Embracing Easy (Miami Saints MC #6)

Chapter One

L exi

I sit in my car, staring at the entrance of the swanky hotel I just watched my fiancé walk into.

And oddly enough, the one thing that keeps going through my mind is if I am the one making a huge mistake being here.

I mean, do I really want to know what he’s doing here? Do I want to know why he lied to my face not half an hour ago when he told me he had to go out of town on a last-minute business trip?

My hand settles on my stomach, the uneasy feeling growing stronger because I already know the answer.

Yes.

I have to know the truth, or else it’s going to eat me alive.

John and I have been together for almost two years, and things were good—no, they were great—until they weren’t. Which happened about two-point-five seconds after he asked me to marry him and slid this obnoxiously large diamond on my left hand.

Glancing down at the offensive token, I sigh.

I’d almost convinced myself the things I was feeling were just pre-wedding jitters, all of it in my head.

News flash.

It’s not.

John is clearly up to something, and in my gut, I think I already know what it is.

There’s only one way to be sure.

Pulling in a slow breath to steady my nerves, I push open my door, heave myself out of my Honda, and shove the door closed behind me.

“Ready or not…”

It’s this mantra that keeps me moving on shaky legs through the sliding doors of the Camelot Resort.

As I glance around, wondering what I’m supposed to do next, the sound of soft music coming from the bar catches my attention.

The catchy beat lures me across the threshold, and that’s when I see him.

John is sitting in the back of the room with a beautiful blonde tucked into his side.

I freeze in my tracks. “Shit.”

I brace for the devastation that I know I’m supposed to feel, but it never comes. Instead, I just feel… nothing.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I should storm over there, scream, yell at him for being a snake in the grass. But I don’t— I can’t.

The longer I stand here watching them, the more it hits me how right the two of them look together.

I snort when the thing that does hit me, is how much they remind me of Ken and Malibu Barbie.

Tiptoeing out of their line of sight, I lean against the wall and cross my arms over my chest and stare at the two of them.

I can see it now.

The whispered comments John’s family made when they thought I couldn’t hear them. I was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, not the right pedigree for their precious John. They looked down on me for being raised by grandparents who were generational pig farmers. That alone made me unworthy in their eyes. I’d heard it all.

Standing up taller, I square my shoulders.

To hell with that.

I’m firm in my belief that they aren’t any better than me.

Or so you’d thought . The doubt whispers in my mind.

But now—looking at John with her—maybe they were right all along.

As if affirming my doubts, he smiles down at his companion.

He’s… happy. Really happy.

I smile sadly, realizing that it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that look on his face.

Right.

Pushing off the wall, I know I have to end this charade—end our engagement.

I skirt the tables that separate us and stop beside his booth and wait.

Still oblivious that he’s been caught, John whispers something in the pretty blonde’s ear, and she giggles. Okay, seriously. They’re too perfect and it’s kind of disgusting.

I clear my throat.

John’s head shoots up and his eyes widen comically.

“Fuck!” He yanks his arm away from Barbie as if it’ll change what I’ve already seen. “It’s not what you think, princess.”

Barbie’s head whips around so fast it’s a wonder she doesn’t give herself whiplash. “Princess?”

The high pitch of her voice is like a record scratching and I flinch.

Yikes. Looks like I’m not the only one he’s been playing for a fool.

“Out of town until tomorrow, huh?” I ask, surprisingly more annoyed that he lied to me than actually catching him doing… whatever it is he’s doing here.

“I…” His mouth flaps open and closed like a fish out of water.

“Yeah?”

“I… Alexis. Please, let me explain.” To his credit, he looks genuinely apologetic, although I’m not sure why.

Neither of us is happy.

I hold up my hand to stop him. There’s no reason for him to tell me any more lies.

“It’s okay, John,” I nod to the woman beside him with tears welling up in her eyes, “I can see that she makes you happy.”

John’s shocked face falls, showing the real regret that he feels.

“I’m so sorry, Alexis. I—” He drops his head.

I feel the first pang of hurt. Not because we’re over, but because I cared about him.

“I know.” And I do, but there’s still no way in hell I’m going to stick around here and hash out all the reasons this is a blessing in disguise.

Regardless of the way we’ve drifted apart, I would never have disrespected him by sleeping with someone else.

Cheating isn’t something I’m capable of, no matter what, and if he were a better man, he would have broken things off before he started things with Barbie.

Which is why it’s time to rip off the Band-Aid so we can both move on.

“Here.” I wiggle the ring off my finger and set it on the table in front of him.

His eyes go to the ring on the table, then back to me.

If he’s looking for the words to smooth things over, it’s pointless.

“I’ll be out of the condo by morning,” I add.

Barbie sniffles. “What’s happening?”

Bless her heart, at least she’s pretty.

Forcing a smile, I hold John’s stare as I squeeze her hand. “He’s all yours, honey.”

“What?” Yeah. She ain’t too bright. They’re perfect for each other.

Feeling like I’ve handled things with more grace than he deserves, I spin around and head back the way I came.

Too bad I don’t realize that my graceful exit is about to put a target on my back.