Page 27 of My Ex-Best Men
I tried to cut across the boat to get to Claire but one of Sophia’s friends cut me off. I couldn’t remember her name but she’d propositioned me at the beginning of the boat ride. “Excuse me.”
“Wait a second, stud. Where are you running off to so fast?” She leaned into me, pressing her breasts into my arm. “How about a song? Just one?”
I tried to stay polite but I wasn’t in Zane Wilson, rockstar mode. I was just Zane, a guy trying to get his ex-girlfriend back. I didn’t want to sing for anyone else. I didn’t want to think about work at all. “Sorry, I didn’t bring my guitar.”
The woman stroked my arm and giggled. “Come on! You can just sing. Your voice is amazing. It’s a dream of mine to hear you sing.”
I saw Claire look up and watched as her face shuttered when she saw the woman hanging all over me. Probably a little rougher than I needed to be, I pulled my arm away and held up my hands. “Sorry, but no.”
I walked over to Claire and nearly screamed when she stiffened. Unwilling to lose the progress I’d made with her, I gripped her hips and tugged her back into my chest. She sighed heavily at me but I wasn’t easily deterred.
I pressed my mouth to her neck and whispered. “I can’t control what other people do, baby. I can only control whatIdo and I never took my eyes off of you. Don’t get all stiff on me now.”
Slowly, her body relaxed into mine. She sighed again but it felt like an expulsion of the remaining unhappiness. “This is all so crazy.”
Anthony looked away from where he’d been talking with Will and Sophia. His eyes tracked down to where I was holding Claire but instead of scowling at me, he nodded.
Claire looked up at me and then back at him. “What the hell was that?”
There was something changing between us but I had no idea where it was going. I’d already gotten comfortable with Anthony and Will and thoughts were starting to form in my head that I had no business entertaining. Thoughts of how Claire liked being watched and how it’d work if the other guys didn’t just watch her.
25
***Claire***
Iwas on fire. I was getting vibes from the guys that I didn’t understand but my body responded to nonetheless. As soon as Captain Avery dropped anchor at the second location, I jumped off the boat and prayed I didn’t drown myself while trying to chill out my vagina. Even if I was the only one who’d know the true cause of my death, it’d be mortifying.
The new location was just off the coast of a small island with a private beach. It took me a few minutes and a lot of effort but I swam over and collapsed on my back in the sand, loving the feel of it. It was warm against my back while the sun warmed my front and I instantly felt like napping. I idly dug my hands into the sand and closed my eyes. For those few seconds I could almost forget everything going on and just breathe.
“You swam out of there like you don’t have multiple hot men trying to get into your bikini bottoms.” Soph flopped down next to me and intertwined our fingers as she got comfortable. “Youplanned the best day, C. You should take off your responsible hat and pick one of those hotties to bang.”
I turned my head to look at her and had to blink away a sudden wave of emotion at the simple act of holding her hand. I’d missed her so much. I hadn’t realized just how much until that moment. “I think I want to move back home.”
The words were out before I even had the complete thought but it felt right. I’d loved London for what it was but I was ready to come home. I knew Sophia and Jake wouldn’t wait long before starting a family and I didn’t want to miss a second of it. I didn’t want to miss more of Uncle Sal’s life, as stressful as he was at times. I missed the sunshine and the smell of the sea.
Sophia sat up and squeezed my hand. “I’m trying to not scream but if you don’t mean that, you better not say it. You don’t know how much I miss you and want you back home, Claire. I’ve been patient but I want you here.”
A shadow fell over us, ending our conversation. I looked up and saw that it was Will. “Your almost husband is in a very animated debate with his brother over a football game they played when they were twelve. Looks like it might get ugly.”
Soph sighed and stood up. “That game almost tore their family apart. I’d better go flash my tits at Jake to distract him and stop the war.”
“Jesus, Soph. I’m your brother. Don’t say shit like that to me.” Will took her spot next to me and shuddered.
“Grow up, William.” She grinned at me. “We’ll finish that talk later.”
I hugged my knees as I watched her swim back to the boat. She was graceful and looked like a damn mermaid, nothing at all like me. Resting my chin on my knee, I tilted my head to look at Will and found him already watching me. “What?”
He shook his head. “This has always been my favorite version of you. Sunburnt, all natural, and a little sleepy.”
I ducked my face as I blushed. “Why?”
“You were even cuddlier than normal after a morning in the sun back in the day. You were like a kitten, rubbing all over me as you got comfy on my chest and it was both the most painful and best thing to ever happen to me.” Will looked back out at the boat and smiled. “And you’re so fucking beautiful like this. Pretty sure an afternoon like this was when I knew I loved you.”
I closed my eyes as his words warmed me from the inside out. When I opened them again, Will had moved closer and was studying me. I smiled. “Just pretty sure?”
His grin was earth-shattering. “July fourth, the summer I turned eighteen. Everyone else had snuck enough beer to take an afternoon nap. You were sitting on the beach all by yourself and I couldn’t make myself stay away. The smile on your face when you saw me made me feel ten-feet-tall. You had on a light pink bathing suit and a toe ring that made me worry that I’d stumbled into a foot fetish. Everything about you felt like happiness to me and I knew I was fucked. I knew I loved you in a way that was going to change my life.”
I leaned over to rest my head on his arm. He was killing me. My heart was thumping away violently in my chest, desperate to get closer to him. “Will…”
