Page 59 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)

***Claire***

T hey’d taken me to the rental house so I could shower and change into clean clothes before Will led us across the island to Madeline’s apartment.

I tugged the hem of my dress down my thighs but it did nothing to make the outfit any longer, or more appropriate for what we were going to do.

The bubblegum pink color and bouncy material felt way too happy and fun for the occasion.

Will still held my hand tight as we walked, his eyes moving over me every few moments. “Are you sure you want to be there?”

I huffed. “She hurt us. The things she said… I need to see her face when she realizes she failed. I need to see her understand that she can’t have you.”

He tightened his grip. “She never had a chance.”

Zane spoke up. “And what are you going to do and say if she claims her last living relative died?”

Will growled. “It won’t trick me twice, asshole.”

“We need to hear it. You’re too goddamn nice for your own good and it’s up to us to asshole you up.” Zane pitched his voice higher. “But, Will, my godmother’s brother’s ex-girlfriend’s dog got his rejection letter from Harvard. Hold me!”

I giggled at the ridiculousness of it all.

“Did the dog not have backup schools?” Will flashed me a grin. “I’m sorry for his loss but there are plenty of great state schools.”

Anthony groaned. “Why do I like you idiots?”

Zane continued. “Will, I just miss you. Be my friend! Ignore all the bad things I’ve done and will continue to do!”

That hardened Will’s jaw. “No.”

“Again!” Zane grabbed his shoulders from behind and shook him. “Tell her to take a hike!”

Will let go of my hand to turn around and lunge at Zane. “Alright, asshole, I don’t need your coaching.”

I watched as the two of them went down in the sand and then popped right back up. Both of them bounced around while dusting the molten sand off of their skin.

“Jesus. That can’t be safe for kids.” Zane growled at the sand like he was considering fighting it. “Are your feet okay, Claire?”

I looked down at my wedges and rolled my eyes. “No. They’re melting into the sidewalk and I’m silently screaming like Satan himself is trying to drag me down to hell.”

He growled and tossed me over his shoulder. “Smartass.”

“We’re here.” Will sighed. “Her car’s here. Come on. Let’s get this over with so we can get back to enjoying ourselves.”

Anthony snorted. “Is that what we were doing?”

Will ignored him and led our little band of fools up a set of stairs to the first apartment on the right on the stairs. Without waiting to see if we were ready he lifted his hand and knocked on the door.

My stomach twisted as I listened to someone coming closer to the door and then the sound of the lock turning.

When the door opened, it wasn’t Madeline who opened the door, though.

It was a shirtless Jordan. He was looking over his shoulder into the apartment and scratching his belly so when he turned to us, we’d already had a moment to adjust our faces and hide our surprise.

Jordan choked and took a giant step back. “What-? Um, Madeline?”

And then Madeline was there, standing in the doorway in a tiny piece of silk, her hair and makeup done to make her look like a movie star.

She was stunning. Beyond stunning and it made my body buzz with nerves, like her looks would somehow lure Will over to the dark side.

Her glossy lips popped open when she spotted Will but it tightened to a firm line when she saw me standing next to him with Anthony and Zane at our backs.

“What are you doing here?” She crossed her arms and pushed her tits nearly up to her chin. It was another practiced move, I was sure.

I meant to let Will start the conversation but I couldn’t. “You lied. You told me you and Will were lovers and would be again. Say it again. Say it with him standing right here with us.”

Her face turned an unpleasant shade of red. “I think you misunderstood-”

“Enough.” Will’s hard voice surprised everyone. All traces of the sweetheart were gone. “You went too far.”

Jordan stepped forward again and made eyes at me. “Hey, Claire.”

Zane wrapped his arm around me from behind, his forearm locked under my chest. “Fuck off, you human shaped bag of farts.”

That pulled everyone’s attention for a moment.

Will shot a befuddled look at Zane and then had to shake his head and clear his throat to get back to what he was trying to do.

I just smiled at Zane over my shoulder, loving that his version of possessive protection involved calling someone a bag of farts.

“Will, let me explain. I just-” Madeline reached for Will and before I could claw her arm, he twisted away so she couldn’t touch him. “Will, please. I don’t know what she told you but-”

“She told me the truth. Something that you seem to be disconnected with. I told you how much I care about her and you decided to lie to her in some misguided attempt to split us up. I have never touched you with anything other than friendship as a motive, Madeline. I thought we were friends. I was happy with our friendship. I thought I could talk to you and trust you but it was all bullshit. You’ve done everything in your power to hurt Claire. ”

“Will, please. Please, please, please, just listen to me.” Madeline’s eyes filled with tears.

“Alright, I did lie. I just wanted her to go away. I’ve been here for you all along, Will.

She left you! She left and when she did decide to come back, she can’t even choose just you.

You deserve better. I just wanted to take care of you.

I-... I love you, Will. I always have. Can’t you see that? ”

Jordan grunted from beside her. “That’s news to me. Did you love him while you were riding me fifteen minutes ago?”

It was almost enough to make me feel bad for her. I knew from personal experience how disappointing Jordan was in bed.

“There is no one better than Claire!” Will shouted, his hands balled into fists at his sides.

“I don’t deserve her but she’s mine somehow and I’m never going to take that lightly.

I love her . I love Claire and that’s never going to change.

What is going to change is our friendship.

You lied and you manipulated me. You pushed past every boundary.

We can’t be friends, Madeline. You don’t respect me or my relationship enough to be a decent person, much less a decent friend.

I hope things work out for you but I won’t be there to cheer you on. ”

She practically melted into the doorframe, using it to hold her up. “Will, please.”

I reached over and took his hand, worried about him. He was a sensitive guy. When he looked back at me, though, he didn’t look distraught. He actually looked a little relieved.

“Your plan didn’t work, Madeline.” Zane growled the words out.

“But you still caused our woman pain and that’s unacceptable.

There’s a good chance we’re going to be on the island a lot and if I were you, I’d think about moving somewhere new where no one knew the awful things I’d done.

Who’s going to book a wedding planner who tried to destroy a happy home? ”