Page 51 of My Ex's Billionaire Brothers

Weird to think he’s still cute. But it’s the truth. I wonder what his life is like now. He only posts business things on his social media—flower arrangements, holiday advertising, that kind of thing. It’s so odd to see him, especially when I’ve been bed-wrecked by my three companions for the past few days.

“Well, if it isn’t little Miss Big City,” he drawls. “Anya Markoff, back to brighten our humble bouquet of beach bums.”

The old nickname pricks. That’s what he angrily called me when I told him I was leaving town. “Hi, Billy,” I say, smoothing my hair. “Here for the holiday.”

His eyes rake—gently, politely, but definitely raking—over me. “Boston didn’t frost that sunny smile. What can I get ya? Holiday bouquet, hostess gift…?”

I glance around the shop in search of his mom. “Is Miss Jolene in?”

His expression softens. “Um, well, no. She passed last December. A stroke in her sleep. Quiet.” He shrugs, clearly still upset, but fighting through it. “I run the place now.”

I swallow grief. “She always called me Sunshine.” I don’t know why I say that. It’s stupid. But that’s the first thing I think of for some reason. “Sorry, I…my condolences.”

He bobs his head once. “I’m just glad it was quick.”

“Me too.” I wasn’t particularly close to Miss Jolene, but she was always kind and had a good heart. I have no idea why Billy didn’t turn out nice like her. His father wasn’t around to ruin him, so I guess he did that on his own. “It’s good to see you, Billy.”

“Yeah, you too. Looks like Boston suits you.” He cocks his head like a predator. For a second it’s just us, the ghosts of teenagers who used to make out behind the cooler door. The memory makes me blush. I don’t know why. Strange the way time makes years feel like minutes.

Billy steps closer, voice dropping. “You visiting family alone? Or is there some Boston boyfriend I should know about?” The tilt of his smile is flirty, deliberate.

Heat crawls up my neck. I open my mouth, but that’s when Hunter drapes an arm over my shoulders—easy, confident, entirely possessive. His mahogany skin contrasts mine, and the warmth of his biceps against my neck feels like a shield. A heartbeat later, Gage’s hand settles on my hip from behind, thumb stroking absent circles. Theo casts a flirty smile my way from across the room.

Billy’s smile flattens as if he’s bitten a lemon. “These are your…friends?”

I glance at the guys. Hunter’s grin says,Your move, sweetheart.Gage’s hand slows to a stop, but doesn’t lift from my hip. A spark inside me catches. I’m tired of half-truths, tired of shrinking. The town will talk about me regardless of the truth, so I might as well have some fun with it.

I square my shoulders. “They’re my boyfriends.”

Billy’s shears hit the counter with a clang. “Boyfriends…plural.” He fumbles, cheeks flushing beet red. And then, it’s his fingerthat’s beet red. He cut himself when the shears dropped. “Dammit.” He scrambles for paper towels to tidy up.

“Where’s the first aid kit?” I ask, swinging around the counter to help.

“I’ve got it under control,” he grumbles as he pulls out the small white box. “You’re a customer, remember? They go on the other side of the counter.” He tries for a dry chuckle as he puts the bandage on his finger.

“Just wanted to help?—”

“And I’m all set,” he says through a tight expression. “You came for flowers for your mom, right?”

I nod, mouth dry. “Stargazers.”

“On it.” He heads for the back.

My pulse hammers with adrenaline. I can’t believe I said that. I can’t believe he cut himself. I’m never going to live this down.

Hunter’s grin goes ear to ear, and Gage’s husky laugh falls on the back of my neck. Even Theo smirks from across the room, shaking his head as he pretends that a pelican vase is the most interesting thing in the room. When Billy returns, he wraps the lilies too tightly, paper crinkling like firecrackers. Hunter whistles a jaunty tune. Gage thanks Billy with a nod so cool it borders on smug. Money changes hands, and we exit into sunshine that suddenly feels electric.

As soon as the shop door shuts, Hunter whoops, nearly toppling a chalkboard advertising “Half-Price Hydrangeas.” “That waspriceless!Billy looked like someone stuffed a Roman candle down his Dockers.”

My cheeks burn, but my laughter breaks free. “I can’t believe I said that.”

Gage’s chuckle rumbles. “Next time, give us at least a wink of warning before we claim the title. We could have said the wrong thing or played it wrong.”

“You’re right.” I squeeze his hand as we get to the car. “Thank you for backing me up.”

Theo, who’s been observing with bemused detachment, slides the lilies into the cargo area. “Can we presume the local information network will propagate that revelation by supper?”

I close my eyes and nod. “And my parents will probably interrogate me.”