215

Margot

Three days left until the wedding. My nerves were completely fried, and I was secretly counting the hours until it was all over, so I could finally slip away from the lodge and be free. For now, though, I had to put on a professional face for the steady flow of wealthy guests arriving, pretending everything was seamless. My plan was to mingle before the big day and then make a quiet exit once the ceremony ended, vanishing into the night without looking back.

So far, everything was running smoothly. There had been a few minor hiccups, but nothing that couldn’t be handled. It felt like the calm before the storm. Tomorrow would bring the rest of the guests, and the day after would see bachelor and bachelorette parties in full swing. And then, at last, the wedding day would arrive. I was so close to being done I could almost taste it.

That night, I was looking forward to heading to Lucas’s cabin and sliding into bed with the three men who’d turned my world upside down. After my stolen moment with Lucas the previous afternoon, Ryder and Jaxon had taken it upon themselves to “compete,” and let’s just say I was still feeling the results. The slight limp I had was a small price to pay for the way they’d made me feel.

As I packed up for the night, having just sent Devon off to his room, I heard movement behind me. Turning, I saw Braxton standing in the doorway of the lounge where I’d been working. Plastering on a polite smile, I reminded myself that I was almost done with this job—and him. A quick glance at my watch told me it was nearly midnight. He should’ve been gone hours ago.

“Braxton,” I greeted, keeping my tone light. “I was just finishing up for the night. Everything’s running smoothly.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and stepped into the room. The lounge was one of the smaller ones in the lodge, with plush velvet couches and dim mood lighting. I’d turned on the overhead lights to make working easier, though Devon had insisted the couches were better for productivity—and he hadn’t been wrong about that.

“Good to hear. You’ve been working late,” Braxton said, standing behind the couch I’d been using. He gave me a small smile. “I’ll make sure to remember this when I recommend you to our friends, Margot.”

His words caught me off guard, but I felt a genuine smile tug at my lips. “Thank you. That really means a lot to me, Braxton.”

He nodded, glancing around the room before his expression shifted. “Listen, I need another favor. But, uh, these lights are killing me.”

An uneasy feeling crept up my spine as he walked over and flipped the switch, plunging the room back into shadowy mood lighting. The dimness cast dark corners across the space, creating a level of intimacy I didn’t want. “How about we move to the dining hall?” I suggested quickly. “It worked well last time.”

Braxton ignored my suggestion, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket with a frown. “I’ve been working on my vows, and I don’t think I’ve got them right. I overheard Constance working on hers, and… well, hers are beautiful. I realized I’ve been taking this too lightly, and now I’m panicking.”

I sighed inwardly but couldn’t stop myself from softening at the fear in his eyes. Hopeless romantic that I was, I couldn’t turn him away—not when he was genuinely trying. “Let me take a look,” I offered, motioning for him to sit on the opposite end of the couch.

He hesitated, crinkling the paper in his hands. “I don’t know… I feel kind of stupid.”

“You’re going to have to read them out loud in a few days,” I reminded him gently. “In front of everyone. If you can get through that, you can show me. Constance isn’t going to care about anything except hearing what’s in your heart.”

Braxton studied me for a moment, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “How’d you get so good at this stuff?”

I shrugged. “It’s part of my job. Plus, I’ve been planning my own dream wedding since I was a kid. I care about this stuff.”

His smile faded, replaced by a frown. “I’m sorry I never knew that about you back when we were together.”

Leaning back against the couch, I brushed off his comment. “It’s water under the bridge, Braxton. Now, let’s hear those vows.”

But instead of reading them, he shifted closer, placing a hand on my knee. His expression was sincere in a way I hadn’t seen from him before. “No, I need to say something first. I wasn’t a good boyfriend to you, Margot. I took you for granted, and you deserved better than me. I was young and stupid, scared of settling down because you felt like forever, and I didn’t know how to handle that.”

I gently patted his hand and eased my leg out of reach. “Thank you for apologizing, Braxton. I appreciate it. But that’s all in the past. You’re about to marry an amazing woman, and she’s the one who matters now—not something that ended three years ago.”

“I’m about to marry Constance. And you’ve started something new yourself, haven’t you?” Braxton leaned back on the couch, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I’ll admit I freaked out for a moment, but I was just being irrational. Back when we were together, I noticed my brothers had this weird, unhealthy interest in you. Seeing you all together brought up some old feelings, but it was fleeting. I’m sorry for that.”

A nervous lump formed in my throat as I studied him carefully. He seemed genuine. “I never realized they felt that way back then.”

Braxton’s smile widened, tinged with something unreadable. “But you see it now, don’t you?”

I nodded slowly. “Yes. I see it. And… I’m interested in them, too. I know it’s unconventional, but your brothers are incredible men.”

His brow arched slightly. “You’re interested in them? Not just one of them?”

Heat crept into my cheeks, and I glanced away. “I told you it was strange. I have feelings for all three of them. It’s not exactly normal, and it’s even a bit weird for me to admit, but it’s the truth. If this is uncomfortable for you, we can drop it.”

Braxton turned fully toward me, his expression unreadable. “It’s just a little hard to see them get what they always wanted. They were so obvious about it back then, and now they’ve finally got you. But if you’re happy, Margot, that’s what matters. I’m happy for you.”

I reached out, giving his shoulder a light squeeze. “Thank you, Braxton. That really means a lot. I feel the same way about you. If you’re happy, I’m happy. Things worked out the way they were supposed to.” I gave him a gentle smile. “Now, let’s get back to those vows. Constance deserves something heartfelt and unforgettable.”

Braxton leaned forward and wrapped me in a hug. “Thank you, Margot.”

Awkwardly, I patted his back, waiting for the moment to end. “Of course, Braxton.”

But as he pulled back, his smile twisted, sharp and cruel. “You’ve always been such a gullible fool.”

Before I could react, his lips crashed down on mine with bruising force, making me whimper in pain as I struggled to pull away.