Page 177 of Force Play

Page List

Font Size:

Harlow rolls her eyes. “She’s our third cousin. We’ve never been close.”

“We used to spend holidays together,” Anna rebukes.

“And?” Cole asks. “Just because you’re blood doesn’t mean we have to consider you family.”

Anna’s jaw drops in shock.

Harlow goes in on her now. “I heard about the shit you tried to start at my fucking wedding, Anna. You fuckingknewLucia would be there because you’re Matt’s mistress.”

Ari looks smug as he stares at them. “I told you that if they knew who you were to Matt, you’d never have been at the wedding.”

“He’s right,” Lo states. “I don’t care that we’re family. I would never have invited you to my wedding if I’d known you were the other woman in my best friend’s relationship.”

“W-we’re family…” she stammers, shrinking in on herself.

“And?” Cole asks again. “Consider yourself removed. Our friendsarefamily, and you don’t fuck with our family.”

I’ve never loved my friend group more than I do right now.

I know Harlow, and I know she never would have wanted Anna there if she’d known.

But for both her and Cole to come over here and staunchly defend me? And hearing that Ari stood up for meatthe wedding?

I’m not overly emotional, but I’m so fucking glad to have all of them.

“Go,” Ari demands, eyes staring into their souls. “Nobody wants you here.”

They both walk off in a huff, and I turn around and throw my arms around Harlow and Cole, tears dotting the corners of my eyes.

“Thank you for doing that.”

“Like I said,” Cole states, “our friendsareour family. We consider you family, Lucia, and Lo and I were raised to always take care of your family.”

“Love you, babe,” Lo smiles.

“Love you more,” I reply with a watery laugh. I look over at Ari now. “Come here.”

I pull him into our hug, and he looks at me, confused. “Why am I in this?”

“Because I just found out you stood up for me at the wedding. We weren’t evenfriendsat that point. That means so fucking much to me.”

“Your birthday celebration was supposed to be a lot happier than this,” he chuckles.

I gaze at him sweetly. “I’m happy right now, Ari.” He smiles softly, and I lean over to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for caring.”

We’re with our friends, but it may as well just be Ari and me right now.

He’s the only one I can see.

We’re alone in a room full of people.

I want him.

I want him to bemine.

But I don’t know if he is.

fifty-two