Page 44 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)

***Will***

“ Y ou’re dating out of your league, Will.

” Sophia stared up at me as we danced. Claire had the ballroom turned into something like a prom and I’d stolen Sophia away from Jake so I could make sure she was okay with me.

I hadn’t made enough time to check in with her.

Of course, she happily busted my balls right away.

I nodded. “I know. She’s too good for me.”

“She is. Which is saying a lot because you’re pretty great, too.” She smiled and rolled her eyes. “You know I’m fine, William. I love you and Claire. I expect your first child to have my name, though.”

Oddly enough, the thought of a little girl running around who looked like Claire with Sophia’s name didn’t give me hives. “I love you, too. I’m sorry. I should’ve talked to you before I made a move on Claire all those years ago.”

“Will, no. I would’ve been a bitch about it. I would’ve accused you of trying to steal my best friend and I might’ve even done physical damage. I was possessive of her.” She glanced over at where Anthony was dancing with Claire. “I’m kind of surprised you’re not feeling more possessive of her.”

I followed her gaze and watched as Zane slipped Claire away from Anthony just to have Anthony steal her back. “I am. Not as much as I expected, though. With anyone else, I’m still seeing red… I don’t know why it’s different with those two.”

“If you were ever going to pick two men to share your woman with… I mean… You chose a rock star and a freaking billionaire, Will. If y’all get married, you’re set for life.”

I scowled at her. “I’m not marrying them , Soph. Their money will stay their money.”

“I’m just saying, you could’ve done worse.

” She stretched up and kissed my cheek. “I love you, Will. More than almost anyone else in the world. I wouldn’t have put you and Claire together but now that I see it, I’m glad it’s happening.

You two both mean so much to me. And now Claire will be my real sister. ”

I gently pushed her away. “You’re a little too focused on weddings right now.”

“Don’t disappoint me, William. Marry my bestie and make it official.” Sophia laughed at my exasperated expression and danced away to Jake.

I was turning to leave the dance floor when Madeline slipped her hand into mine. She smiled up at me. “Dance with me?”

I glanced over and saw that Anthony and Zane were still struggling to win the battle over who would dance with Claire so I nodded. “I don’t foresee Claire being open for a dance for a bit. Those two are going to make her sick with all the spinning back and forth.”

Madeline frowned but when I loosely wrapped my arms around her, it shifted into something happier and she rested her head on my chest. I wanted to shift away from the embrace but I wasn’t sure how without hurting her feelings.

“I’m worried about you, Will.” She did lift her head then, thankfully, but it was just to give me a sad look, complete with puppy dog eyes. “The more I think about your situation and the more I see Claire with Anthony and Zane, the more concerned I get.”

I shrugged. “You shouldn’t be worried.”

“What if she hurts you?”

Glancing back at Claire, I felt my lips tipping up.

She was standing between Anthony and Zane, hands out, looking a little green.

I could tell that she was telling them off for tossing her around and the sheepish looks on the guys’ faces were priceless.

I pulled out my phone and snapped a quick picture before going back to Madeline.

“I’m good, Mad. You don’t get to see the way she looks at me when we’re all alone.

She’s as crazy about me as I am about her.

And I’m the one who hurt her the first time.

I wanted to tell everyone about us. I had these grandiose ideas about running away and getting married.

She didn’t want to chance hurting Soph and instead of giving her time to come around to the idea, I broke up with her. ”

She shifted her hands until they rested on my chest. “I’m just…worried.”

I looked over at Claire again and saw that she was staring back, her eyes on Madeline’s hands on my chest. Her eyes were narrowed and her lips were turned down in a deep frown. That was all it took for me to step away from Madeline.

“What is it?” Madeline followed my gaze and then let out a quiet scoff. “It’s already happening, Will. By the time the wedding is over, you and I won’t be friends.”

I tore my gaze away from Claire and frowned down at Madeline. “That’s not true. I decide who I’m friends with, Mad, and as long as you’re kind to Claire, I have no reason to stop being friends with you.”

“So I have to kiss her ass for you to be my friend?”

“That’s enough, Madeline.” I crossed my arms and searched her face for a clue about what was going on in her head.

“Look, I understand you being worried but we’ve been friends for long enough that I expect a certain level of courtesy towards me.

I’m not an asshole. I think you know that.

Nothing has changed. We’re still friends.

You’re the one making it feel like I need to choose.

I’m going to go dance with my girlfriend now. Have a good night, Mad.”

Zane was doing his best to distract Claire but she was still frowning when I reached her. I pulled her into my arms and tight against my chest, just for her to remain stiff.

“You didn’t like me dancing with Madeline.”

She stared up at me for a few more seconds before she sighed and her body relaxed into mine. “I’m sorry. It’s just weird, you know? She hates me. It makes me feel weird to see a woman who so openly insults me touching my boy-... Touching you, I mean.”

Despite the seriousness of the conversation, I couldn’t help grinning. “You almost called me your boyfriend.”

She blushed a deep, deep red. “No, I didn’t.”

“It’s okay. I am your boyfriend. More than that, really, but there aren’t a lot of words for the middle ground between boyfriend and husband, are there?

” I stole a kiss when her mouth popped open.

She melted even more into me and kissed me back hungrily.

When I pulled back, her eyes stayed closed and the smile on her mouth was one of the sweetest I’d ever seen. “You’re it for me, Claire.”

She tangled her hands in my hair and pressed her forehead into my chest. “I know. I don’t mean to doubt you.”

“You really feel like she hates you?”

With a heavy sigh, she pulled back and shrugged before blowing out a breath and forcing her face into something lighter. “It’s nothing to worry about. Just dance with me.”

I was going to worry about it. It could wait until we were finished dancing, though.

Especially since I could see Anthony approaching with a shark-like look on his face.

I’d found a flaw in sharing our woman. There weren’t many ways to share her while we danced and we each seemed to be feeling greedy.

I spun her away just as Anthony reached for her. “No, sir. This is my turn.”

Claire rolled her eyes. “The next one of you who spins me is sleeping outside tonight.”