Page 11 of My Ex-Fiance's Best Men

I forget who I am and remember what it’s like to just enjoy the moment.

“This is the life,”I say, lounging comfortably under the shade, glass of ice-cold lemonade in my hand while the ocean water dries my body.

My limbs are tired. I’m pretty sure my muscles will feel sore tomorrow, but it’s to be expected with all that swimming. I feel great, though. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way, and I intend to make the most of every second.

Beside me, the men seem to be just as relaxed, always watching me out of the corner of their eyes.

“It takes a while to shake it all off,” Dominic says. He sits closest to me, and I feel tiny compared to his large, muscular frame.

“Shake what off?”

“The confines of your old life. The ideas other people put into your head about yourself. It won’t all go away at once, but it starts with you deciding to live in the moment and recognizing that none of it will matter down the road. Your weight, your looks… they’re a reflection of how you treat yourself.”

“I suppose some personal responsibility is in order.” I sigh deeply.

“That’s not what I meant,” Dominic replies. “Big, small, medium-sized, it doesn’t matter. What matters is how you carryyourself, how you see yourself, and how you treat yourself. Self-love transcends all of that.”

“And the first act of self-love you can do is to stop caring about what other people think,” August adds, then takes a sip of his lemonade.

A waiter buzzes around, always aware of our needs, ready to refill our lemonade pitcher or our basket of churros with a variety of dipping sauces. I catch a glimpse of the guy as he moves between umbrellas, taking the same good care of other resort patrons.

“Easier said than done,” I reply with a bitter smile. “My whole life, my mother kept telling me, ‘Phoebe, what will people think?’”

Dominic scoffs and sits up, then turns around so he can face me. He was already close, but now the distance between us feels even shorter. “Let’s try this exercise,” he says, motioning for me to sit up and face him, as well.

Slowly, I meet him halfway, my pulse racing as only a few inches are left between his lips and mine, while Theo and August watch closely, quietly.

“Okay,” I mumble. “Pretty sure I’m going to regret this.”

“Maybe not. Give me a chance,” Dominic says. “Close your eyes for a moment.”

“Now that’s just asking for trouble,” I laugh.

“Do it.”

His commanding tone flips a switch in me. I close my eyes, damn near holding my breath as I try to focus on something to keep me anchored in reality.

“Toss all of those intrusive thoughts out of your mind. Picture them literally falling off of a cliff, down, down, until you can no longer see them,” Dominic says, his voice soft and helping me to feel calm. “Deep breaths. Listen to the world around you.”

“I’m listening.”

“What do you hear?”

“People laughing, talking, splashing. Far enough away, but I can still hear them.”

A girl named Stacy thinks her bikini gives her a muffin top, but her boyfriend Mark thinks she looks pretty. He likes her because she feels real to him.

Somewhere nearby, two besties are gossiping about school. A handful of Ivy League brats started drinking early, and they’ll probably be down before noon. One of them is already slurring his words, determined to text his ex. His friends are trying to stop him.

“Don’t be stupid, Liam, she’s in Costa Rica with her new guy,” one of them says.

I chuckle despite myself.

“What do you hear now?” Dominic asks. I feel his hands slowly enveloping mine. My skin tingles all over, but I keep my eyes closed, reveling in the sensation.

“Just… people. Life happening.”

“Do you think any of them care about what you’re doing right now?”