Again and Again (10 page)

13

Cortland

I wanted to bring Scarlet something to cheer her up but I couldn’t think of anything. So I decided to bring her a pizza with two tickets to the Yankees game. I knew she loved baseball. We could get her mind off the travesty.

We all took my car to the house, all the presents and balloons blocking my rearview mirror.

Ryan sat in the passenger seat. He was still pretty upset about the whole thing, even a week later. A bottle of Crown Royale sat on his lap.

“Do you think that gift is appropriate?” Mike asked.

“You don’t know my sister like I do,” Ryan said simply. “She loves getting drunk. And I suspect she’ll be doing it a lot for the next month.” There was a bitterness to his voice. Janice clapped him on the shoulder then sat back.

“Is Monnique going to be there?” Mike asked. I knew the question was directed at me.

“I don’t know,” I said defensively. “Why would I?”

Ryan eyed me. “I heard through the grapevine you two made out.”

I turned around and glared at Janice then turned back around.

“What?” Janice said. “I tell Ryan everything.”

“Monnique didn’t need to tell you that,” I snapped.

“Well, I’m the only friend she has right now,” Janice said.

Ryan glared at me. “Dude, what the hell are you doing?”

Mike smiled. “Ooh…I feel a friends with benefits relationship coming on. Those are the best.”

Cassandra narrowed her eyes at him

“Second to being madly in love in a committed relationship…” He winked at her.

Ryan continued to glare at me. “What the fuck does this mean? Are you getting back together?”

“No. I don’t know. No.” I didn’t know what the hell was going on.

“You don’t know?” Ryan asked with an eyebrow raised.

“It just happened,” I said defensively. “I was depressed about Scarlet…She was depressed. I don’t know.”

“I’ll kick your ass if you get back together with that maneater,” Ryan said.

“Ryan!” Janice glared at him from the backseat. “Stop being a walking soap opera and mind your own damn business.” She hit him upside the head.

Mike laughed.

Ryan turned around and glared at her. “You’re lucky I don’t hit women.”

“You don’t hit me because you’re wrapped around my finger, Ryan. Don’t act like you would do anything different than Cortland.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “In fact, you would take me back the moment I arrived on your doorstep, so stop telling Cortland how to handle his own relationship.”

“W
hy don’t you be quiet and let me talk to my friend?” Ryan snapped.

“I will if you stop being an ass.”

If we were at their apartment, we could walk out and let them fight in peace. But in the car, we couldn’t escape.

“When we get to Scarlet’s, I’m going to teach you a lesson,” she threatened. “I’ll bring you to your knees and make you realize just how weak and pathetic you are.”

Ryan turned back around then looked at me. “In all seriousness, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know... I honestly don’t.”

“Then maybe you should stop kissing her,” Ryan said simply.

“It happened one time.”

“You want my advice?” Ryan asked. “If you really don’t want to get back together with her, you need to cut her off. Don’t see her anymore. And when you do, don’t talk to her—if that’s what you want.”

“I don’t know what I want. When I’m with her I just want to forget about everything and be happy. But I still…hurt. And that makes me doubt everything all over again.”

“I think you could do a lot better,” Ryan said. “You should get laid and you’ll realize you don’t need her. You’re just horny and alone.”

Janice shook her head. “Could you be any trashier?”

“Shut up,” he said. “This is how guys talk. There’s no reading between the lines. We say exactly how it is. I’m only sweet to you because I’m fucking you.”

“And because you love me.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Ryan said.

Mike laughed. “You guys are the weirdest couple in the world.”

“We express ourselves a little differently,” Janice said. “But I assure you, Ryan’s a huge pussy when we’re alone.”

Ryan shook his head but didn’t retaliate.

“I’m a pussy with Cassandra,” Mike admitted with a shrug. “It’s not so bad.”

Cassandra smiled at him fondly.

“Actually, it’s pretty nice,” Mike said. “I don’t have to be a tough guy all the time. I love having a girlfriend. And it’s nice having pussy every night.”

I cringed. “Too much info, man.”

“Like you don’t think the same thing,” Mike said.

I did. I missed that closeness with Monnique. I could open up to her and tell her everything
I could never tell anyone else.

We pulled up to the house and pulled out the pile of gifts we stuffed into my car. Balloons, flowers, presents—everything. It looked like we were going to a birthday party.

I opened the door and walked inside. We all had keys so we never knocked. Fortunately, Sean and Scarlet didn’t have sex downstairs. That was something no one wanted to see.

“We’re here,” I announced.

Scarlet came from the kitchen, wearing a dark green dress. Her stomach was gone, and she looked exactly as she had before the pregnancy. The sight broke my heart. I knew Scarlet was still heartbroken, even a week later. I could see it in her eyes. She smiled and tried to keep a brave face on.

“Hey, everyone,” she said.

Ryan moved to her first and hugged her tightly. He rested his chin on her head and held her. She closed her eyes while her brother held her. I could tell she was trying not to cry.

“You look good,” he said.

“Thanks…”

“For once, you aren’t ugly.”

She chuckled. “It’s a miracle.”

“I’m glad you’re finally using my blender.”

She nodded.

“I hope Sean likes fat chicks,” he teased.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not fat.”

Ryan was the only one who knew how to make her feel better instantly. He teased her, even said mean things, but it somehow tamed her emotions. It was like they were synced through their minds. Ryan pulled away and kissed her forehead.

“I love you,” he whispered. “And I’m so sorry about what happened.”

