest about it, I think he knows it, too.

Joey doesn’t look at me when he finally looks away from his brother. He grabs the linen napkin on his lap and throws it on the plate he was in the middle of filling. “Come on,” he mutters to Lauren as he pushes his chair back.

Wordlessly, she pushes her chair back and grabs her purse off the floor.

Penny takes no prisoners, so despite watching her son eviscerate the girl, she tells Joey, “You’re welcome to come back for dessert, but don’t bring her.”

Marcus escorts them out so he can make sure they leave without causing any additional damage.

I gently place my napkin beside my plate on the table and excuse myself to follow him.

Joey and Lauren are already out the door by the time I reach him.

I don’t care, though. I wasn’t coming after them.

Marcus locks the door, then turns around to face me. I hate the signs of stress I can see at a quick glance. His shoulders are tense, his handsome face strained. It angers him to see me attacked, and I understand because I feel the same protective feelings for him.

I smile at him as soon as he turns in my direction and move close, sliding my arms around his neck.

Some of the tension in his body eases as soon as I touch him. He offers me a little smile as he slips his arms around my waist and tugs me even closer.

“You didn’t have to join me. I was coming right back.”

“I know. I wanted to hug my wonderful husband. Is that a crime?” I tease.

His arms tighten around me, and I do just that. I hug him, resting my face against his firm chest and sighing with pleasure. I always feel that way wrapped up in his loving embrace.

“You know what I was thinking about?” I say.

“Hmm?”

I pull back so I can look up at him. “That stuff Joey said.”

His pleasant, loving look slips and I watch a guard slip into place.

I love my husband too much to ever let him feel guarded around me, so I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss the corner of his mouth to remind him I still love him. That I’ll always love him, no matter what.

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