Come What May (6 page)

“I’ve been thinking about everything and I realized I made a huge mistake.” The remorse was in her eyes. “You were so wonderful and I—”

“I don’t care, Penelope. I don’t give a shit. I’m glad it happened. Now I ended up with Scarlet, the love of my life. Our conversation is over. Now get the fuck out of here.”

Her eyes widened in fright. She was speechless.

Scarlet was almost here. She couldn’t only see the back of Penelope’s head, but I knew she suspected it was she. The flames danced in her eyes, about to explode like Hiroshima.

Fuck.

Penelope stared at the frustration on my face. “I don’t understand why you’re acting this way. I’m just trying to—”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Scarlet reached me then glared at Penelope, giving her a look more frightening than the reaper. “I told you to stay away from my husband. What part didn’t you understand?”

Penelope automatically stepped back, caught off guard by Scarlet’s presence.

“Why do you keep popping up everywhere?” Scarlet yelled. Other guests in the restaurant looked at us, eyeing the confrontation. “Just get out of our lives and stay there. You missed your chance with Sean and now he’s mine. Mine.”

I smiled while I listened to Scarlet. I liked the feisty side of her. She was normally so calm and tame but now she was a blown gasket. She got into Penelope’s face, not backing down. “Now get away from us, tramp.”

That p
issed off Penelope. “Excuse me? You’re just his sloppy seconds, his rebound when he lost me. We both know Sean loved me in a way he’ll never love you. There’s no argument about that.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,”
Scarlet yelled. She held up her hang, showing her wedding ring. “He married me, not you.”

“Out of loneliness.”

This was getting bad. They were going to pull each other’s hair in a second.

I grabbed Scarlet’s arm and pulled her back gently. “Just let it go. She isn’t worth our time.”

Penelope eyed her. “Did your gym membership expire?”

Scarlet glared at her. “I’m pregnant, you idiot.”

Penelope’s eyes widened.

“That’s right. We have a beautiful mansion in Connecticut where we’ll raise our kids. You’ll be stuck here, a single mom
that has no one who gives shit about her.”

“You fucking bitch.” Penelope stepped toward Scarlet and raised her arm, ready to slap her across the face.

I snatched her by the wrist then shoved her back. “Don’t even think about touching my wife.” I couldn’t see my face but I knew it was red and marked with lines of hate. Penelope just crossed a line that could never be uncrossed. Words were just words, but trying to hurt Scarlet was unacceptable. “Touch her again and I’ll fucking kill you.”

Penelope massaged her wrist, looking at me like a hurt puppy. Her eyes watered like I really hurt her. But I knew my ferocity scared her. Anytime I raised my voice in the past, she ran away in tears.

“Stay away from my husband,” Scarlet snapped. “I mean it.”

I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the table. Everyone stared at us as we left, sad the confrontation was over. Scarlet’s arm was shaking in my hand. I knew how pissed she was. I didn’t blame her.

When we got outside, we walked down the sidewalk toward Central Park. My arm hooked around her waist, holding her close to me. Scarlet was quiet, the fury escaping her body silently.

I didn’t know what she was thinking, but I decided to leave her in peace.

“I hope we never see her again,” Scarlet said.

“We won’t,” I said firmly.

Scarlet leaned into me, her face moving to my shoulder.

“Please don’t believe all the garbage she said.”

“What?” Scarlet asked.

“About you being a rebound.”

“I don’t,” she said simply. “How could I?”

That was music to my ears. The moment finally arrived. I really was vindicated for all my previous crimes. She finally knew she was the real love of my life, the woman who had my heart in a way no one else ever did. Penelope was just a mistake. Scarlet was the real deal,
my everything. I knew Scarlet always felt inferior to Penelope, like I didn’t love her as much. I’m glad those days were over. I worked my ass of to get here, and I was glad all the work paid off. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered.  She suddenly chuckled. “I liked the way you pushed her. The look on her face was priceless.”

“I don’t touch women like that, but it’s a different ballgame when they are trying to hurt you, my pregnant wife.”

“I know.” She squeezed me tightly. “I’m so glad Penelope cheated on you.”

I smiled. “I am too.”

“You make me so happy.”

My heart melted at her words. “And I’ll make you happy for the rest of my life.” For the first time, Penelope didn’t pull us apart. Somehow, she pushed us closer together. Scarlet and I were an unbreakable team.

When we arrived at the ice cream shop, Scarlet ordered an entire sundae by herself. It was definitely a two-person dessert but I didn’t comment on it. She ordered extra nuts and whipped cream. When they handed it to her, her eyes lit up like Christmas morning. In that moment, I fell more in love with her than I ever
had. The simple things in life always made her happy, like an ice cream cone at the park. She didn’t care about money, mansions, the car I bought her, the maid. She just loved being with me, doing something so ordinary.

