213

Margot

If I knew Constance better, and if Braxton hadn’t been my ex, I might’ve told her to run while she still could. Sitting across from Braxton for hours, painfully coaxing even the slightest shred of emotion out of him, had been excruciating. It was a glaring reminder of how little I’d valued myself during my time with him. The way he spoke about Constance—a genuinely kind and wonderful woman—was so detached, like he was describing a set of golf clubs. His reasons for “loving” her weren’t even deep or heartfelt. I spent the better part of the evening fighting to wring out even the most lackluster attempts at romance from him. If he struggled this much to feel love for someone as incredible as Constance, I couldn’t imagine he’d ever loved me at all.

By the time I left, I was drained. Exhaustion weighed down every step as I trudged back to my room. I briefly considered heading to one of the cabins to see the guys, but I couldn’t summon the energy to make the trek. After hours of mentally wrestling with Braxton, all I wanted was to collapse into bed and pretend morning didn’t exist.

As I stepped into my room and made my way toward the bathroom, something felt…off. Halfway there, I froze. It hit me that I wasn’t alone, and before I could stop myself, I let out a startled scream. Sitting on my bed, staring at me, were all three of the older Heather  brothers.

Clutching my chest, I bent over to catch my breath. “Oh my god! You scared the hell out of me! What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you.” Jaxon’s voice was steady, but there was no warmth in it.

None of them moved to greet me. None of them smiled. The tension in the room was palpable. Rubbing my eyes, I yawned, trying to shake off the fatigue. I desperately needed to use the bathroom, but their somber expressions kept me rooted in place. “What’s going on?”

Lucas’s eyes met mine, and I saw something dark and troubled in them. “Is there something going on between you and Braxton?”

I blinked, stunned into silence. Surely, they weren’t serious. After spending the entire day with them and my mom before returning to the lodge, how could they even ask me that? I waited for one of them to crack a smile or laugh it off as a joke, but the seconds dragged on, and no one did.

The exhaustion I’d been feeling morphed into irritation and then quickly escalated into something hotter—anger, raw and unfiltered. The very idea that they could question my loyalty, that they might actually believe I would betray them with Braxton of all people, was infuriating.

As the silence stretched, I saw the wheels turning in their heads, mistaking my shock for hesitation. They were actually considering whether my lack of response was some kind of unspoken confession. That assumption only fueled my fury. After everything, they were questioning my loyalty—and, by extension, my worth.

“You need to leave.” My voice shook with anger, foreign even to my own ears. “Right now.”

Ryder stood, holding his hands up as if to calm me. “Let’s just talk about this, Margot—”

“No!” My voice rose sharply, and the force of it made all three of them flinch. “After everything we’ve been through today, you have the audacity to ask me if I’m—what? Sleeping with Braxton? You think I’m so awful that I’d not only betray Constance but you three as well? Do you really believe that?” My voice cracked, but my fury burned hotter. “I don’t want to see any of you right now. Just leave.”

Jaxon sighed, frustration evident in his tone. “Come on, Bubba. It’s weird. You were gone with him for hours.”

“Gone with him for hours? I was in the dining hall! And don’t pretend you didn’t know that because Gregkept checking on me all night. Don’t think I don’t realize you put him up to that.” I jabbed a finger toward them, shaking my head. “That’s an abuse of power. You should be ashamed.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling sharply to calm myself. “I’m planning Braxton’s wedding to Constance. Even if I were the kind of person who’d wreck a marriage—something I don’t believe in—it would mean I don’t care about you three at all. And if that’s what you really think of me, then you’re all idiots. I’m sorry, but I can’t deal with this right now. I need you to go.”

“If you really want us to leave, we’ll go tonight,” Lucas said softly, his voice filled with a weariness that tugged at my heart. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Margot. It’s just… Never mind. We can talk tomorrow.”

He stepped closer and pressed a gentle kiss to the side of my head. “Get some rest, okay?”

That small, tender gesture completely disarmed me. The anger that had burned so fiercely just moments ago faded like a dying ember. As I watched them all head toward the door, a pang of panic struck me. I couldn’t let them leave like this. I knew, better than most, how fleeting life could be.

I sucked in a deep breath, barely managing to steady myself, and then blurted out, “Wait.”

Lucas froze. He shut the door firmly and strode back toward me, his expression unreadable. In one swift motion, he lifted me into his arms, and I instinctively wrapped myself around him, a soft whimper escaping my lips.

“It’s okay, baby,” he murmured, holding me tightly. “We’re not going anywhere.”

“I don’t want you to go,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “I’m sorry. I want you here. I just… I’d never do that! I’d never cheat on you guys or…betray you. You have to know that’s not who I am.” My chest tightened as I fought back tears. “Do you really think I’d do something like that?”

Lucas’s arms tightened around me. “No, baby. I’m sorry. It’s just hard watching Braxton pull you away again and again. Tonight, we were ready to tell him the truth when he asked what was going on. I’m not someone who hides something I’m proud of, and I’m proud of you. But you’re right—we should’ve trusted you. We’ve seen your loyalty firsthand, even when it wasn’t deserved. You’re not the kind of woman who’d ever cheat.”

I sniffed, wiping at my eyes. “And seriously, what kind of woman has three men and still needs to cheat? I care about you guys. Don’t you see that? Or is this just…sex for you?”

Ryder growled low, his voice suddenly rougher. “It’s not just sex. We’re idiots, Margot, but we’re not that stupid. We know how lucky we are to have you.”

“Alright, I’ve got it,” Jaxon announced, holding my suitcase as he looked me in the eye. “We’ll grab the rest of your stuff tomorrow or buy you all new. Let’s get you to a bed now.”

Lucas shot him a glare. “Seriously, Jaxon?”

Resting my head against Lucas’s shoulder, I sighed. “No, Jaxon’s right. Bed sounds amazing.”

Lucas adjusted his grip on me and chuckled softly. “You’re dead on your feet, baby. You’re going to bed to sleep.” He carried me out of the room with ease, his voice firm. “This isn’t your room anymore. Got it?”

I thought about arguing, but I didn’t have the energy. All I wanted was to be close to them. “Okay.”

“As soon as this wedding is over, you’re taking a break, Bubba,” Jaxon said, his voice resolute as he carried my suitcase. A deep frown marred his face. “You need some time to recharge, and I need you to be okay. This whole thing is draining you.”

“It’s not the wedding,” I murmured, feeling the weight of the night pressing down on me. “It’s Braxton.”

Ryder’s jaw tightened, a flicker of anger lighting up his expression. “Then maybe our little brother needs to be reminded how to behave.” The unexpected edge to his voice caught me off guard—and, strangely, I found it attractive. Ryder’s usual easygoing demeanor made these rare bursts of intensity even more striking.

Leaning up, I pressed a soft kiss to Lucas’s neck and whispered, “I’m not that tired.”

Lucas’s steps quickened as he chuckled under his breath. “We’ll see.”