Torn Between The Carter Brothers

1: Meeting The Ex

Addison

“Addison, you made it!”

Marco, my ex of five years, whom | was still very much in love with— pulledinto a tight hug as soon as he

emerged from the large building | just arrived at, and | literally melted against him, my eyes fluttering close as |

clutched him tightly.

Warmth instantly coursed through my body and the entire world went silent like it usually does whenever he

hugged me.

Marco and | dated since highschool, but ended things right after | clocked twenty— | caught him in bed with

Aisha, a woman he always claimed was just his friend, then he asked to end the relationship withright after,

without reasons.

Five years later, he’s about to get married to that swoman, and | was attending as a guest, even though |

never got over him and still loved him with everything in me.

No, | wasn't here because | wanted to ruin the wedding. That would only reveal how pathetic | am this whole

time. | was here because now, Marco and | have somehow moved past the unexpected breakup and have

becgood friends, which is why it would be weird if | refuse to show up at his wedding.

His wedding is in five days, but | was here today because the couple’s close friends were invited five days earlier

so they could have one last fun together before the couple get married.

After a few seconds, my best friend's warnings to not dare act like | was still not over Marco, snapped through

my brain and my eyes flew open as | stiffened. At the stime, Marco broke the hug and grinned down at me,

and at once, butterflies danced around in my stomach as his excited gaze dragged over my face.

He was so handsand dreamy. With chocolate brown hair, matching brown eyes and chiseled cheekbones, he

haunted my thoughts throughout the day, and my dreams at night.

“Of course | did! Wouldn't miss my buddy's wedding for the world.” | breathed out as rehearsed with Gregg- my

best friend, but my voice lacked the enthusiasm and playfulness it was supposed to have. Instead, it even

cracked a little at the end.

| was really so pathetic.

Marco thankfully didn’t notice and huggedtightly again. Of course, | greedily soaked up the physical contact

while my heart fluttered again

This time, as the hug ended, his fiancée sauntered forward and pointedly pressed into his side while politely

sizingup, and | felt my heart combust when he draped a hand over her shoulder and pulled her closer.

Jealousy and anger licked at my insides as | stared at the sight before me.

Aisha.

| hated her so much, and | was sure she hatedeven more but only tolerateda little since | was now

Marco's ‘friend’.

She stole what belonged to me. | was with Marco when he had horrible braces and an average height. | deserved

him at his best now, not her.

But of course, | didn’t say that to her, instead, | forced my aching pain behind my mind, then | forced an excited

smile on as | spoke.

“Congratulations on your wedding!” | greeted her as cheerfully as | could in my jealous state.

Instead of responding, she scrunched her nose up.

“Where is your date?” She asked as she regardedalmost condescendingly through her perfect lashes.

Shit! | knew this was coming, | just didn’t expect her to ask so fast.

This wrench.

Marco glanced atlike he just noticed that | was alone, then he- he laughed with his head thrown back.

| awkwardly cleared my throat, ignoring the wave of hurt that coverany tMarco laughed at me,

because whenever he does, it was because he foundridiculous. | worked hard in the years after we stopped

dating, in order to level up so whenever he looked at me, he wouldn't see someone silly and ridiculous, but an

actual woman meant to be desired and yearned for.

“My date... something cup and he couldn't make it.” | half lied in a firm and confident voice, but my

confidence flattered at the amused expression on Marco's face, then | pstiffened when he laughed again.

“Did you even plan to cwith a date, hm? When was your last relationship? Ours?”

Ouch.

That was such a low blow, which hurt even more because it wasn't a lie. It was actually the truth. After my

relationship with him, since I never got over him, | was never able to get into another because | always

unconsciously compare everyone else to him.

| swallowed emptily, making sure nothing on my face was giving off how much | was hurting on the inside as |

spoke.

“I've dated a few times... but you know I'm always too busy to date.” | explained, but Marco only laughed again,

which infuriatedeven more— becausebeing single and lacking a date to attend his own wedding, is

technically his fault.

| was feeling more infuriated right now, because my initial plan was to avoid an encounter like this. | know that

to show everyone that I've gotten over Marco, | was supposed to show up with someone who's utterly obsessed

withlike I am with him.

And that’s exactly why | planned to cto this wedding with a fake boyfriend, but unfortunately for me, he

didn’t show up at the airport today... which is why I’m here alone, having a very mortifying confrontation.

Marco looked over at Aisha. “Remember that tAddison and | dated? She lovedso much, way more than |

loved her. Perhaps she’s yet to move on despite it being so, so long.” His animated voice made it clear that he

was just teasing, but | felt extremely embarrassed because all of that wasn't exactly a lie.

“That's not true! I've really gotten over you.” | argued vehemently, then | made a show of rolling my eyes.

“Seriously, it's been what? Five years? Who wouldn't be over their ex after this much time?” | drawled while

forcing out a laugh.

Aisha gavea skeptical look. “Last | remember, you were so in love with him, he stalked him for over a year.”

She pointed out as she gavea scalding once over.

Hot shwashed over me. That's a phase of my life that I've buried in the past, fuck her for daring to bring it

up.

