Come What May (3 page)

“You’re huge,” he teased.

She looked down at her baggy shirt. “You can hardly tell.”

“If that’s what you think.” He rolled his eyes.

Scarlet looked at me, fear in her eyes. “Am I fat?”

I laughed. “Scarlet, he’s just teasing you. Of course you aren’t.”

“No, I’m not,” Ryan said.

S
he hit him on the shoulder. “Don’t be a jerk to your niece or nephew.”

“I’m not. I’m being a jerk to you.” He walked inside. “Where’s this maid? Is she hot?”

Scarlet rolled her eyes. “What about Janice?”

“What about her? I can’t check out the hot housemaid?”

We moved to the table and saw Olga add the finishing touches. When Ryan saw how old she was, he quickly took his seat with his eyes averted. She clearly wasn’t what he expected.

“If you don’t need anything else, Mrs. Preston, I’ll be heading out,” Olga said.

“Scarlet,” she said firmly. “ Call me Scarlet.”

Olga smiled but didn’t say anything.

“Thank you for everything. You can head home for the night.”

“Thank you,” Olga said.

She waved then grabbed her purse before she left.

Ryan already dug into the enchiladas she made. “Fuck. This shit is good.” He shoveled it into his mouth.

Scarlet eyed him but didn’t comment.

Ryan spoke again. “This is so much better than your cooking. Good thing you hired her.”

Scarlet gave him a look of hate. “Don’t be a jackass.”

He laughed. “I’m teasing. Geez, being pregnant makes you sensitive.”

Scarlet picked at her food. She didn’t have much of an appetite.

“Baby, eat,” I said firmly.

“She doesn’t want to admit Olga is a better cooker,” Ryan said.

“I know she is,” Scarlet said firmly. She moved her fork around her food.

I knew what was really bothering her. “Baby, you aren’t fat. You’re pregnant. It’s totally different.”

Ryan’s
eyes softened. “Scar, I was just kidding before. You aren’t fat.”

“Really?” she whispered.

“Yeah. You’re prettier than you usually are.”

She placed the fork in her mouth and took a bite.

Scarlet was used to being petite and small. She ate whatever she wanted and never gained weight. She never relied on her beauty or even thougth she was beautiful, but now she wasn’t comfortable with the change in her body. She never had a gut or any flab. When I told Scarlet she was beautiful, I wasn’t saying it to coax her ego. I was honestly more attracted to her than ever before.

After dinner, I took Ryan home. He offered to take a cab, but I’d rather drive him. Plus, it was an excuse to take my car out. Since I spent a quarter of a million dollars on it, I wanted to cruise in it as much as possible.

When I came home, Scarlet was already in bed. She wore one of my t-shirts and it covered her body until it reached her knees.

“Don’t let this get to you, baby.”

She put aside her kindle then turned off the lamp. “I can’t help it.”

I got in beside her then climbed over her. When I reached for the light, she grabbed my arm. “Just leave it off.”

“Baby…”

“Otherwise, we aren’t having sex.”

“You’re beautiful. You really think I would lie to you?”

“I know it’s stupid but I can’t help it. I’m just afraid you won’t be attracted to me anymore.”

I shook my head. “I’m excited for when you’re late in your pregnancy. That will be really hot.”

“You have an odd definition
of hot.”

“I found it when I looked up your name in the dictionary.” I rubbed my nose against hers then separated her legs. When I reached for the lamp, she stopped me.

“I mean it.”

I decided not to argue with her. If she
was that uncomfortable, I wouldn’t force her. I found the entrance between her legs and moved inside. She molded perfectly to my cock. This was home to me. Making love to my wife gave me the greatest sense of happiness. When she insisted she was fat and unattractive, I couldn’t fathom the possibility. She was so perfect and gorgeous. Why didn’t she see that?”

When we were finished, I snuggled beside her and pulled her to my chest. Our bodies were intertwined together, becoming a single entity. I never snuggled this much with my other partners, but I liked snuggling with her.

3

Cortland

We loved the house I bought. It was just ten minutes from Scarlet and Sean, but it wasn’t as big as their mansion. It was a quaint three-bedroom house with an expansive yard. We owned an acre of land so it was peaceful. Monnique immediately began to pamper the soil in preparation for spring.

Monnique liked her job at the hospital. Luckily, we both had the same shifts, so I would drop her off in the morning then pick her up after work. She insisted on taking a cab and that made me want to have a heart attack.

I admired Monnique for being so independent and strong. Women like that were hard to find. Even though her family didn’t have a lot of money, she put herself through college and made it on her own. I knew it gave her a sense of pride and accomplishment. And I would never take that away from her.

But she could be so stubborn.

I offered to buy her a car but she rejected me—harshly. When I asked if she would buy one herself, she said she hadn’t made up her mind on what kind of car she wanted. I was so desperate for her to have her own vehicle, I considered giving her mine and just taking the train.

