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“Good.” She tells me, but I can see in her eyes that she’s lying. “How’s everything with you?”
Over the 15 years that I’ve known this girl, she’s always been honest with me. Yet, here we are, exchanging forced pleasantries and lying about something as simple as how life is. The reality of the situation hits me straight in the gut. I can’t do this. Not with her.
“Excuse me.” I tell her with the best polite smile I can manage.
No one tries to stop me as I walk away and head for the bathroom. Immediately going to the sink, I cup water into my hands and splash it onto my face. I’m here for Maverick. Tonight is important for Maverick. I take a calming breath, but am quickly right back where I started when a stall door opens and Parker steps out of it. His reflection in the mirror comes closer as he chooses the sink right beside mine.
“Mr. Brooks.” He spits my name out like a disease.
“Look, Parker, I really don’t want any trouble.”
He laughs humorlessly. “Maybe you should have thought about that before you shagged my fiancée.” Turning off the water and grabbing a towel to dry his hands, he looks straight at me. “How do you live with yourself, knowing the one person who thought she would always love you, doesn’t anymore? Must make you feel like quite the failure.”
“Do not speak to me about McKenna. She may be marrying you, but I will always mean more to her than you do.” I growl.
“See, that’s where you’re wrong, mate. You think I haven’t heard her and Ivy talking about you? About how she’ll never truly be able to trust you? That’s what happens when you destroy a girl. Little pieces get lost in the mess of it all, and no matter how impeccably you put her back together, she’ll never be the way she once was – and she’ll never look at you the way she once did.”
“You don’t know anything about the way she looks at me.”
He throws his head back in evil laughter. The sound of it makes me want to sucker punch him in the stomach. “I don’t need to, because I can give her what you never could – safety, trust, and security. You see, if she were to be with you, she would always wonder when the next argument is going to happen or if that day will be the day she gets her heart broken again. She will never feel secure in a relationship with you. With me, however, she doesn’t have to worry about any of that. I can give her the love and future she’s always dreamed of having.”
My blood is boiling as I clench my fists. “Yeah? Well, have fun spending your days knowing what you have with your wife, will never even begin to compare to what she had with me.”
Placing the towel back down onto the counter, he looks like he’s about to walk away but stops. “Face it, Brooks. I’m the better
man for her. Surely you know this, or you wouldn’t be getting so angry. And if you love her the way I think you do, you’ll leave her alone and let her be happy.”
He pushes past me with his shoulder and exits the room, allowing everything he just said to sink in.
IF I THOUGHT SEEING McKenna with Parker was hard before, it’s fucking unbearable now. He makes sure to have one hand on her at all times, giving me snide glances that show he’s only doing it to rub in that he can and I can’t. I try to keep all my attention on the conversation I’m having with Roman, but even he sees that I’m struggling.
“I could spill a drink on him.” He suggests. “That suit looks expensive enough to at least piss him off a little.”
I chuckle but shake my head. “Thanks man, but that’s alright. I don’t want to ruin this night for Mav.”
His eyes narrow. “I thought he just wanted to pretend to be rich snobs for the night. What does he have planned?”
The sound of Maverick trying to get all our attention meets our ears. “You’re about to find out.”
I watch as my best friend holds a glass of champagne in his hand and looks like he’s going to vomit. “I have something I’d like to say.” He looks to me for reassurance and I give him a curt nod. Then, he focuses on his girlfriend. “Tatum, for as long as I’ve known you, I have loved you. We’ve spent the past eight years together and still, it isn’t nearly enough. You’re my best friend, sorry Brooks…” We all laugh as I feign being hurt. “… you’re my favorite person, and you’re the only one I can see myself spending the rest of my life with.” Tears start pouring down Tatum’s face as Maverick places his champagne on the table and gets down on one knee. “I’m going to ask you this again, and I’m not taking no for an answer this time. Tatum Elizabeth Blakley, will you marry me?”
The question is barely out of his mouth before she nods and mumbles a watery yes. All the women are crying and even Roman is blinking away a tear as Maverick pulls the ring from the box and slips it onto her finger. God, I want that.
My gaze finds McKenna, though I instantly wish it hadn’t. I catch sight of her just in time for Parker to dip her back and press his lips to hers. My stomach churns with jealousy. When they break the kiss, however, it gets worse. Because there, right in front of my eyes, I can see it. The happiness etched across her face is pure, untainted, and without any bit of hesitation. Parker was right, he’s the better man for her.
The revelation is too much. It feels like the room is closing in on me and the air is too thick to breathe. Before I can look away, McKenna’s eyes meet mine. The smile is wiped from her face by what I can only assume is the pain she sees all over my own. Let’s face it, that girl can read me like an open book. Even if I attempted to mask it, she’d know. I have to get out of here.
I congratulate Maverick and Tatum, giving them each a hug and teasing Tatum about how I’m stuck with her for life now. In a silent exchange, Mav can see that I need to leave and takes no offense by my exit.
“See you at home?”
I nod. “Take your time. I’ll be alright.”
Pushing through the crowd of people, I finally get out the front door. The fresh air only provides a small amount of relief from the ache in my chest. The further I get from here, from her, the better. I’m halfway to my car when a familiar voice calls my name.
“Colton, wait.”
I don’t stop walking. “Go back inside, McKenna.”
