Page 25 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)

***Claire***

I was on fire. I was getting vibes from the guys that I didn’t understand but my body responded to nonetheless.

As soon as Captain Avery dropped anchor at the second location, I jumped off the boat and prayed I didn’t drown myself while trying to chill out my vagina.

Even if I was the only one who’d know the true cause of my death, it’d be mortifying.

The new location was just off the coast of a small island with a private beach.

It took me a few minutes and a lot of effort but I swam over and collapsed on my back in the sand, loving the feel of it.

It was warm against my back while the sun warmed my front and I instantly felt like napping.

I idly dug my hands into the sand and closed my eyes.

For those few seconds I could almost forget everything going on and just breathe.

“You swam out of there like you don’t have multiple hot men trying to get into your bikini bottoms.” Soph flopped down next to me and intertwined our fingers as she got comfortable. “You planned the best day, C. You should take off your responsible hat and pick one of those hotties to bang.”

I turned my head to look at her and had to blink away a sudden wave of emotion at the simple act of holding her hand. I’d missed her so much. I hadn’t realized just how much until that moment. “I think I want to move back home.”

The words were out before I even had the complete thought but it felt right.

I’d loved London for what it was but I was ready to come home.

I knew Sophia and Jake wouldn’t wait long before starting a family and I didn’t want to miss a second of it.

I didn’t want to miss more of Uncle Sal’s life, as stressful as he was at times.

I missed the sunshine and the smell of the sea.

Sophia sat up and squeezed my hand. “I’m trying to not scream but if you don’t mean that, you better not say it. You don’t know how much I miss you and want you back home, Claire. I’ve been patient but I want you here.”

A shadow fell over us, ending our conversation. I looked up and saw that it was Will. “Your almost husband is in a very animated debate with his brother over a football game they played when they were twelve. Looks like it might get ugly.”

Soph sighed and stood up. “That game almost tore their family apart. I’d better go flash my tits at Jake to distract him and stop the war.”

“Jesus, Soph. I’m your brother. Don’t say shit like that to me.” Will took her spot next to me and shuddered.

“Grow up, William.” She grinned at me. “We’ll finish that talk later.”

I hugged my knees as I watched her swim back to the boat. She was graceful and looked like a damn mermaid, nothing at all like me. Resting my chin on my knee, I tilted my head to look at Will and found him already watching me. “What?”

He shook his head. “This has always been my favorite version of you. Sunburnt, all natural, and a little sleepy.”

I ducked my face as I blushed. “Why?”

“You were even cuddlier than normal after a morning in the sun back in the day. You were like a kitten, rubbing all over me as you got comfy on my chest and it was both the most painful and best thing to ever happen to me.” Will looked back out at the boat and smiled.

“And you’re so fucking beautiful like this.

Pretty sure an afternoon like this was when I knew I loved you. ”

I closed my eyes as his words warmed me from the inside out. When I opened them again, Will had moved closer and was studying me. I smiled. “Just pretty sure?”

His grin was earth-shattering. “July fourth, the summer I turned eighteen. Everyone else had snuck enough beer to take an afternoon nap. You were sitting on the beach all by yourself and I couldn’t make myself stay away.

The smile on your face when you saw me made me feel ten-feet-tall.

You had on a light pink bathing suit and a toe ring that made me worry that I’d stumbled into a foot fetish.

Everything about you felt like happiness to me and I knew I was fucked.

I knew I loved you in a way that was going to change my life. ”

I leaned over to rest my head on his arm. He was killing me. My heart was thumping away violently in my chest, desperate to get closer to him. “Will…”

“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! ”