Page 13 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)

***Claire***

A nthony’s voice was deeper, even. He had to be my sweet Anthony’s dark twin. “London’s been good to you. You look good.”

I finally managed to suck in a full breath and shift back enough to look up at him. “Anthony?”

His lips tipped up at the corner as if my stupidity amused him. “So you haven’t forgotten me. That’ll make the rest of this easier.”

“The rest of what?” I sounded about as vapid as I ever wanted to.

He leaned down and pressed his mouth to the corner of mine.

He lingered there, letting his trim beard tickle me.

I was so aware of his large body against mine but I could still feel everyone staring at us and it made me want to hide.

Anthony pulled back slightly and opened his mouth like he had more to say but Jordan cut him off.

“Look, Claire! It’s perfect. You can stay with whoever the hell this is while I take my room.”

I pulled free of Anthony’s embrace, because no matter how good it felt, it was a dangerous game to cuddle your exes. “It’s not yours, Jordan. You don’t belong here. The entire hotel is full of family and friends of the bride and groom this weekend. You are none of those things. You need to leave.”

“I’m telling you, Claire, I can’t go back to London yet.

Mary didn’t take me cheating as well as you did.

You were an angel compared to her. She threatened my manhood.

So, I’m sorry that you didn’t remember to change the name on the room, but it’s mine and I’m staying.

” Jordan patted my cheek and laughed. “You really do look like a good time, Claire. I would never have cheated on you if this was how you looked.”

Will grabbed Jordan by the back of the shirt and yanked him away from me. “No touching.”

“Will!” Sophia smacked her brother’s arm. “Do not get us kicked out of this hotel. If you want to kick his ass, do it somewhere else on the island.”

“Why would you want to kick my ass?” Jordan straightened his shirt and moved to stand behind Sophia, like she’d save him. “I’ve done nothing but show up to a vacation.”

“Jesus, Claire. The way you acted over seeing me again, I’d assumed I was the biggest asshole you’d ever dated but I’m looking pretty good right now, aren’t I?

” Zane raised a single brow and tilted his head to examine my outfit.

“I might like this probably more than I should. Even more than I liked the sight of you in my shirt yesterday.”

Anthony’s hand came up to grip the back of my neck. When I looked up at him, he lifted his thumb to trail it over my bottom lip. “If you need anything, you come to me.”

“Oh, my god. This is so exciting!” Sophia bounced in place and grinned like a fool. “Jake, isn’t this so exciting?”

“Who is this guy?” Will crossed his arms and stepped forward, putting himself nearly toe to toe with Anthony. “You’re coming off a little pushy, brother.”

“He isn’t the only one.” Zane glared at Anthony’s hand and then at Will. “I saw you coming out of Cl-”

“Well, this is cute. I’m going to head to my room, though. They deactivated your room keys for me, Claire. If you need in, come see me, babe.”

As grateful as I was for Jordan cutting Zane off, I still wanted to throttle him.

I moved away from the men closing in on me and shot Sophia a panicked look.

I needed help but I didn’t even know where to begin.

Well. I needed to change rooms first because there was no way in hell that I was bunking with Jordan.

“All of my things are in there, Jordan! Just let me figure out where I’m going and I’ll get everything. ”

“You’ll stay with me. Since I was a last-minute addition to the wedding and the hotel was full I rented the house next door.” Anthony followed me. “There’s plenty of room for you. I’ll help you get your stuff.”

I froze. Anthony wasn’t just any ex, like Jordan was.

He was my last serious boyfriend and he was the man I’d been sure I was going to marry until he told me I needed to chase my dreams all the way to London.

He’d broken my heart and what made it worse was just how kind he’d been the whole time.

I couldn’t even hate him. I definitely didn’t want to become his roommate for a week, though.

Especially not when he was acting like the dominant twin I knew he didn’t have.

“You can always room with me, Claire.” Zane ran his hand through his hair while biting his lip, a move that I was sure made his fans melt at his feet into puddles. “I won’t even complain if you get a little handsy.”

“Wow. This is something else, huh?” Jake grinned but as soon as he saw the look I gave him, the grin died. “Shit. I didn’t mean to bring in your exes, Claire. I swear. You just dated some really cool dudes who I happen to really like.”

He was lucky Sophia loved him so much. I looked towards the front desk and saw that the two staff members standing behind it were both watching everything that was happening. The older woman wagged her finger at me.

“Sorry, honey. There ain’t a single room available. Not here or anywhere else on the island, either. It’s wedding season.” Her larger than life hairdo wobbled as she spoke. I found myself wondering if mine would do the same.

“Come on, C. Stay with Anthony. There’s no way you can stay with Jordan.

The house next door is massive. You could have your own bed.

And your own shower.” Sophia wrapped her arm around me and leaned closer to whisper in my ear.

“I have no idea why half of Jake’s groomsmen are your exes but I’m going to find out. This is wild!”

“Find out and let me know so I can decide if I love you enough to not murder him.” I took a deep breath and kept my eyes anywhere but on my three exes.

“Fine. I’m going to get my things from Jordan before he touches anything and then you and I are going to escape to the pool for the rest of the day. ”

She didn’t argue as I pulled her with me towards my room. She did, however, look back and giggle. “They’re following us.”

“Thank god I don’t have many things. As soon as I get them I’m going to throw them in the general direction of the house next door and then you and I are getting drunk by the pool.

No men allowed.” I stopped outside of Jordan’s room and frowned.

“Wait… No, I’m sorry, Soph. Of course, you want to spend time with Jake and everyone else.

I don’t want to ruin the week for you. Even though I’ve already turned today into a circus… What do you want to do today?”

She threw her head back and laughed. “I’m about to marry Jake and promise him the next fifty to seventy years of my life. One day at the pool without him sounds great.”