But I didn’t need to ask her to know her answer.

I tried to forget about it and push it to the back of my mind. I still thought about her mysterious break-up with her ex, but I never asked her about it. I told her I wouldn’t and I kept my word. But damn, the mystery was killing me.

And I still had
to tell her about Scarlet. Ugh…I was dreading that.

Truthfully, I had no idea how she would react. I thought Ryan would be mad at Janice and break up with her, but instead, he was angry
with Scarlet. It was a twist I didn’t see coming.

Monnique was more emotion
al and headstrong. I knew she would be upset, but I didn’t know how much. Would she leave me? Would she stop being friends with Scarlet? Would she forgive me? Would she even care? It happened before I even knew Monnique. Why should it matter?

But I felt guilty. I had to tell her, especially before I proposed. I would be a total jackass if I didn’t.

I met Ryan for lunch. We went to a pizzeria close to both of our offices. I only got a
thirty minute lunch, even though it wouldn’t matter if I was late. That was one of the perks of being close with the owner of the company. But Ryan could do whatever he wanted.

“How’s the shop?” I asked.

“So busy.” He drank half his soda then shoved the slice into his mouth.

‘Th
en why are you here? Shouldn’t you be working?”

“Fuck no. I need to eat. If not, I’ll get lightheaded and accidently stab my needle in someone’s eye.”

I cringed. “Good point. Have you considered hiring someone?”

“I’m accepting applications now.”

“Wow,” I said. “That’s impressive.”

“I’m making way more here than I did in Seattle. It’s pretty crazy.”

“That’s awesome, man.”

“And when I tell girls
I’m from Seattle they automatically ask if I’ve been to a city called Forks.”

“Forks?”

He shrugged. “It’s a famous city from a book or something.”

I finished my plate then wiped the grease from my fingers. Two pretty girls walked inside, wearing sky-high heels and skinny jeans. They were clearly models. Ryan looked over his shoulder and I look too.

“Nice,” he said.

“Yeah.”

He turned back to me and finished off his soda.

I wasn’t immune to the charms of other women, but I didn’t think anyone could compete with Monnique. She was beautiful in an exotic way. Scarlet was the last white girl I’d ever be with. And Elizabeth was the plainest girl in the world.
When I looked back at the girls, they were eyeing me and Ryan.

“I think they are going to come over here,” I said sadly.

“Damn. It sucks being so sexy.”

“I know the feeling,” I said with a sigh.

“So, when do you want to pop the question?” he asked. “I’m thinking next weekend.”

“That’s pretty soon.”

“You having doubts?” Ryan asked.

“No,” I said immediately. “That’s just soon…”

He shook his head. “You haven’t told her yet. And now you’re on a time table.”

I didn’t justify that with a response.

“Just get it over with, Cortland.”

“Easy for you to say,” I said bitterly.

“What’s the big deal?” he said. “She’ll get over it. She may be mad for a while but it’s no reason to break up.”

“Monnique is different than Janice and Scarlet.
”

Ryan eyed me, studying my face. “She’s not that different. And she and Scarlet are close. Monnique wouldn’t ruin a friendship over something so stupid.” He glanced at the girl
s that checked us out a moment go then turned back to me. “Is there something else you’re worried about?”

Unfortunately, yes. “I pestered Monnique to tell me about her ex when she wanted me to respect her privacy. I feel hypocritical asking for information about her ex without being truthful about mine.”

“Scarlet isn’t your ex.”

I shrugged. “Monnique won’t see it that way.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Ryan said. “But you don’t have a choice, right? It’ll be far worse if she finds out in another way. Believe me.”

I rested my elbows on the table and thought about his words. He was right. I had to tell her the truth and get it over with. I just hoped she loved me enough
to stick around.

The two girls appeared at our table, their hair perfectly styled and lustrous. Their slim figures and busty chests were noticeable to any straight man. The brunette eyed us and smiled. “I’m Lisa, and this is Jenny.”

I looked at Ryan, silently asking him how he wanted to handle this. If Ryan were single, I knew he would fuck one, then fuck the other the next night. But those days were behind him. As were mine.

Ryan leaned back in his chair. “We’re gay.”

I tried not to laugh.

The disappointment covered their faces.

“Damn,” Lisa said. “Why are the hot ones always gay?”

Jenny sighed. “I know, right?”

They walked away and left us alone.

“Couldn’t we just say we aren’t interested?” I asked. “Why do we have to be gay?”

“What?” Ryan said. “I’m not good enough to be your boyfriend?”

I laughed. “You definitely aren’t my type.”

“Sure…”

“This just got weird.”

After I picked up Monnique from work, we came home and she made vegetable lasagna. The best thing about having a woman in the house was the sweet smell of dinner every night. And she was a phenomenal cook.

“How was your day?” she asked.

