Chapter 14
DOMINIC
“What the hell is that noise?”
August’s voice cuts through the morning mist of my dreams. I feel Phoebe’s warm, soft body glued to mine.
I need a moment to remember where I am. The Hamptons. The Coates Palace, what we call our summer house. I glance around, content that I didn’t dream the past eighteen hours of lovemaking, swimming, feasting, followed by more lovemaking.
Delight fills my heart as I watch Phoebe’s chest swell with each even breath.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
“It’s the front door,” I mutter, the sound finally reaching my ears with unpleasant clarity. “I’ll get it,” I add and slowly get up, leaving Theo to keep our woman warm while August and I make our way downstairs.
The sun shines through, bright and eager to get the day started. Outside, I catch glimpses of the harbor with its shimmering blue water. It’s a clear day for sailing and an idea pops into my head. We have a boat. I’d love to see Phoebe stretched out like a siren, catching some rays while we sail.
“Ugh, we should’ve pulled all the blinds,” August grumbles, scratching his stubble as we reach the ground floor. “Who the fuck is it?”
We stop by the security panel first, where a screen gives us a clear view of the front porch. My stomach drops while my blood pressure spikes at the sight of Matthew.
August seems just as annoyed. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
As if summoned by our double outrage, Theo joins us.
“She’s waking up. What’s going on?” he asks, looking at the screen with equal irritation. “No. Come on. What the fuck.”
Matthew’s mouth is moving. I unmute the microphone fitted with the doorbell cam.
“Guys, open up,” Matthew says. “Please.”
“I should just throw him out in the ocean and be done with it,” I mumble.
August snorts. “We’ve got great lawyers, brother, but murder is still murder. What possessed him to come all the way up here?”
“I saw you on Twitter,” Matthew says. “I saw the photo by the pool. Phoebe was in the background and I recognized your place. Come on, guys, this has gone way over the line. We need to talk.”
Theo had posted a few clips and photos from yesterday. Candid shots by the pool. Pictures of fun cocktails we created. A video of our sizzling barbecue. Phoebe was featured prominently in some of the posts, but not with any particular intention. She’s a part of our lives now.
“This isn’t right, fellas.” Matthew keeps talking, ringing the fucking doorbell to the point where I might just snap and break his fingers. “Taking another man’s woman is not cool. We need a resolution here.”
Theo laughs, almost hysterically. “Wait, what did he just say?”
“Who is it?” Phoebe asks as she gingerly descends the stairs.
The three of us remain still, watching her. She’s wrapped in a pale blue robe, her honey-blonde hair falling over one shoulder like a glorious, cascading mess. Her smile is soft, her eyes curious, her lips slightly plumper after yesterday’s activities.
“Matthew,” I calmly reply.
The blood drains from her face as she stares at the doorbell screen. “No.”
“I’m afraid so. He’s out there groveling,” Theo says, trying hard to remain serious and miserably failing. “I’m sorry, it’s just so pathetic.”
“I can see that,” she replies. “What possessed him to do something so stupid?”
“No clue. Should we let him yammer on for a little while longer before we throw him off the property?” I ask.
“What’s he saying?”
August sighs and turns the volume up.
“Come on, guys! August! Dominic! Theo! Phoebe! I know you’re in there. We need to talk,” Matthew keeps saying. “Please. I need to apologize. I need to make this right. It’s gotten way out of hand. Baby, I’m begging you!”
“He’s begging me,” Phoebe says, one eyebrow raised.
I don’t see any pain in her eyes. Only contempt and maybe a hint of anger. Her lips twist in genuine disgust, and it gives me a sense of relief. Whatever attachment she felt to this man is long gone. It fills me with a newfound sort of pride, of joy.
She’s ours.
Now, we just need to make sure nobody else gets between us. Including the worm currently soiling our front porch.
I’m just about to go out, but Phoebe gently stops me. “It’s my turn,” she says. “You’ve done so much already. Allow me.”
“You’re not going out there alone,” August tells her.
She gives him a sweet, playful smile. “I know. Don’t put any clothes on.”
Only then do I remember we’re naked. I see where Phoebe is going with this, and it makes me grin like the fucking devil.
“After you, darling,” I tell her.
She walks over to the door and unlocks it, swinging it wide open as I stand behind her, joined by August and Theo in all our naked glory. As soon as Matthew sees her, he lights up like the sun.
“Phoebe, baby…” his voice trails off as soon as he sees us, hung and grinning like absolute bastards.
“Hey, there, sport,” Theo quips.
