My Ex-Boyfriend’s Brothers (Ex Marks the Spot)

36. Maggie

36

***Maggie***

I stomped away, so furious that I didn’t feel my feet until I was in the hallway outside of my room. I let myself in and slammed the door shut. Looking around my room, I felt outside of myself. I didn’t get furious. I didn’t feel violent. Ever. Something about the way Brad had talked about his own brother, though, had pushed me too far. And his implication that he’d somehow saved me from a life of poverty when we started dating was a joke. I’d been doing just fine before him.

Mom had given me a great life. She’d decided she wanted a kid in her forties and made it happen without a partner. Because she worried about me lacking a father, she made sure my life was good in every other way. She took care of me and provided me with everything I ever needed. The idea that I’d been some poor sap before Brad came around made me sick. It was insulting to Mom and it was insulting to me.

Then, there was the fact that Brad barely paid for anything the entire time we were together. The only time I got treated when we dated was when we went to his family gatherings. It’d been fine with me, because I didn’t need to be cared for financially and because I wanted him to know I loved him for him and not his money. What an idiot I’d been.

A loud knock on the door startled me and a fresh wave of fury took me. I yanked open the door, already shouting. “If you came to-”

It wasn’t Brad.

Luke eased past me into my room. Jackson slowly made his way in next and then Ryan gently pushed me deeper into my room so he could shut the door behind us. They all seemed to sense my mood and were being delicate, despite the fact that I could see how much they wanted to ask me what happened.

“The invitations were fine. He just wanted to save me from your evil clutches, Jackson. And to let me know that he was worried I’d end up pregnant in a trailer park if I wasn’t careful.” I angrily pulled off the leather pants and jacket and then kicked my heels off. There were deep lines across my feet from the heels and my little toe had been smashed all night long. “He implied that he somehow pulled me out of that same hypothetical trailer park when he started dating me. Not that there’s anything wrong with a trailer park! It just shows how much of a snob he is. The jackass. I thought I’d messed up the wedding. I was in a full panic!”

“Come here, baby.” Jackson’s low drawl was soothing in a way that took the tension right out of my shoulders.

I stood between his thighs as he sat on my bed and he pressed his face into my stomach. I could feel his deep, even breathing and it forced my own breathing to slow.

“Bradley is a fucking idiot, Maggie.” Luke pressed into me from behind and breathed in against the back of my neck. “I’m sorry he upset you. It won’t happen again.”

Ryan stood beside us and caressed my cheek. “Is it wrong that I like the idea of you pregnant in a trailer park? It sounds kind of hot.”

And just like that, I was laughing again. I groaned and just stood there, enjoying their touch while I let the rest of the anger wash away. I held Jackson’s head and sighed. “I almost slapped him. I had my hand raised before I knew it. I’ve never touched another person like that.”

“I’m going to have to beg to differ after the night I just had.” Jackson tilted his head back and smiled at me. “You’re okay, Bubbles. We’re here. The three of us have all almost hit Brad plenty of times so you’re in good company. The fact that you didn’t slap him really shows how sweet and good you are.”

I blew a raspberry. “Did you tell them?”

Luke let out a quiet laugh against my neck but his shaking chest gave away the fact that he was fighting to not guffaw about it. Ryan didn’t bother to hide it. He threw back his head and laughed with abandon.

“You didn’t have to tell them.” I tried to hold in my laughter but it was useless. “I guess with the black eye, you kind of had to explain something. It was just a big accident. I don’t even know what happened. Honestly.”

Luke patted my ass. “Get ready for bed and then I’ll rub your feet. You were limping.”

I rushed to do as he said and climbed into bed a few minutes later with a clean face and a big t-shirt on. Jackson and Ryan were settled at the head of the bed and I settled between them with Luke closer to the foot. As soon as Luke touched my feet, I groaned and sank deeper into my pillows.

“No more shoes like that.” Luke rubbed even deeper and watched my face. “And no more going off alone with Brad. He’s abusing his privileges as your client. I’m going to be having a conversation with him, but just in case he forgets who he’s dealing with, I need you to be prepared to tell him to fuck off.”

I sighed and rested my head on Jackson’s shoulder. “I’m prepared. He pushed me too far tonight.”

“I’m sorry.” Jackson adjusted himself and made a pained sound. “I shouldn’t have let you go with him. He’s being even more of an asshole than ever these days.”

“You’re broken. You couldn’t do much.” I let out a louder moan when Luke got to my arches. “I would marry you if you promised to keep doing that.”

“Okay.” Luke raised his eyebrows at me in a silent challenge. “When?”

I rolled my eyes and waved him off. “Are you guys staying?”

“Of course. You’re stuck with us, baby.” Ryan held my hand and kissed my knuckles. “It’ll be fun to work out the sleeping arrangements. We need to move you to a bigger room. This is ridiculous. Or you could just move in with one of us.”

“I volunteer. After the pain I’ve experienced tonight, I deserve it.” Jackson sighed. “I’ve also already made it clear to my brothers that they don’t get to touch you tonight. Not until I’m healed.”

I nodded. “That’s fair. You’ll probably be healed tomorrow, though, right?”

Ryan snorted. “Someone is getting used to multiple orgasms, multiple times a day.”

Blushing, I shrugged. “No comment.”