Page 42 of My Ex-Fiance's Best Men

It's my turn to stand silent and rummage through her words, trying to figure out where the truth ends and her personal nuances begin. Theo and I haven’t talked about her since I found out they were once an item. I wasn’t too keen to broach the subject on the way back from that wretched dinner, and he didn’t seem too eager to talk about it, either. We left it hanging between us like a toxic cloud.

“Are you done?” I ask Georgina.

“Nowhere near as done as you if you keep it up,” she replies and walks out of the café.

“Are you okay?” Penny asks as she comes closer, placing her hand on my shoulder. Slowly, I sink back into my seat.

“Honestly, no. You know me. You know I usually just shrug this stuff off, but the damage Matthew did, the way he delivered it… it did something to me.”

“It’s one thing to grow up with a superficial family and to always be compared to others. You’re not the only one, and unfortunately there will be others long after you. It’s just the wayof the world. It’s people. They suck. But it’s a whole other thing when the man who comes into your life and asks you to marry him does it.”

She frowns as she continues. “Matthew didn’t just hurt you. He cut deep into wounds that you’ve been carrying since you were a kid. That’s harsh, and it’s downright evil,” she adds. “On top of that, instead of supporting you, your mom and your sister are just making things worse.”

“Sometimes I wonder if they’ve ever truly loved me.”

Penny shakes her head. “I don’t know about that. I just don’t think they know how to love the right way. Not like they love money, anyway. What do you think will happen to your trust fund and shares? It’s not like Helen will donate it.”

“Whoa,” I gasp, giving her a troubled look. I may have been looking at this from a victim’s angle, which must be why I missed it.

Oh, shit.

“Damn, Penny, I needed that clarity. But it makes this whole thing even worse. If Mom is trying to teach me some kind of lesson, I might be able to understand eventually where she’s coming from. I could try to talk some sense into her, sooner or later.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t think that’s the case. But I do think this is the one time you need to stand up for yourself and fight anybody who tries to take what’s yours. Including your mother.”

Especially her. How the hell am I supposed to go to war with my own mother?

“Well, she was right about one thing,” I say.

“Who?”

“Mom.”

“Right about what?”

I give Penny a sad look, tears pricking my eyes. “Dad probably is turning in his grave right about now, but not over howI’vebeen livingmylife.”

12

THEO

The door to Phoebe’s apartment swings open, startling me.

“Shit,” Phoebe gasps and jumps back.

“I’m sorry. I was just about to knock.”

God, she looks beautiful in those tight jeans. Finally, she ditched the oversized shirts and chose a fitted red top for whatever she’s about to do. Her hair flows in golden waves over her shoulders, and her blue eyes pop under long, arched lashes. Nature was generous with this woman.

“What are you doing here?” Phoebe asks, her brow slightly furrowed.

“It’s been days. We need to talk.”

Dominic and August wanted to give her more space, but given what’s been happening, I don’t think more space is the solution. I stand my ground and try to ignore the tightness in my pants as I scan her gorgeous figure from top to bottom.

Phoebe lowers her gaze. “I’ve been trying to work things out.”

“On your own, yes. I get it,” I reply. “But I don’t think this is the kind of situation you should struggle with alone, which is why I’m here. Why we all want to be here.”