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Ivy, being the godsend that she is, grabs her phone and stands up. “Maverick, go stand next to McKenna. I want to take a picture of you three.”
Her idea to distract him works and Maverick shakes himself out of whatever internal debate he was having. He comes over and stands next to me. Him and Colton both place an arm ar
ound me and the three of us smile brightly for the picture. In that moment, with the two most important men in my life, I feel content.
I SHOW IVY AROUND my new house. It’s empty but still beautiful. Parker and I had only looked at three before seeing this one. I instantly loved it. It’s two stories, with all the bedrooms upstairs. The kitchen has all top of the line appliances and looks out into the living room. It’s the perfect home for a family.
“McKenna, your brother is here!” Parker calls from the front yard.
Ivy and I quit pondering what the point is of fans on a vaulted ceiling, and head to the door. As soon as we step outside, I stop. My best friend bumps into the back of me from my sudden halt but I barely notice - too stuck on the sight in front of me.
Colton is leaning up against the side of Maverick’s SUV, laughing at something Parker said. His arms are crossed against his chest and his smile makes my heart skip. This is exactly why I told him to stay away. I can’t handle the way my body comes alive when he’s around, especially when my fiancé is in the same place.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t little McKenna Taylor.” Another voice pulls my attention away from my ex.
I turn my head to see Roman, my brother and Colton’s friend since freshman year. He’s grown since I saw him last. He has probably gained somewhere near thirty pounds of pure muscle. His shirt clings to his body, the white fabric contrasting with the dark tone of his skin. The smile on his face reminds me of why it’s so nice to be home.
“Rome!” I greet him excitedly, wrapping my arms around him. He lifts me up and squeezes. When he puts me down, I run my fingers through my hair. “How are you? It’s been forever.”
“I know. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your engagement party. There was something at work I had to tend to.”
“Don’t you work for Colton?” My eyes narrow. When he glances at him with a nervous look on his face, it becomes clear. He dealt with the work issue so Colton didn’t miss the party. Was going really that important to him? I don’t have time to question it further because Maverick speaks up.
“What am I, chopped liver?” His tone is playful so I flip him off. “Oooh. I’m going to tell mom.”
All of us laugh at his shenanigans and my eyes meet Colton’s for the first time in two days. I don’t allow it to linger for longer than a second before I look away. Suddenly finding the ground very interesting, I can faintly hear Maverick talking to Parker.
“This place is nice.”
“McKenna picked it. She has much better taste than I do.”
My brother chuckles. “I feel you there. How’d you get the keys so quickly though? Buying a house usually takes months.”
“The power of paying with cash, mate.”
“Ah.” He nods in realization. “I keep forgetting you’re loaded.”
“Maverick!” I chastise him.
He puts his hands up in surrender. “What? He is.”
Rolling my eyes, I focus on my fiancé. “The furniture will be here in a couple hours, so we should probably get a move on things.”
The four guys follow me over to the moving truck while Ivy goes to sit with Tatum. I explain to them how each box is marked with where it needs to go. One by one, they grab a box and start carrying it into the house. Thankfully, Colton is last. When he turns around to walk off the truck, I step in front of him.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
His eyebrows furrow. “Huh?”
“I thought I told you we had to stay away from each other. Does this look like staying away from each other to you?” He chuckles and goes to walk around me but I stop him again. “I’m serious, Colton. What are you doing here?”
“Maverick asked me to come help you move. What was I supposed to tell him? No sorry, I can’t because we fucked four years ago so she doesn’t want to be around me?”
My eyes widen and I look around quickly before shushing him. “You could’ve made an excuse or something. You shouldn’t be here. We agreed.”
Dropping the box on the ground, he cages me in with his arms on either side of my body. “No, you gave an order and then walked away like I had no say in the matter. I told you this idea of yours wouldn’t work.”
“I-It has to.” I struggle to maintain my composure with him so close. “It has to work. I’m engaged, and I can’t be dealing with you invading my personal space all the time.”
