Page 33 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)

***Claire***

I made Will let me down and shot a look up at him, hoping he’d understand. “I think I should talk to Sophia alone…”

He looked between the two of us and sighed but then he nodded. “I’ll be right inside.”

Sophia crossed her arms over her chest, covered in her own fair share of mud from helping me. She followed my lead and sat down on a small metal bench in front of the spa. “I don’t like this, C.”

I blinked away the tears that wanted to fall and straightened my shoulders.

“I love you, Soph. You’ve always been like a sister to me.

You practically adopted me when I showed up on the island with nothing.

You kept me from going out in the things Uncle Sal picked for me.

You were better to me than I ever deserved. ”

“Jeez, Claire. What are you about to say?”

I grabbed her hands and forced out a shaky breath. “I… God. I dated Will in high school.”

She pulled her hands away. “What? No, you didn’t. I would’ve known. You…”

“We dated for almost two years. I was too afraid to tell you about us so he broke up with me the summer before our freshman year of college.” I rubbed at my thighs and stared out at the ocean view in front of us.

“Will wanted to tell you. He was better than me. I was just… I didn’t want to lose you. ”

She stood up and paced a few feet away from me. “You dated my brother for two years without ever mentioning it to me.”

I nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry, Soph. I hate that I kept it a secret from you. I hate myself for lying to you. It’s the only thing I’ve ever kept from you and I’m so incredibly sorry.”

“All that shit in there? Will going after Jordan? Is it still going on? Are you still with my brother?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “It wasn’t. Not until I got here this week. Being around him… There’s something there that makes me careless, Soph.”

“God. This is… I don’t even know what this is! Why would you choose him? You literally have a rockstar and a billionaire on the hook this week and you choose my brother ?” She glanced inside the spa and then gasped. “You did choose my brother, didn’t you?”

I held up my hands. “I don’t know.”

“Fuck. I can’t believe you kept this from me for all these years, Claire. I have never hidden anything from you. I didn’t think we did that. And now I find out that you’ve been sleeping with my brother! Do you understand how insane this is?”

I nodded. “Yes. I know it’s insane. I am so sorry, Soph.

I would do anything to avoid hurting or disappointing you.

With Will, I just… I was never strong enough to put you over my own feelings and I’m sorry about that.

I feel fucking awful and I am terrified of losing you but I don’t want to lie to you anymore. ”

“That’s all great, Claire, but I can’t… I need time to process this!

You dated my brother for two years! I tried to set you up with other guys back then.

We both lost our virginities the same weekend and…

Oh, my god. Oh, my god. You lost your virginity to my brother.

” She gagged and shook her head hard, like she was trying to shake the image out.

“That’s fucking horrible. I’m going to kill Will. ”

“It wasn’t his fault, Soph.” I doubled over on the bench and rested my head in my hands. “Take all the time you need. I know I don’t deserve much from you after hiding this for so long. I was a bad friend.”

“Just give me this afternoon to think about it. I love you, Claire. I’m horrified and I’m angry but you are like my sister. Which makes what you and Will did really weird.” She sighed. “We’ll talk before the movie tonight.”

Jake poked his head out from the spa. “Ladies, we’re being asked to leave.

Apparently mud fist fights aren’t welcomed at this fine establishment.

Anthony gave them some cash to get over it but the owner is really uppity.

He seems to have an ongoing feud with your uncle, Claire.

It’s making him a little biased, if you ask me. ”

I groaned. “I’m so, so sorry, Soph.”

She grunted. “It’s just as well. It’s not like I was going to relax now anyway. I’ll go get my things…”

I stood up and watched her slip inside. My insides felt heavy as I glanced at Jake and then down at the ground. I was ashamed of myself for hurting Soph.

“Hey. Chin up. Whatever’s going on with you two, it’ll pass. My future wife loves only one person more than she loves me and that’s you, C. Luckily, I’m okay coming in second place.” He came over and patted the top of my head. “That’s the one place not covered in mud.”

“Thanks, Jake. I think I’m going to take a walk. Don’t wait on me to leave.”

“You sure?”

I sighed and nodded. “Positive. I should give Soph some space.”

“Hold on just a minute. At least let me steal a towel for you.” Jake disappeared and reappeared in no time and passed me a plush, sage green towel. “We’ll see you tonight. Love you, kid.”

I gave him a weak smile. “Love you, too.”

I wrapped the towel around my filthy body and headed towards the beach. The strange looks I got on the way made sense. It wasn’t super often that a sad, mud-covered woman walked around the island. At least, I hoped. For the island’s sake.

Straight into the ocean I went, turning the water muddy until the tide refreshed it.

If only it’d refresh me. Through all of my exes, through all of my heart break, through everything, Sophia had remained a rock for me.

Sophia was my soulmate, my best friend, and the person who’d saved me from a life of grief and feeling sorry for myself.

She was everything to me and I’d hurt her.

There was a deep, deep sorrow weighing me down as I waded deeper into the ocean and let it wash me clean. I went under and blew out a deep breath, letting the bubbles tickle my nose.

When I came up I heard shouting and looked back to see Will coming in after me. His face was a mask of frustration. “If you think you’re getting away from me this easily, you’re sorely mistaken!”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I’m just…bathing.”

He reached me and grabbed my arms, pulling me into his chest. “Our secret’s out after all of these years, huh?”

I wrapped my arms around his waist. “I feel horrible for upsetting Sophia, Will.”

“I know my sister and how much she loves you, Claire. She’s probably already forgiven you.” He kissed the side of my head and then sputtered. “I don’t think your bath did much. How about you come to my house and we get you a real bath?”

“Your house?”

He smiled. “Yes. I do actually live here on the island, you know?”

I let his body heat seep into my body, bone deep. “Brag.”