Page 26 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)
***Claire***
I frowned at Uncle Sal’s back as he finger-waved at me and headed back to his trailer and his man. Crossing my arms over my chest, I scuffed my borrowed flip flop over the sidewalk. “That man is going to kill me one day.”
Sophia grinned next to me. “Come on, C. It was kind of funny.”
“Two of your bridesmaids have black eyes.” I turned to face her.
“Soph, I planned an event that ended with nearly half of the wedding party wounded! Lizzie and Fiona nearly killed each other trying to get back on the boat. Your wedding photos are going to be full of black eyes thanks to me! I even got Will!”
“Honestly, C, it was a blast. I don’t care about the wedding photos being perfect, not as long as we all get to spend the time together and I have proof of it. If Uncle Sal didn’t fuck with us, I’d worry he was sick. I’m happy, babe. You should be, too.”
I wanted to be. I just felt like I was going to ruin her wedding. I wanted it to be perfect because she deserved the very best. I felt terrible but I didn’t want her to worry about it so I forced a smile. “Did you see Zane when Uncle Sal yelled shark?”
She howled with laughter. “I think he walked on water!”
We headed back to the hotel but I stopped outside the main entrance. I knew she had dinner with Jake’s parents and I had a date with a giant bowl of mac and cheese. I hugged her a little extra tight. “I love you, Soph.”
“I love you, too. Go have a little fun.” She thrust her hips at me. “The fun kind of fun, if you know what I mean.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed her away. “Get out of here, weirdo. Have fun at dinner.”
“Pervert. Not in front of Jake’s parents!”
I walked next door and let myself into the massive house Anthony rented. I didn’t know where the guys had disappeared to but I didn’t care right then. I needed comfort food and I didn’t want to gorge in front of the three of them. Not when I was having so many confusing feelings over them.
There was still no sign of my suitcase so I hurried upstairs and changed into the closest thing to lounge clothes that Uncle Sal had given me.
A small shorts and chemise set in a pale pink silk wasn’t exactly something I’d typically relax in, but it was better than the bikini I’d been wearing all day.
I changed out my contacts for my glasses and then headed downstairs to grab the frozen mac and cheese I’d seen in the fridge.
I went through the notes on my phone while I waited for it to cook, wanting to be sure there were no other flaws in my plans.
The next day was our big spa day. I’d rented the expensive spa out and paid for services for everyone.
It was my big gift to Sophia and Jake and I’d pretty much cleared out my savings to do it but I wanted to give Sophia the world.
She meant so much to me that I needed it to be perfect.
The guys found me a little while later on the couch with my half-eaten bowl of mac and cheese, staring at the black TV screen. I heard them come inside and felt them stop in the entryway to the living room. I sighed. “I couldn’t figure out how to turn the TV on.”
Zane was the first to join me on the couch. He looked me over and groaned before dropping his head back and staring at the ceiling. “You look like sin and smell like delicious cheese. I don’t know which part of my body is reacting more.”
I snorted out a laugh and slapped his knee. “Don’t tell me that I smell like cheese.”
Will sat on my other side and leaned over to take a bite of my dinner. “For the record, I put this in the freezer for you.”
“Really?” I heard the soft, starry-eyed tone of my voice and cleared my throat. “That was really nice of you.”
“I still know you.”
I smiled. “Then you know I don’t like to share.”
Anthony came around the couch and sat on the coffee table in front of me. “How are you feeling?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Fine? Confused? What were y’all doing, by the way?”
He rested his elbows on his knees as he sat forward. “Will can have credit for the mac and cheese but I get credit for knowing you well enough to know that you were going to beat yourself up for those two fools banging their heads together. I knew you’d need a way to relax tonight.”
My eyes widened and my cheeks warmed. My filthy mind went to the gutter and stayed there until he pulled out a brand new game of Twister.
My lips parted on a gasp as I looked back at Anthony.
One of our wildest nights had started with a game of Twister and ended in Anthony taking me in a place no one ever had before.
His eyes drank in my reaction and his lips tipped up in the corners. “We’re going to play a nice, relaxing game of Twister. Innocent fun, baby. Just something to force you out of your head.”
Zane rested his hand on my thigh and smiled at me just like he had when we’d been together. It was a sweet, pure smile with none of his typical cockiness. “I just spent almost an hour shopping with these two assholes. Don’t make it have been for nothing.”
I hesitated for a moment but seeing the hopeful looks in their eyes pushed me into saying yes. “Fine! Fine. Just let me go brush my teeth. I refuse to hear that I smell like cheese again.”
Will took the bowl and groaned when I stood up. “Maybe put on a potato sack while you’re up there.”
“Don’t you dare.” Zane watched me leave and whistled. “I’m going to kiss Sal when I see him again.”
I brushed my teeth and took a few seconds to reapply my deodorant and brush my hair.
I felt like I was standing on the edge of a massive building.
My heart was racing and I couldn’t stop the thought that whatever happened next was going to be a big deal.
I was teetering on the edge of that building and the wind was blowing. My stomach fluttered wildly.
In the living room, the guys had spread out the Twister mat and they were standing there, all of them with their hands on their hips as they watched me. One by one they smiled at me.
I decided to jump.