We sat on the park bench and ate our ice cream in silence. I got a single scoop in a cone because I had a strict diet. Scarlet loved my body and I didn’t want that to change. I finished before her and watched her eat the rest of her waffle cone sundae. It was the most expensive ice cream she’s ever ordered but she ate the whole damn thing.

“God, that was so damn good.”

I laughed. “It looked like you enjoyed it.”

She moaned again.

The sound made my arousal come forth. “I wish you got excited for me like that.”

“You should cover yourself in whip cream then.”

“Okay. I will. Eat me like a sundae.”

She chuckled then stood up to throw her trash away.

“I got it.” I took it from her than tossed it in the garbage.

When I came back to her, she had a grateful look in her eyes. “You’re always so sweet to me.”

I placed my hand on her stomach. “Well, you’ve giving me the greatest gift in the world. I should do something in return.”

“You always do something in return.” She rubbed her nose against mine. “You’re the best husband in the world, and I want you to know how much I appreciate you.”

My heart melted into a puddle at her feet.  She’s said a lot of sweet things to me, but that hit me the hardest. I always tried to make her happy, and I was glad I succeeded. “Thank
you. And you’re the best wife in the world.”

“You’re only saying that because you love my tits so much.”

I smirked. “That might have something to do with it…”

“It has everything to do with it.”

There was a lot more to my obsession with her, but she knew that. Words were unnecessary.

We stared at each other while we sat under the oak tree we used to sit under every day when we were just friends. Even though it was dark, I could see the light in her eyes. A slight smirk was on her lips, and the happiness glowed on her face. Somehow, inexplicably, I fell in love with her all over again.

6

Ryan

I leaned against the white Infiniti while I waited for Monnique to get off work. The underground parking garage was deserted, but that made me more nervous. There wasn’t security or anyone around.

She finally walked out the doors, wearing her s
crubs and her purse. Her hair was pulled back and two diamond earrings were in the earlobes. She searched for her keys in her purse while she walked to Cortland’s car. She wasn’t paying attention to anything around her. She didn’t even notice me.

When she reached the car, she looked up and spotted me. She took a deep breath. “God, you scared me.”

I didn’t say anything.

“What are you doing here?”

“Making sure you get to your car safely.”

“Why?” she asked suspiciously.

“You know why.”

She looked uncomfortable at my words. She adjusted her purse for no particular reason.

“Cortland wanted to make sure you got to your car safely.” I looked straight into her face. “Because that’s the kind of guy he is.” I let the words linger in the air a long time, reverberating off the concrete walls.

Monnique kept her silence.

“You’re not going to find another guy like him. And he’s head-over-heels in love with you. Just work it out with him.”

Monnique wouldn’t look at me. “Ryan, just stay out of it.”

“No,” I snapped. “Cortland doesn’t deserve this. He’s done everything for you. You’re really going to throw him away because he didn’t tell you he slept with Scarlet a year ago, before he even knew you? That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard.” I didn’t mean to sound so angry but I couldn’t help it.

“You don’t know the whole story.”

“Then tell me.” I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the car.

“He was in love with Scarlet. That changes everything.”

What? “He said that?”

“Yeah. Like you didn’t know.”

I didn’t. But I didn’t say that.

“I’m a rebound to him. And he sees her everyday. It’s just not going to work…”

“You got that totally wrong. Scarlet was a rebound from Elizabeth. Then he met you and fell in love. Secondly, you really think something is going to happen between them again? My sister is married to the love of her life, and she’s fucking pregnant. And there’s no doubt that Cortland doesn’t see her like that. He’s in love with you—just you.”

“And I bet he’s sleeping with Scarlet every night he’s over there,” she said bitterly.

“Knock it off.” My voice boomed loud in my ears.

She wouldn’t meet my gaze.

“Are you five?” I asked incredulously.

She star
ted to get mad. “Can you honestly tell me you would be perfectly fine if Janice told you she used to be in love with Sean? While she fucked him?”

The idea made me sick to my stomach.
“It would hurt, make me feel like shit, but no, I wouldn’t leave her. That girl could do anything to me and it wouldn’t change the way I feel about her. Because I love her. And I know you love Cortland. Lying about Scarlet is the one bad thing he did. Let it go. Look at all the wonderful things he does for you. The guy even makes me look bad. Come on, Monnique.”

She shook her head. “I appreciate what you’re doing for Cortland, but stay out of it.”