Her dark hair was pulled into
a loose bun on her head. I liked it when she wore her hair that way because she exposed her neck. It was slender and soft. It made the curve of her face more prominent. She was very petite, but very feminine in all the right places. “It was good.”

“And how was work?”

“Pretty uneventful.”

“Are you liking it?” she asked.

“Definitely. But work is still work.”

“How are Ryan and Sean?”

“Good,” I answered. “They made up.”

“That’s good.” She finished half her lasagna then pushed the plate away. She could never eat much.

“How was work?”

She smiled. “I had a patient insist on a sponge bath. And he was only there for three hours.”

I smiled. “I’d do the same.”

She rolled her eyes. “Men.”

You could stay home. Ugh
. “You can give me a sponge bath after dinner,” I teased.

“Or I can just give you head.”

My eyes widened. “That’s cool too.”

She chuckled then carried the plates to the sink. I stayed at the table, knowing what was coming next. I really didn’t want to do this. But I couldn’t put it off anymore.

Monnique finished the dishes then moved to the couch. “Baby, why are you way over there?”

I left my chair then moved to the co
uch beside her. As soon as I sat down, she got a look at my face.

“What’s wrong?” she blurted.

Stay strong.
“I have to tell you something.” I couldn’t look at her.

Monnique stared at me with wide eyes. I noticed her breathing picked up. The anxiety escaped her voice. “Okay…”

I kept my hands in my lap. “I should have told you this beforehand, but I didn’t see why it mattered. But now I realize keeping it from you was a mistake. And now I’m ready to come clean.”

“Cortland, you’re scaring me.”

“I don’t mean to…”

“What is it?”

I took a deep breath. “Long before we met, Scarlet and I…we slept together.”

Monnique didn’t react. She stared at me like she hadn’t heard me.

“She was depressed over Sean, and I was upset over Elizabeth. We hooked up but nothing ever came of it. Nothing else happened. We never had a relationship or considered it. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t see why it mattered. But I felt like I should…”

Monnique was silent.

I gave her a moment to process what I said.

“How many times?”

“Twice.” It seemed to be going well. She wasn’t yelling or storming out. She rose from her chair then paced the room.

“Let me get this straight…”

Shit.

“You hide this from me, that you slept with your best friend, who you see every damn day, but you have the audacity to interrogate m
e like a fucking terrorist. So much for telling me everything.” The venom was heavy in her voice.

“Baby…”

“Don’t baby me,” she snapped. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. This entire time I’ve been friends with a woman who fucked your brains out.” She shook her head.

“Nothing else happened between us. If we wanted to be together, we would have. It was purely physical, Monnique. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at me. Her eyes were dancing in poisonous flames. “Cortland, we’ve been together for a year and I know you pretty damn well. Don’t insult me like that again.”

What did she mean?

“You never sleep around. Scarlet meant something to you, didn’t she?”

Fuck.

“Didn’t she?”

She moved around the couch until she was standing directly in front of me. She didn’t flinch while she held my gaze. “You were in love with her.”

I didn’t know what to do. Should I lie? I couldn’t do that to her. “Key word: was. All that changed the moment I set eyes on you. I knew you were the woman I wanted.”

“Don’t st
roke my ego, Cortland.”

“I mean it!”

“The only reason you ended up with me was because you couldn’t get the person you really wanted.” The moisture built up in her eyes. “She was in love with Sean so you gave up.”

I hated seeing the pain on her face. “I did have feelings for Scarlet. I admit it. But when I saw how much she loved Sean, those feelings went away. I knew she and I would never work because Sean was the man she was meant to be. And I knew I was destined for someone else.”

Her face was unreadable. “I can’t believe I moved all the way here for you…”

My heart exploded. “What?”

“I’m done with you.”

I jumped from the couch. “Monnique, wait. Listen to me.”

The tears fell down her face. “This whole time I thought I was the love of your life, the only one you really wanted. You told me I made your heart beat like no one else ever did. And this entire time Scarlet has been there, the girl you really wanted. I’m just a rebound, a poor excuse to distract you from Scarlet.”

“God, you have that totally wrong.”

She turned away from me.

I grabbed her arm. “Monnique, I swear on anything and everything that means anything to me. You are the love of my life. I want you, only you, every day for the rest of my life. I don’t see Scarlet in any other way than a friend.”

She wouldn’t look at me. The tears fell.

“I’m thankful Scarlet and I didn’t work out. Monnique, you are more than what I dreamed of. As soon as we met, my heart was yours. You snatched it and put
it in your pocket. After our second date, I told Scarlet I already fell in love with you. Ask her. She’ll tell you. No one questions my love for you. It’s just you. No one else.”

She yanked her arm away. “I don’t even know you anymore…you wouldn’t let my ex go, but you kept this back the entire time. You should have told me the truth from the beginning. This was a mistake.” She sniffed then wiped her eyes.

“Please don’t say that to me…” I felt my eyes bubble with tears. I hated seeing her in pain, and I hated the words she was stabbing me with.