Marco laughed while nodding. “Ah, you're right. She always showed up at every party we were at, it was actually

adorable.” He laughed again but Aisha scowled while shaking her head.

“No, it wasn't. It was annoying and creepy!” She muttered while glaring at me.

| let out a small sigh. She wasn’t lying. Right after my breakup with Marco, | stalked his socials and always made

sure to get an invite to any party he gets invited to back in uni, even though I hated parties.

“Those were just coincidences, and it's a school, of course we'd run into each other. It’s not a big deal.” |

defended but Marco clicked his tongue.

“Parties aren't your scene, which made the stalking obvious.”

I shook my head vehemently, hating how on the spot | was and also feeling extremely embarrassed for being

called out like this.

“Parties are my scenes once in a while, and | never stalked him. Why are you bringing this up now? Marco and |

are nothing but friends now and you know that.” | said to Aisha who huffed as she folded her arms.

“I just don’t want you to get any funny ideas, that is all.” She bit out, a pointed look on her face as she stared at

me.

| made a show of laughing as | waved her off. “Trust me, that’s never happening. | literally ship you and Marco

now. And besides, I'm sure my boyfriend will be here soon.”

I just lied. | didn’t know if Zane, my fake boyfriend would later show up. He was completely unreachable this

morning, and he left my calls and that of my best friend unanswered. We were supposed to fly here from LA

together, but he never showed up at the airport as planned.

Fucking bastard. If he knew he was gonna bail, why did he have to agree to this?

| should have known this plan wouldn't work out from the moment my best friend suggested it. He suggested |

attend the wedding with a date to avoid losing face, and he’s the one who also suggested | go with his friend

Zane, who owed him a favor.

Zane looked hot enough in the picture Gregg showed me, so | gave in. Zane also agreed to do it and we

exchanged contacts and exchanged a few words, then we agreed to meet for the first tat the airport today—

but he didn’t show up.

“Just, be sure to not try anything funny.” Aisha finally said just as Marco tugged her close and kissed her cheek,

and at once, my blood boiled at the sight.

“She's just here to support us, love.” Marco finally defendedand | resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

This was how it always was even back when we were dating.

Whenever Aisha criticized my outfit or appearance, it always took Marco a conveniently long tto defend me.

| should have known since then that they were more than friends.

But | was too stupid to see the truth till it all crashed around me.

Marco and Aisha finally turned away, leading the way into a ridiculously large building. It's on a tropical island

that Marco said now belongs to him after he inherited it from his father.

As | walked behind them, dragging my box along with me, a few excited hoots filled the air and | flinched a little,

startled by the sight of about ten faces— most of which | recognized, because they were friends of Marco since

our uni days.

They all cover to welcme, and as we all hugged, | had to suffer through another round of humiliation,

because long, knowing looks were being thrown by the guys between myself and Marco, cause they all knew

how much I loved Marco back then.

How mortifying. | wished the ground would open up and swallowup, especially when one of the guys named

Seb, suddenly said out loud.

“You're really here, Addison? Does this mean you're finally over Marco?”

“You know that’s impossible.” Eddie, a different buddy of Marco, crooned and they both crackled, while | tried not

to show how much their words madefeel so pathetic and stupid on the inside.

| glanced around, feeling a little relieved that Aisha wasn’t here presently— else she'd have undoubtedly

instantly joined in.

“Guys, guys... Addison is just here to support me.” Marco finally said, conveniently taking his tas usual.

“We were just teasing, even Addison could tell. Right, Ad?” Seb said, a teasing expression on as he glanced at

me.

| forced a chuckle out while nodding. “Of course, Seb. You look good, by the way.”

He grinned, soaking up the compliment.

“You look good too, compared to how horrible you looked back in uni! Who knew you could get this much of a

glow up?”

Ouch. His words stung hard.

“It’s not much of a difference, her wardrobe is yet to improve much, but she does look good.” Nathan, a different

friend of Marco pointed out as he sauntered in shirtless, his date hanging off his arm in a daring bikini.

Internally, | let out a long sigh.

Clearly, I didn’t think this through properly, cause it completely slipped my mind that they'd all be here. They

were all in a fraternity back then and clearly, they were all still used to being loud, unserious and silly when

around each other, even though they were now all grown ups.

Perhaps | really shouldn't have clike everyone in my life— including my mother, had suggested when they

heard whose wedding | was attending, because unfortunately for me, they're all aware that | was still not over

Marco despite how much | always deny it.

After asking to be shown to my room, | expected Marco to do it, hoping that we'd finally get sprivate time

together and | could get one more hug from him at least.

However, he absentmindedly asked one of his friends to do it.

As | trudged behind Theo, hiding my pain and scowl, | silently vowed to myself that | was gonna show them all

that I've indeed moved on, even without the help of a fake boyfriend, because |

As | trudged behind Theo, hiding my pain and scowl, | silently vowed to myself that | was gonna show them all

that I've indeed moved on, even without the help of a fake boyfriend, because | wasn’t betting on him showing

up.

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