Page 36 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)

***Claire***

I sat with Sophia for dinner and we were in our own world as we laughed and made sure that we were okay.

I ignored the rest of the world around us and poured my heart out to her about what was going on with me.

She returned the favor by going into explicit detail about the sex she’d had with Jake that afternoon.

Apparently Sophia liked sad sex because Jake worked extra hard to cheer her up.

Judging by how easily she’d forgiven me, I’d say he did a great job.

If she was freaked out by the fact that I’d slept with three of my exes at once, she didn’t show it. She forced me to leave out Will’s name for her sanity and by the end of dinner, she’d practically tackled Jake and forced him into the bathroom at the back of the restaurant.

Anthony took her seat as soon as she left and dragged my chair closer to his so I was sitting between his legs. “I missed you.”

I bit my lip and leaned into him. “I missed you, too. I don’t really know what we’re doing. I’m not sure how it works or if it’s bad to spend time alone with each of you.”

His smile was sensual and slow. “I expect my own time alone with you, Claire, so I can’t say it’s bad. It seemed like you needed to spend some time with Will. Everything okay?”

I felt an overwhelming amount of affection for him in that moment and I couldn’t stop myself from shifting out of my chair and onto his thigh.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and brushed my lips over his.

“You were always so careful with my emotions. I was lucky to have you back then, Anthony. You treated me like I was your entire world. I don’t think I ever would’ve been brave enough to go to London if I hadn’t spent the year with you telling me how amazing I was. ”

“I’ve changed in a lot of ways since that time, Claire, but the way I feel about you hasn’t.

You’re still my world and I’ll still spend all my time making sure you see that you are amazing.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t regret telling you to go.

” He licked his lips and looked away. “I hated myself for sending you away. I needed time to grow up so I could become the man I am now, the man who can give you anything and everything you could ever want, Claire. But I think if I could go back, I’d beg you to stay.

Or tell you I was coming with you. Anything so I didn’t have to lose you for all these years. ”

“Anthony…” With my heart hammering away, I stared into his eyes and saw nothing but the truth. “You’re serious.”

He slid his hands into my hair and kissed me the way he wanted. He slid his tongue over my lips and groaned when I leaned closer and pressed my thigh into his erection. “I’m very serious.”

“I don’t want to be in London anymore.” I realized Will and Zane had joined us when I heard them both react to my news.

I sat up straighter and gripped my shaking hands together.

“It feels like a failure but I haven’t written anything in a few years.

I hate my job now. I hate working with guys like Jordan who use their position to get women into bed with no real intent on ever seeing their potential.

I hate being so far away from the only family I have. I want to come back.”

“Done.” Anthony shrugged. “If you don’t want to work while you start writing again, you don’t have to.”

“I just came into some money, too, so any of us can support you. Or…all of us, I guess? If this is going to be a thing, I mean.” Will smiled and took my hands. “Come home. You belong here.”

I looked at Zane because I was in a state of shock. I expected him, the rockstar, to talk some sense into them. I figured he’d be all for sending me back to London while he carried on with his career.

“What are you looking at me like that for? I’m with these idiots. Come home. I always loved your writing, Claire, and I think it’s a fucking shame that you’re not doing it anymore. Fuck that job. Come home.” He looked at Anthony and Will. “We’ll figure the rest out as we go.”

“You’re all serious?” I felt my world changing, the things I thought were fact growing murky as other possibilities solidified.

Anthony gripped the back of my neck and pressed his lips to my ear. “It would seem so.”

Sophia and Jake came back then, both of them grinning like fools. Jake sat across from us and pulled Soph into his lap. “Well, this has been a hell of a day.”

Soph winked at me and then turned on her brother. “There’s Captain Perv. I should’ve known you were panting after Claire. You know I caught you with that picture of her when we were younger.”

Will’s face turned bright red and I gasped. “No!”

Will crossed his arms and frowned. “I was sixteen. You developed early. What do you want from me?”

Zane patted him on the shoulder. “Man, I get it. I still have a picture of C that-”

“Excuse me?” I shifted on Anthony’s lap as I scowled. “What picture?”

Anthony cleared his throat. “Maybe we should compare later. And I’ll need to make sure the security on your phones is up to par. A single pixel of Claire gets out and I’ll murder each of you.”

Sophia raised her eyebrows as she looked at me. “I’m not sure if we should get to the movie or continue watching this.”

“The movie.” I stood up and put my hands on my hips. “We’re going to have a talk about keeping photos of people after a breakup. Or in your case, Zane. a ghosting. After the movie, though.”

Sophia tucked her arm through mine and we walked away. “Have you made Zane suffer enough for ghosting you?”

“Hardly.” I looked back at him and caught his eyes on my ass. “I’d tell you to take a picture but it seems like the three of you would take it literally. Pervs.”

“I told you, C. They’re all pervs. There’s Captain Perv and CEO Perv and Rocker Perv. You’ve got a whole set.” Soph sighed. “Although, if you added an athlete, you could have Sporty Perv.”

“Don’t even think about it.” I put my hand over her mouth. “I can see you’re about to make a joke about Baby Perv and I refuse to even hear it.”