24. Chapter 24

"You need to get out of my way, so I can make sure she's okay. I don't know what the hell is going on, but something isn't right here."

"Yeah, showing up with your fiancé to Posie's birthday wasn't right, and you know it. She may have had time to deal with things, but that doesn't mean she's handling it well or that it wouldn't fucking hurt her."

"I don't have a fiancé."

"You sure about that? That bitch in there, that was hanging off of you like a fucking accessory, sure did have a nice rock on her finger."

I rolled my eyes. "She bought that herself when that shit went down, and I agreed to marry her while we got evidence against her father. I've never given her a ring."

"Posie doesn't know that."

"Fuck!"

"Why in the hell would you even bring her?"

"I didn't. She followed me here because Jen invited her to come. I got the whole ‘She invited me because I'm family, too,' speech on the way into the bar. She literally met me outside, like she'd been lying in wait the whole time."

"Swear to God, if Evan doesn't kick Jen's ass to the curb, I'm going to find a nice little hole to bury her in. She used to be a cool chick, but ever since you announced the impending birth of your son, she's gone absolute bat-shit crazy about Posie being single and involved in Evan's life."

"Why? There's nothing going on between them, right?"

"Never," Michael was the one to announce that. "They're thick as thieves of the sibling variety."

"So, what's the problem?"

"Everyone knew about Posie's crush on you. I guess she figured since you were no longer an option that maybe Posie would turn her sights to the Carter brother she's closest to. Jen's a fucking idiot," Devon informed me.

I turned my attention from my brothers back to Posie only to find that she was gone. I pushed them aside and ran out but there was no sign of her anywhere.

"She won't read my emails anymore. You guys have to tell her what happened here tonight."

"Dude, your baby momma had her hands all over you in a possessive move that told Posie everything that ring on her finger didn't."

"It was all bullshit," I argued.

"You didn't push her away, Max. Not once did you correct her for touching you like that."

I hung my head. "Jen told me that Posie has been seeing someone and that he'd be here tonight. Fuck. I didn't push Beth away because she was fucking armor."

"Well, looks like you screwed the pooch there." My oldest brother shook his head. "After breaking that girl's heart, the least you could have done was leave the armor behind and manned up for her. After all the hurt she's suffered because of you, the least you could have done, even if she had a boyfriend here, was suck it up and take it the way she had to."

I hung my head as my shoulders drooped. He was right. My chest felt tight as my other brother dropped the other bomb on me.

"Looks like that guy, Wellington, took her home. She said she made it back safe and sound," Michael announced.

"Does she even know him?"

"He was an easy escape route. She checked in." Michael shrugged. "If something comes of it, then I'll thank the man for looking out for her. This was a shitty birthday for a girl who deserves so much more."

"Evan better make this shit right," Devon stated before heading back into the bar where he left his wife.

"Sorry you got pulled into the Jen drama," Michael offered as he clapped a hand down on my shoulder. "Wish things were different, man. I really do." He shook his head and seemed equal parts angry and resigned. "First time you actually make it home in forever and this is what it amounts to. I could kill Jen. Might just do it later."

"I'll bring the shovel," I murmured. I wasn't sure he heard since he just kept walking and the door shut behind him.

"Hey! There you are!" Beth called to me when I finally made it back inside with my brothers.

"Stop," I ordered. "I don't know why you're here, and from now on, if someone gives you an invitation to a family event, you will decline it because this isn't your fucking family. We might have a kid together, but you are nothing to me beyond being his mom. Pull some shit like that again, and I'll see what I can do to keep you from him altogether."