“No. He’s the greatest guy I know. He doesn’t deserve this. I’ve never seen him happier than he is with you. I can’t let this happen to him.”

She reached for the door then pushed me away. “I’ve listened to you. You can repeat yourself again but it’s not going to change anything.” She got inside and tried to shut the door.

I held it open. “You can’t leave.”

“I’m going back home when my two weeks is over. There’s nothing for me here.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Ryan, I’m sorry…”

“You’re going to regret this, Monnique. And by then, it might be too late.”

“So be
it,” she said sadly. She waited for me to step back so she could close the door. I took a deep breath and forced myself to move away from her. I hated myself for not convincing her to stay with Cortland. My friend’s happiness depended on it.

I went to Scarlet’s house to see Cortland. He wasn’t very open about his emotions but I knew he didn’t want to be alone right now. Janice missed me since I wasn’t around much, but she understood.

Cortland was sitting on the couch, doing absolutely nothing, when I walked inside.

“Hey,” I said. “Let’s play ball.”

He shrugged. “I don’t want to.”

I grabbed two beers from the refrigerator and sat on the couch next to him. I handed him the bottle and took it without drinking it. He felt the condensation on the bottle and stared at the label, not reading it. “Did you walk her to her car?” His voice was so low, he was whispering.

“Yeah.”

“Is she…doing okay?”

I nodded.

“God, I miss her.”

I didn’t know what to say.

He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “I don’t know what to do. I knew she would be upset but…she actually left me. It’s been days and she hasn’t called me.”

“She told
me you were in love with Scarlet at one point.”

He didn’t look at me.

“That’s true?”

“Yeah.” His voice was quiet. “I wanted to be something more but I knew she loved Sean. I kept my feelings to myself. But I swear they disappeared when I laid eyes on Monnique. From that moment on, she was the only woman in my heart.”

I nodded. “I understand why Monnique is upset, but I think she’s still being unfair.”

“I don’t care what she’s being. I just want her back.” He put the beer on the table then leaned back on the couch. I knew the conversation was over. “You don’t have to stay with me. I know you have other things to do.”

“I know, Cortland.” I turned on the TV and flipped the channels until I found a basketball game. We didn’t speak for the next hour.

Fin
ally, Cortland cleared his throat. “Thanks…”

“I’m always here for you, man.”

We fell silent again.

Sean and Scarlet came through the door, both laughing. They clearly had a good time. When Scarlet saw Cortland on the couch, she came to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“You doing okay?”

“I’m fine,” he said with a strong voice.

When I looked at the way Scarlet held Cortland, I realized she had no idea how Cortland really felt about her a year ago. I thought it was best if it stayed that way.

“Did you have a good time?” he asked.

“We saw that dumb bitch Penelope.”

“What?” I said. “Does that girl ever go away?”

Sean shook his head. “It’s like she has a GPS on me.”

“What happened?” Cortland asked.

“I told her to stay away from my husband,” Scarlet said firmly. “And threatened to beat the shit out of her.”

Cortland
and I both laughed loudly.

Scarlet narrowed her eyes. “What?”

“I’m sorry,” I said as I continued to laugh. “I can’t see you ‘beating the shit’ out of anyone.”

Sean laughed too.

“Well, I meant it,” she said firmly. “I’m tired of her bothering Sean. And when she tried to hit me, Sean pushed her. So she did get a little action.”

“S
he tried to hit you even though you’re pregnant?” I asked incredulously.

“Well, I said some pretty mean things.”

Sean stared at Scarlet. “It was pretty hot. I liked seeing her fight for me.”

I eyed the grocery bag he was holding. “Get more beers?”

“Uh…” Sean glanced at the bag then looked away. “Just some stuff.”

I studied him then looked at the bag again. It was cheap and easy to see through. “Whip cream?” I raised an eyebrow.

Scarlet blushed.

Then I realized what was going on. “
Eww.”

“
There’s cherries too.” Scarlet winked at Sean.

“Okay,” I said. “This is getting gross.”

Cortland laughed. “This is tame compared to what they normally do—even at work.”

Scarlet glared at Sean. “You told him!”

Sean shrugged. “It may have came up at lunch.”

She shook her head, still angry. “You’re unbelievable.”

“What?” Sean said. “It’s not like I showed him anything.”

“It sounded pretty hot,” Cortland said.

“No whip cream for you,” Scarlet said as she stormed up the stairs.

“That’s what you think.” Sean followed her.

Cortland returned to his somber mood as soon as they were gone. I wanted to cheer him up but I couldn’t think of anything to say or do.

Cortland leaned back and sighed. “It’s nice not being alone.”

I nodded. “I know.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Yeah.”