Page 231 of Vexatious Queen

“No, money is a gift, that’s just annoying,” Marcus said, and we all laughed.

As we picked up our cards, Paul sighed and took off his glasses before he hit me with a look.

“I want you all to know that I hate holding secrets,” Paul said. “I hate being the one who knows everything and can’t save anyone from it. Time after time, it happens, and it cuts deep.”

Emmett squinted at him.

“Do you have any secrets about me?”

Paul smirked.

Emmett groaned.

“I knew it. Prick. I don’t want to know. It’s like finding out what day you’re going to die, that’s all I’ll be able to think about.”

Ethan leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

“Did you know about my affair with Megan, and that Lip was mine?”

Paul didn’t answer, just gave him a flat, apologetic expression. No words needed.

Ethan swore and drained his glass.

“Any about me,” Marcus asked.

“Only that you like to sing in the shower, read mystery novels, and hate beer,” Paul said, which, to the best of my knowledge, were all true. “Oh…and I know where the six children are that you fathered.”

Marcus spat his drink back into his glass, choking.

“Six kids? What the fuck?”

Paul laughed hard, and we all did the same.

“You’re all assholes, making me think I had six kids. My dick just jumped off my body and ran out the door.”

We laughed harder, and this was exactly what was needed.

“How the hell do you know about the other stuff? Do you slink around my room when I’m in the shower?”

Paul smirked and organized his cards, not providing an answer.

“You’re a fucking freak.”

Marcus pointed, then stood to get more chips from the side table.

All eyes turned to me next, and I shrugged.

“I’ve lived my life assuming Paul knows everything about me, most of which I’ve told him,” I said. “But the love of my life not being dead?” I laughed once, the sound broken. “That’s an all-new low.”

No one disagreed.

“I know, my friend, but I couldn’t,” Paul said, grabbing my shoulder.

“I know. I know how the game works,” I said.

“I would take that,” Ethan said, and we all looked at him. “I’d rather Ella be alive than for her to really be gone. But I held her hand, and I saw the light leave her eyes as she said she loved me. I’d do anything for her to storm through the door right now and yell at me.”

We stayed quiet, letting him have this moment. Emmett grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. Ethan’s eyes lifted to mine.