Page 3 of Anton

“I need to find Ash. I’ll see you later, Marcie. Enjoy your party,” he said, turning away before I could even respond.

My happiness took a nosedive as frustration threatened to overwhelm me and tears pricked my eyes. Damn that man.

The hope I’d felt when he’d walked into my party shrivelled as he made it obvious he still didn’t want anything more than friendship with me. No matter how much I told myself I had to stop crushing on him, my heart refused to get the memo.

I took a deep breath and tossed back a tequila shot. The alcohol burned going down, a welcome distraction from my turbulent emotions. Anton might’ve been my hero when we met, but tonight, he was my heartbreak.

“Are you okay, honey?” Claire asked, concern etched across her features as she leaned closer, searching my eyes for the truth.

I nodded, but I couldn’t shake off the sadness. Huffing heavily, I closed my eyes and forced a smile.

Claire squeezed my hand. “He’s a bloody fool if he won’t take a chance on a wonderful woman like you,” she said, staring at Anton’s retreating back, her mouth twisted in annoyance.

God, how that fact hurt. Reaching up, I quickly brushed a tear away. This needed to stop. I had to accept that I had been well and truly friend-zoned.

Grabbing another tequila shot, I downed it.

“I know he was your hero, Marcie, but to be honest, he’s been acting like an arse since,” Claire said, as if she’d heard my thoughts.

“No, he hasn’t; it’s my fault that I can’t get over him. He told me right away that he didn’t want a relationship,” I replied, feeling annoyed at having to defend my man.

My man? Shit!I had no right thinking of him like that. He wasn’t my man.

So, why does he often act like he is?a snarky little voice in my head asked. I ignored it.

“It’s not Anton’s fault that I have a massive crush on him.” I sighed.

Let’s face it, that was the truth. Anton had been there for me at a time when I was vulnerable. He’d saved me, and I’d latched onto him. That was down to me, not him. He’d always been friendly and helpful and never led me on. The only person to blame for my feelings was me.

Claire smirked. “You’ve always had a thing for the military type.”

“Hell yeah. Who wouldn’t? All that muscle and danger?” I smiled wickedly and winked. “You have to admit, Anton is gorgeous.”

“Hmm,” Claire replied rather noncommittally.

“Oh, I forgot, you prefer the tall, dark, and dangerous type who hides his danger behind a charismatic smile,” I said, smirking.

“Ha, ha,” she replied, huffing in annoyance at my reference to our friend Luca. Luca had a thing for my bestie, but she had friend-zoned him in a desperate attempt to deny her own secret crush on him. Luca, like a number of our friends, was connected to the Bratva, and even though Claire was a criminal defence lawyer, she refused to get involved with someone she viewed as a criminal. It was dumb, really, but I wasn’t about to tell her that.No way. Claire was known as the Ice Queen at work for a reason. One look from her and the devil ran for cover.

A smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth, but I held it back as I watched her eyes scanning the room. She might pretend not to want Luca, but they say the eyes are the mirror to the soul, and every time Claire looked at him, the intensity of her gaze gave her away.

“Looking for the man himself?” I said in her ear, startling her and making her jump.

“What? No, I was just taking in the atmosphere,” she replied, pursing her lips in displeasure when all I did was grin at her.

What a pair we were—both hooked on men we couldn’t have—Claire because she wouldn’t date the guy despite her interest, and me because the guy wouldn’t date me despite his interest.

Hurt welled inside me, sharp and unrelenting, as I tried to push it back. Gracie and Eilidh laughed at something Sonia had said, their joy a vivid reminder of what I lacked. That pang of jealousy hit again, and my bottom lip wobbled. Why couldn’t I have what they did?

“What’s wrong?” Claire whispered.

I shook my head. “Nothing, I’m fine,” I told her, but it was clear by her frown that she didn’t believe me.

“Let’s get you another drink and mingle a bit. You’re the star of the night!” she chirped.

A forced laugh escaped my lips, hollow and brittle. This celebration should have been joyful, but disappointment draped over me like a heavy shroud. As we moved through the lively crowd, laughter rippled around us, bright and teasing. The air buzzed with energy, a pulse of shared excitement urging me to join in. Yet my heart remained tethered to one man. No matter where I looked, my gaze instinctively sought Anton.

I tried to lose myself in conversations, plastering a smile on my face and nodding at guests’ chatter. But my mind keptdrifting back to him. Each glimpse of my sexy soldier sent my pulse racing, longing surging through me. It was as if I stood outside a dream, watching others bask in happiness while I remained trapped in the shadows.

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