Page 77 of My Brother's Best Men
“Always such a thoughtful friend,” she says, smiling at him.
Friend.
The word hurts more than it should, all things considered. Because as far as anyone knows heismy friend. So is Benny. And Matthew, but…
The wordfrienddoesn’t feel like it fits anymore.
But the wordboyfrienddoesn’t quite fit either.
Are theyallmy boyfriends? How does that even work? I know we haven’t exactly discussed this in depth, butboyfrienddoesn’t feel right either…
“Table’s ready,” Aunt Susan says, and with that, we follow her into the restaurant to our over-sized table that is set to the nines. Elijah moves to pull out my chair, but Matthew beats him to it, claiming the seat next to me while Elijah gets the other side. Benny sits across from me, next to Sam. Everyone else fills in—the bridesmaids, our parents, family members. Soon the table’s full and the waiters are filling our waters and taking our drink orders.
I’m just starting on my glass of wine when I hear my name.
“Sophie…”
No. There’s no way. I hurriedly pull my phone out, pulling up my text thread, thinking maybe I might have missed something. But no. No texts from anyone outside my family or the guys…
“I’ve been looking all over for you, sweetheart.”
The world stops around me as I slowly turn to see my fiancé. Ex-fiancé.
Keaton.
I feel Elijah’s hand on my thigh, gripping me underneath the table. Matthew lets out a curse under his breath, and Benny turns to look in the same direction.
“Keaton,” I say, trying to keep my resolve.
What the fuck is he doing here?
“Hey,” he says as he looks at me with laser focus.
“So you’re Keaton.” My mother sighs. “Honestly, Sophie, you didn’t tell me he was such a looker.”
Keaton smiles that perfect rich-boy smile and I want to throw up.
“In the flesh, Mrs. Martin. It really is lovely to finally make your acquaintance.”
He saunters toward us and I feel like I want to crawl into a hole as the truth comes flashing back, the memory of our love, our life. His cock in that girl’s ass onourbed.
He leans close to me, his lips brushing my ear. “Can we talk somewhere?”
My body shakes—with fury, anxiety and shock.
“Absolutely not,” Elijah says, his voice darker than I’ve ever heard it.
“Take it easy, Eli,” Benny warns.
“I—”
“I don’t mean to interrupt, obviously, I just need to talk to Sophie for a moment.” Keaton flashes a glare at Elijah. “And who are you? Some cousin or?—”
“Back up now, asshole,” Elijah says.
Matthew leans closer to me. “You don’t have to talk to him,” he says. “If you don’t want to.”
“Why on earth would she not want to talk to her fiancé ?” my aunt asks. “I mean, the man must have braved hell to get here if he was so sick.”
