Edge of Love (32 page)

Cortland shook his head. “That’s still
really weird. That would be like Ryan asking how Scarlet’s tits
looked.”

I sighed. “Okay. This is getting
weird.”

Cortland laughed. “It’s been
weird.”

“
Anyway,” Janice said.
“Back to you and Sean.”

“
Yeah,” I said.

“
If you don’t like it,
then don’t do it again.”

“
I did like it,” I said.
“It was just a little uncomfortable.”

“
It takes a few times,”
Janice said. “It’ll get better.”

“
I know Sean really likes
it.”

“
How?” Janice
asked.

“
Because it was over so
quickly. Normally he lasts for a long time.”

Cortland nodded. “It’s hard to control
yourself. Don’t even get me started on Monnique. Her ass—there are
no words.”

I laughed. “Does she like
it?”

“
Not at first,” he said.
“She does now, but only if I’m slow.”

“
Well, you’re a lot to
handle,” I said.

He smiled. “Thanks.”

“
Speaking of which,”
Janice said. “Has Sean talked to you, Cortland?”

“
Not since he came to my
apartment,” he answered.

I sighed. “Sean says he doesn’t have a
problem with Cortland. He doesn’t care if I spend time with
him.”

“
Well, that’s good,”
Janice said. “I’m surprised he’s being so mature about
it.”

“
But he doesn’t like him,”
I added.

Cortland sighed. “I figured it.
Hopefully it changes.”

“
It won’t,” I said. “I
know Sean. He’ll never change his mind. Not even when we’re
married.”

“
Maybe I should talk to
him?” Cortland said.

“
No,” I said quickly.
“Just let it be.”

Ryan came out of the hallway still
putting on his shirt. “Morning,” he said as he grabbed a cup of
coffee.

“
Hey, maid of honor,” I
said.

He shook his head. “Don’t call me
that.”

I laughed. “Okay,” I said. “But I need
your help picking center pieces.” I was only kidding, but I loved
teasing him.

He sighed. “So the torture begins.
Does that mean I have to throw a bachelorette party for you with
penis ice cubes, blow job shots, and streamers and all that
bullshit?”

Janice laughed. “You seem like you
already have it planned out.”

He glared at her. “Shut up,
baby.”

She crossed her arms over her chest
and leaned back. When Ryan caught her look, he abandoned his coffee
and walked over to her.

“
I’m sorry, baby,” he said
as he kissed her. “I didn’t mean that.”

“
No anal for
you.”

He smiled. “You can’t blackmail me
like that.”

“
I just did.”

“
I have the same power as
you do.” His eyes twinkled.

“
Okay,” she said. “I
forgive you.”

He kissed her. “Thank you, baby. Did I
mention that you look damn fine today?”

She smiled. “I already forgave
you.”

“
Well, I’m saying it
because I mean it.” He kissed her on the cheek then returned to his
coffee. He took a seat next to me at the table then grabbed the
newspaper. “What were you guys talking about?”

“
My bridal shower,” I said
with a smile.

He sighed. “It gets worse.”

I laughed. “It’ll be fine.”

“
No,” he said. “I can’t
even hook up with a cute bridesmaid because I’m taken.” Janice
glared at him. “Not that I care or anything,” he said
quickly.

I laughed again. “I’m just kidding,
Ryan. We aren’t doing any of that.”

“
What?” Janice said. “What
about a bachelorette party?”

“
No,” I said. “It would
just be you and me and that’s lame.”

“
You don’t have any other
friends?” she asked. “That’s sad.”

I shook my head. “I have friends, but
they all live in Boston.”

“
Didn’t you go to high
school here?” Janice asked.

“
I didn’t keep in touch
with my school friends,” I answered.

Ryan laughed. “In conclusion, my
sister is a loser.”

I threw a Cheerio at him. “Shut
up.”

He shrugged. “I’m just saying.” He
opened the newspaper and looked at the sports section. “What were
you guys talking about before I walked in?”

“
Uh,” I said
awkwardly.

“
Sex,” Janice
said.

“
Ooh,” Ryan said with a
smile. “I like that topic.”

Janice smiled. “We were talking about
Sean and Scarlet having sex.”

He made a disgusted face.
“Nevermind.”

She laughed. “You know what Ryan likes
to do most in the bedroom?”

Ryan stared at her. “Do you think this
is appropriate for the breakfast table?”

She rolled her eyes and ignored them.
“He likes making love.”

“
What?” Cortland said.
“You’re full of it. If Ryan said that, he’s a liar.”

I found that really hard to believe.
“Ryan? The man who took the virginity of all of
Seattle?”

She smiled. “It’s true.”

Ryan avoided our gaze and read the
paper.

“
Did he tell you that?” I
asked?

“
So inappropriate,” Ryan
mumbled.

Janice shook her head. “No, but I can
tell. He definitely prefers being romantic than just fucking. He
tries to act like he’s a macho man and all that junk, but he’s
nothing like that.”

Cortland laughed. “I still don’t
believe that.”

“
It’s really sweet,”
Janice said.

“
Sean and I are about half
and half.”

Cortland looked at Ryan. “Is that
true, man?”

He continued to look at his paper. “I
never made love before. I enjoy it. Not that it’s any of your
business.”

Janice smiled. “See?”

I smiled. “That’s actually really
sweet.”

Ryan ignored us. “Whatever.” He folded
the paper. “Since we are talking about personal bedroom crap, it’s
time for me to reveal a bedroom secret about Janice.”