“I love you too.”

“It’s going to be alright,” he said. “You got all of us, your own army.”

“I know,” she said with a
small smile.

Sean came behind her but stayed back, letting her embrace her family.

Ryan pulled away then pulled a box out of his pocket. “I got you something.”

She eyed the box. “You didn’t have to get me anything…”

“Shut up,” he said with a smile. “I know you want it.” He handed it to her.

She ripped the wrapping off then opened the box. A white gold necklace was inside. She picked it up and examined
it. Small charms were along the chain. She examined each one. Each pendant had each of our names, and there was a final one that said, “Baby Preston.”

Ryan cleared his throat. “I know it will happen for you guys eventually…”

Scarlet’s eyes watered. “My family…”

“You got a big one.” Ryan’s eyes watered too.

“Thank you so much.”  She hugged him and closed her eyes, a few tears escaping.

I got choked up just watching it. Their sibling relationship was always a tearjerker.

She pulled away and put the necklace on. All the pendants fell to the center, displaying each of our names. I noticed Monnique’s name was there as well.

Ryan stepped away then embraced Sean with a hug.

Janice stepped up next, holding a box. “I’m so sorry, girl.”

“I know,” Scarlet said with a nod.

They hugged for a moment before Janice pulled away and handed her the box. “Something to make you feel better.”

Scarlet smiled. “You guys didn’t have to buy me things.”

Mike shook the balloons. “Too bad.”

She smiled then opened the gift. She pulled out a silk black dress. It was
form-fitting and backless. “It’s gorgeous. I know Sean will like it.”

Sean winked. “Oh yeah.”

“You deserve to feel gorgeous,” Janice said.

Scarlet put it back in the box. “Thank you so much.”

Mike came next with the dozen balloons. “I think flowers are lame. They die then you have to throw them away…not exactly ecologically friendly.”

Scarlet nodded. “Good point.”

“But these will last, like, a week.”

“And take up the entire house,” she said with a laugh.

“But you can take them wherever you go and you’ll know I love you,” Mike said with a smile.

“That’s a very good point.” She pulled him into a hug.

Mike took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry, Scar. You don’t deserve this.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “We’ll get through it.”

He kissed her forehead. “I know you will.” He pulled away, letting me carry the pizza to her.

“I know you liked food.” I didn’t know what else to say. What words could possibly make her feel better? She lost the most important thing in the world. A pizza and heartfelt words wouldn’t erase her pain.

She smiled. “I do love food.” She opened the box and peeked inside. “A combination with artichoke hearts. You did good.” She closed it then handed it to Sean.

I pulled the tickets out of my wallet. “I thought we could go this weekend.”

She looked at the tickets and smiled. “Wow. The Yankees versus the Mariners? This is going to be good.”

“I think we should make it interesting.”

“Hell yeah.” She seemed genuinely excited. I’m glad I could make her smile, just for an instant. She hugged me. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I love you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered.

“Who’s ready for a milkshake?” Sean asked.

“They better be as good as MegaShake,” Ryan said. “I bought that blender from them.”

“I don’t think it’s the blender,” Scarlet said. “It’s the products.”

“Well, it would be a bitch to ship ice cream here,” Ryan said.

The front door opened and Monnique came inside. “Sorry I’m late,” she said. She wore dark jeans and a black cardigan. Her curves and features were still highlighted, but she looked classy. A golden bracelet covered her wrist—the one I got her. Every time I looked at her, she had this effect on me. I always stared at her, hypnotized by her beauty. I wish I didn’t want her so much.

“It’s okay,” Scarlet said. “We’re glad you’re here.”

Monnique hugged her tightly. “You doing okay?”

“Sean has been taking care of me.”

“Of course he is,” she whispered. “You need anything?”

“No. We’ll get through this.”

“I know you will.” Monnique pulled away and patted her shoulder. “You know I’m always here if you need something.”

“I do.”

I was glad Monnique and Scarlet
were back to normal. Living together for a month was bound to push them together. Scarlet never tried to sway me to get back together with her or move on. She let me make that decision on my own. It was a big difference from Ryan’s venomous hatred for her. When I glanced at Ryan, he was in the kitchen alone, totally ignoring Monnique.

Monnique handed her a box. “I hope you get a kick out of this.”

Scarlet eyed it warily. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“Just open it,” she said excitedly.

Scarlet opened the box and revealed a stack of lingerie and sex toys. Her face turned bright red.

“It’s for the next time you guys are trying.” Monnique winked at her.

Scarlet laughed. “Sean will love this.”

He came next to her and looked in the box. “I like what I see.” He picked up a black ensemble. “I really like what I see.”

Scarlet rolled her eyes.

“Monnique is the winner for the best gift.”

“What?” Ryan came back into the living room. “I got her a family necklace, and that beats some stupid lingerie.”

Damn, he was taking this seriously.

Janice grabbed his arm and pulled him in the hallway. I had a feeling he was going to get slapped hard.

Monnique’s smile
disappeared.

“Just ignore him,” Scarlet said firmly. “He’s just stressed about everything.”

Monnique nodded but didn’t say anything. I knew she was hurt by the look on her face. When Scarlet walked away, I swooped in.

“I’m sorry about Ryan. I’ve told him to knock it off many times.”

“I know,” she whispered.

Standing across from her made me think of the kiss we shared. We hadn’t talked since it happened. I didn’t know what to say. I had a slip up. I shouldn’t have pressed my lips to hers.