Page 43 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)

***Claire***

Z ane and I tried to sneak into the dinner that evening but Soph spotted us and shouted a greeting so everyone turned to look.

I felt like everyone could see what we’d done, the room we’d ruined, the sheet we’d stained with paint and come.

Zane tightened his hold on my hand and led across the room to the table that Will and Anthony were waiting at.

Both men stood up and greeted me with a hug and a kiss in a way that I didn’t think would ever get old.

I ended up squeezed between the two of them with both of them sliding a hand between my legs to grip my thigh at the same time.

I laughed and blushed harder when Jake’s brother, Paul, raised his eyebrows at me.

“You have a little paint in your hair…” He pointed to his own temple with a sly grin on his face. “Can’t imagine how that happened.”

Zane slapped the back of his head playfully. “Mind your own business.”

Will gripped the back of my neck and leaned in closer. “Did you have a good time?”

I smiled and nodded. “We made art.”

He laughed and tapped his phone sitting on the table. “I saw.”

I ducked my face. It’d been my idea to snap a photo and send it to Anthony and Will. I had a problem. “I better start writing again because I’m going to need a backup career when my photos eventually get leaked and I’m fired from all respectable jobs.”

He slid the phone into his pocket and shook his head. “Anthony took care of it. No one will ever get these pictures but us, baby. So feel free to send as many as you’d like.”

“Is it weird that I like it?”

Anthony’s hand squeezed my thigh harder until I turned to look at him. “No. It’s something we’ll have to delve into a little more when I’m sure everything can be protected.”

I shuddered with anticipation. “I’d like that.”

Sophia got my attention and waved me over to where she was sitting with Jake and his parents. I didn’t want to leave the guys but I made my exit anyway, much to their displeasure.

“Hey, C, come here and tell Jake’s parents that I did in fact beat Jake at basketball that time in Miami.” Sophia wagged her eyebrows at me. “You’ve got a little… Right there, yep.”

I swatted her arm. “I don’t remember you beating Jake. Jake? Do you?”

He high-fived me and laughed at the scowl on Soph’s face. “Nope. Not even a little bit.”

“Now the party can start! I’m here, everybody!

” Uncle Sal swirled into the restaurant in a fully sequined jumpsuit with a matching cape that went all the way to the floor.

His platform shoes were neon pink and lit up as he walked.

“Oh, babygirl! You look like you rolled around in a bunch of paint! What have you been up to?”

Jake’s mom giggled. “Oh, I just love it when Sal shows up.”

A man around my age followed Uncle Sal, stopping every so often to straighten his cape. He was dressed in his own sequined jumpsuit and cape and there was another man following him, straightening his cape. It just kept going. I realized what was happening a few seconds before it happened.

“Oh, god.”

Uncle Sal and his band of merry men broke into a perfectly choreographed dance.

Capes flew, sequins sparkled, shoes lit up the room.

There was hip thrusting and twerking. There was music that wasn’t loud enough to cover the squeaks of their shoes on the polished wood floor.

There was even a muffled counting. It was a lot.

A brilliant, messy, horrifyingly beautiful lot. And then it was just…done.

One moment the room was full of flamboyantly gay men and then the next they were gone and the room was silent. It was only broken when Sophia let out a loud snort and then cackled wildly.

“I love that man!” Jake’s mom clapped excitedly and slapped her husband’s arm. “Don’t you just love that man?!”

I wordlessly made my way back over to my seat and screamed when Uncle Sal popped out from nowhere and hugged me. He laughed boisterously and hooked his arm through mine. “Oh, honey. Come on. I need to talk to you about some things I heard.”

I blanched. “You don’t.”

He waved to Sophia. “Happy wedding week, honey!”

I grunted when Uncle Sal proved that he was much stronger than he looked by swirling me around, straight into Anthony’s chest. I didn’t have to worry about catching myself with Anthony’s arms locked around me. “Uncle Sal!”

He pointed at Anthony and then behind him. “All three of you boys are a part of this, too. Come. Come on. All of you.”

I’d never felt more like a little kid than in that moment. We somehow ended up in a line, trailing behind Uncle Sal as he led us outside and to a quiet corner of the patio. I started to say something but one finger wag from Uncle Sal shut me up.

He looked at the guys. “You know I’m all for alternative lifestyles.

I support loving who you love and fucking who you want to fuck.

It’s all good in theory but when it comes to my honey, Claire, I feel a little more traditional.

So I’m going to ask you boys this one time and one time only.

Are the three of you prepared to take care of my niece and stick by her side, no matter what?

Unlike the first time around? If she’s willing to forgive the three of you, I can, too.

If you aren’t serious, though, I think you should all pack up your bags, tie them to your ankles, and walk off the pier. Understand?”

It was the most parental thing that Uncle Sal had ever said around me and I wanted to cry. I grabbed him and hugged him tight. “I love you, Uncle Sal.”

“I love you, too, honey, but don’t wrinkle my cape.”

“We’re going to take care of her, Sal.” Will looked at me as he said it. “It’s serious.”

Anthony nodded. “She’s not going anywhere without us.”

Uncle Sal looked at Zane and frowned. “You. Rocker boy. I know what life on the road is like.”

Holding up his hands, Zane shook his head. “Not for me. Not anymore. This is what I want. I didn’t realize there’d be so many other dicks in the picture, but life is funny that way, I guess.”

Uncle Sal smirked. “Baby, there are always more dicks than you expect. That’s the joy in life.”

“I liked your show?” Anthony cleared his throat when Uncle Sal cut his eyes at him. “I mean it. I liked your show. I think you could steal Jake’s mom if you wanted.”

“I could steal any woman in there, babe. I’m legendary.” He looked at me and then assessed my outfit. “This isn’t working. Come over tomorrow morning. I had to dress you like a whore to get you some attention but now that you’ve got the attention, I need to tweak it a little.”

“Can it still be…” Will realized what he was about to ask and shook his head. “You know what? Whatever you pick will be great.”