I laughed. “This can’t be
good.”

Ryan continued. “She loves it when I
go down on her. She asks me to do it almost every day.”

Janice shrugged. “So? You like it,
right?’

Her lack of embarrassment made me
smile.

Ryan smiled. “Hell yeah,
baby.”

“
Okay then.” She
smiled.

Cortland stared at Ryan. “You don’t
like getting head more than making love?”

Ryan shrugged. “I love getting head,
but I love making love more.”

Janice shrugged. “Or maybe I’m
terrible at it.”

“
Definitey not,” Ryan said
quickly.

“
We’re so weird,” I said
suddenly. Everyone looked at me. “I mean really. We
are.”

Cortland shrugged. “Yeah.”

Janice shook her head. “I think we’re
mature. We can talk about sex like normal adults.”

Ryan nodded. “How is sex different
than kissing, sports, or working? It’s something we all do and
enjoy.”

“
Weren’t you just
embarrassed a second ago?” I asked.

“
Well, Janice was putting
me on display, making me look like a girl. First, I’m a maid of
honor, and now everyone knows I love making love to my girlfriend
more than getting head.”

Janice rose from her chair then sat in
his lap. She ran her fingers through his hair then kissed him. “I
love you the way you are.”

He smiled. “Good. I love you too,
baby.”

She kissed him again.

Even though they were gross, they were
also really cute.

There was a knock on the door then
Sean opened it and came into the room. When he came inside, he
stopped and looked at all of us sitting at the table. His eyes
landed on Cortland for a long moment then he looked away.
“Hey.”

Ryan couldn’t speak because he was
kissing Janice, so he waved instead. Janice didn’t acknowledge him
at all. Sean stared at them for a moment as he took his seat next
to me. He didn’t acknowledge Cortland at all. It was very
awkward.

I kissed him on the cheek then rested
my hand on his thigh. “Good morning.”

“
Not really,” he
said.

“
What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Why are you so cranky?”

“
You weren’t there when I
woke up.” He had pain in his eyes. I wasn’t sure why that was such
a big deal. Obviously, I hadn’t packed my bags and stormed
out.

“
I didn’t mean to offend
you, babe.”

He sighed. “I—I just thought that you
were mad at me.”

“
Why would I
be?”

He lowered his voice. “Because of what
we did last night.”

Janice broke their kiss. “You mean
when you had anal sex?”

Sean rolled his eyes. “Do you have to
tell them every little thing?”

I grabbed his face and kissed him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it bothered you.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t. I’m
just in a bad mood.”

“
Well, I’m not angry,
Sean.”

“
I didn’t hurt you?” he
asked.

“
No,” I said. “And I want
to do it again.”

He sighed. “I was so worried that I
hurt you or something.”

I grabbed his face. “I promised that I
wouldn’t run away again. Remember?”

He nodded. “You’re right. I’m
sorry.”

I kissed him. “Good. You should
be.”

He laughed. “Don’t get carried
away.”

I nodded at Cortland. “He says he and
Monnique enjoy it.”

Sean looked away and acted like
Cortland didn’t exist.

Cortland sighed. “Sean, how’s the job
hunt been going?”

Sean ignored him.

I leaned closer to Sean. “Don’t be
rude.”

He glared at me then looked at
Cortland. “Talk to me again and I’ll beat the shit out of
you.”

Cortland leaned back and averted his
gaze.

“
Don’t talk to him like
that, Sean. That was completely inappropriate.”

“
Then tell him not to
speak to me,” he said.

“
I don’t want it to be
this way,” I whispered.

He didn’t meet my gaze. “I never said
you had to stop talking to him. But you can’t make me act like I
don’t dislike the guy. He took advantage of you when you were
depressed then he fucked you without wearing anything. You’re mine,
Scarlet. How would you feel if I made you talk to
Penelope?”

“
That isn’t the same
thing.”

“
Yes, it is. She used me,
and Cortland used you. It’s the same thing. You shouldn’t waste
your time, Scarlet. I won’t change my mind. I don’t like that
fucker and I never will.”

I glared at him. “This is a very ugly
color on you.”

He returned my look. “I warned you
beforehand.”

“
Do this for me,” I
whispered.

“
No.”

“
Sean—”

“
I said no.” He rose from
the table and was about to storm out.

“
What did we promise each
other?”

He stopped immediately and came back
to the table. “I was going back to the apartment. If you want to
talk to me, that’s where I’ll be.”

“
Please stay.”

“
No.”

“
Please.” I felt the tears
bubble under my eyes. I wanted us to be normal again. I hated this
anger between Sean and Cortland.

His eyes softened when he looked at
me. “Okay, babe. Calm down.” He sat beside me then wrapped his arm
around my shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“
It’s okay,” I
whispered.

He kissed my forehead.

Cortland stared at his
coffee.

Ryan cleared his throat. “So, how’s
the job hunt going anyway?”

Sean looked at him. “I haven’t
looked.”

Ryan nodded. “You deserve some time
off.”

“
I told him to stay at
home with me,” I said.

Sean shook his head. “No.”

“
It would be fun,” I
said.

Ryan shook his head. “I would go crazy
if I was stuck with you all day.”

“
What if you stayed home
with Janice?”

He smiled. “Well, that’s different for
obvious reasons.” He ran his hand down her back as she sat on his
lap.

“
I just don’t understand
why you need to work if we don’t need the money?” I asked.
“Especially if you don’t care about your job?”