Five Ways to Fall (Ten Tiny Breaths, #4)(78)

“He’s just making sure he has his facts straight before he has me arrested!” I snap, adding, “And I thought you were Switzerland.”

Cupping the back of my neck with his hand, he stares down at me with sincere blue eyes. “I am. I’m also a concerned friend. Don’t answer him. Nothing in writing. That’s my legal advice.” He looks over my shoulder and bellows, “Hey, Lina! Come talk some sense into your crazy friend for me.”

I glare up at him but he only smiles, dipping down to lay a quick kiss right on my lips. “You’re not leaving me like this tonight.”

“Like what?”

He tugs my body flush against his and I get my answer, a second before two fierce hands grab hold of each of my forearms. Nicki and Lina, tag-teaming to drag me outside to the porch while my eyes stay locked with Ben’s.

“Okay, spill it MacKay,” Lina demands, practically pushing me into one of the few lawn chairs available. Thankfully we don’t have an audience, now that the guys have moved their drinking shenanigans inside.

Nicki tries a slightly different approach, taking a seat next to me so that we’re eye level. “What’s going on with you, buddy?” she asks softly, handing me a beer.

With a groan, I drop my head into my free hand.

And then I tell them about everything. Even the paintball ambush, which thankfully they find more humorous than disturbing. When I’m done, I find myself facing two sets of eyes, one harder than the other, but both empathetic.

“He was sleeping with her almost the whole time you were married?” Nicki asks, her eyes widening in disbelief. “I just don’t get it. He seemed so into you. Like, there were no signs that made me think ‘cheater.’ Not one!”

Lina heaves a sigh. “I don’t know what to say about all of this, Reese. Is this healthy? No. Are you going to get hurt again? Yes. Is it worth it?” She pauses, as if to let us both think about it. “No. I mean, that bitch deserves what’s coming to her and she’s going to get it eventually—don’t you worry about that. Karma never forgets. But it doesn’t have to come from you. There’s really no point in keeping in touch with the douchebag. What you two had is gone and even if you get back together, it’ll never be the same. You won’t ever trust him again!”

“I told you, I don’t want to get back together with him!”

Lina’s face turns sour. “I need a drink to deal with your stubborn ass. Your turn, Nicki.” I watch Lina’s willowy frame march stiffly through the door, wondering why my best friend seems so angry at me all of a sudden. We’ve been through a lot together and she’s always been the nonjudgmental constant for me.

“She’s just worried about you,” Nicki confirms, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “We all are. I know you loved him but the guy’s a waste of air, Reese. I wish you’d see that.”

I tip my head back and let out an exaggerated moan. “I do see that!”

“Well, then when is this going to end? How far are you going to go with this?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” That’s the truth. I’ve played a few scenarios out in my head, but I’m not married to any of them.

“Well . . .” A wry smile curls her lips. “At least you have Ben to keep you occupied.”

“I do,” I agree, smiling as I peer over my shoulder through the window.

To see a platinum-blond hovering and Ben grinning down at her. “Shit. When did she get here?” What happened to those litigation guys keeping her entertained? I guess she’s not after just any lawyer.

She’s after mine.

I take a long draw of my beer as I try to make sense of the tightening feeling in my gut right now. Is it jealousy that he’s been with her? Disappointment that that smile’s not reserved only for me?

“Well, you’d better get in there before she puts her stripper moves on him,” Nicki says, standing. I follow suit and find myself face to face with Mason.

“Hey.” His face pinches up a bit. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” I look over his shoulder, but there’s no Lina in sight. “She’s inside,” he confirms, adding, “doing shots with Kent and Travis.”

“Ooooh . . .” both Nicki and I wail in unison. “Lina plus shots equals pukey-pukey tomorrow. Make sure you have a bucket,” I warn Mason, adding, “and hold her hair back.” Mason’s not going to deal with boyfriend vomit duties very well. This may prove a true test to their relationship.

“Catch you inside,” Nicki says with a pat on my shoulder, leaving me alone with my stepbrother. I fall back into the lawn chair and he joins me, to sit silently as I watch a stray cat dart across the street, its eyes glowing against an approaching car’s headlights.

“So . . . I think I know what’s going on.”

“You’re so clever.” I reach up to stroke his head and he swats my hand away, an annoyed frown touching his face.

“You know, when you moved back, I was sure you were trying to swindle Jack out of money. But so far you’ve done nothing but work and try not to act insane. My dad’s really happy, Reese. I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time.” He pauses. “And he wouldn’t be happy if he knew what you were doing.”

He’s playing the Jack card on me. And it’s working, guilt settling onto my shoulders like a dead weight. “Are you referring to what I’m doing with Ben or Jared?”