“What the fuck is this?” Matthew gasps, eyes wide with horror. He’s trying not to look at us, working so hard to stay focused on Phoebe.
I raise my chin slowly. “I think the better question to ask is why the fuck are you here, Matthew.”
“What are you doing, Dom? What’s your endgame?” he hisses, rage twisting his features into fury mingled with disgust.
“No endgame. We’re busy. Take a hike,” August replies.
“You’re not welcome here,” Phoebe tells him. “You ended it. I started something else.”
“Phoebe—”
“You upgraded, right? That’s what you said in that photo,” she cuts him off. “Seriously, fuck off, Matthew. You had your chance. Like August said, we’re busy.”
“You’re busy.”
The hate in his eyes is raw. I wonder if Phoebe sees it or if she’s mistaking it for anger.
This man never loved her. All he ever wanted was to possess her.
To use her for her money. It’s clear now, and it makes my blood boil.
He despises her because he knows he screwed any chance of ever getting her back.
“We’re busy taking care of what you never could,” August tells him.
Matthew’s nostrils flare, his eyes narrowing as he takes a couple of steps back. “Don’t do something you’re going to regret later, Phoebe.”
Theo holds up his phone, filming. I don’t disagree with his endeavor, particularly in this day and age where social media can make or break an entire business, let alone one man.
“The only thing I regret was not leaving you when you first started pressuring me about losing weight after all the times you said it was my curves that made me so appealing to you,” Phoebe responds.
“I was stupid, okay? I was shallow. I get that, now. But it’s not me anymore. We just need to talk about it. Face to face,” Matthew insists. “I need to apologize to you properly. And you need to admit your own fault in this, too.”
“And there it is,” August mutters.
“Butt out, August,” Matthew shoots back.
“All I ever did was try to please you, Matthew,” Phoebe says.
“I gave you my body, my soul, my time, my energy, my heart. You had my undivided love and attention. I was ready to walk down the aisle and take you as my husband, in the eyes of God, our friends, our family. And then you decided to dump me in a fucking group chat. The whole world read it. You embarrassed me in a way that can never be erased or forgiven. Go be with your upgrade and leave me the hell alone.”
Matthew slowly shakes his head. “They got to you.”
“You still think this wasn’t my decision,” she chuckles dryly.
“Matthew, you screwed up. Royally. Then you rubbed salt in the wound. You think I’m supposed to be pliable and forgiving?
For what? For you to waltz back into my life and badger me into getting a personal trainer or a personal chef?
Because that’s what you said the last time you brought it up.
I get none of that when I’m with Dominic, August, and Theo.
“They accept me as I am, giving me peace and affection. Respect and adoration,” she adds.
“If I want to drop a few pounds, I will. But either way, they still want me. They want to get to know me, to be with me. You, on the other hand, prefer a magazine cover type of girl, which I definitely am not. So for the love of God, quit making a fool of yourself and just walk away. Don’t make me shut this door in your face. ”
Theo is still filming, a devilish grin dancing on his lips.
“This isn’t over,” Matthew says.
Phoebe slams the door shut. “Go to hell,” she mutters.
“Well done,” Theo replies, then leaves the phone on a nearby side table and takes her in his arms. August and I move in, the three of us wrapping around her, skin on skin and heart to heart. “You were spectacular, Phoebe.”
“It still hurts,” she shudders in our embrace.
“Healing takes time,” I whisper in her ear.
Moments pass in the sweetest silence while I imagine Matthew trudging down the steps and back to his car, hopefully driving as far away from us as possible.
I regret the chances we gave him. The slips we overlooked.
The aspects of his character we hoped would get better if he built himself a good relationship with Phoebe. That was a flop, from beginning to end.
I’ll be damned if I’ll let anyone hurt her like that, ever again.
This woman thinks she isn’t lovable when she is love incarnate.
We spend the rest of our day by the pool, swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying seafood from a nearby restaurant that delivers.
Thoughts hang over Phoebe as she rests in a chaise lounge by the water beneath the cover of a massive umbrella, a shadow of concern pulling her brows together.
“You’re worried about something,” I say, refilling her glass with iced tea.
“The video,” Phoebe says. “I don’t know if posting it online to antagonize him was a good idea.”
I look over to where August and Theo are engaged in another backstroke competition—par for the course when we’re in the Hamptons.
“Reactions have worked in our favor so far,” I remind her.
“He’s got a pretty big following, though,” she replies. “Crystal and Georgina have weighed in, as well. Not in your favor.”