Love Hurts (14 page)

Scarlet glared at him.

Mike looked at Sean. “I’ll please your woman when you’re too tired.”

“I’m this close to ripping your face off,” Sean snapped.

Cassandra patted her arm. “Now we can go through this together.”

“I know,” Scarlet said. “I’m so excited.”

Champagne was brought out and we celebrated the announcement. Sean and Scarlet deserved this moment and I wasn’t going to spoil it, even if the woman I loathed sat across from me. I felt her stare at me a few times but I never met the look. I never spoke to her and she never spoke to me. And I was just fine with that.

14

Scarlet

I couldn’t believe it finally happened. I knew that night on the beach was memorable. Even then, I knew we made a baby. I was so happy and so excited that I could barely sit still. Nine months was too long. I just wanted it to pass.

Sean was even more in the mood than he used to be. Knowing I was pregnant set him on fire. He was more aroused than ever before, not that I minded. He made love to me slow and gentle, just the way I liked. And believe me, his dick was not small.

Sean asked me to stay home and not visit him for lunch anymore. Even though I wanted to argue with him, I let it be. I knew he wanted to limit my stress as much as possible, and even though it went against what I believed in, I did as he asked. I didn’t want to lose my baby again. So instead of working in my office, I stayed in bed.

Sean made me breakfast every morning and put it on a tray.
I was never allowed to leave the bed and he insisted on taking care of everything. When he was so sweet and thoughtful, I couldn’t be upset with him.

He made sure I had everything I needed before he went to work. “Do you need anything else before I leave?”

“No, I’m okay.”

He picked up a bag and placed some books on the bed. “I thought you might like these. The store clerk recommended them.”

“Thank you.”

He ran his finger
s through my hair and massaged my shoulders. “If you need Olga, just text her and she’ll be right up.”

“Okay.”

He kissed my forehead then pulled down the blankets to kiss my stomach. “Have a good day. Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

He gave me a firm look. “I mean anything. Even if it’s just a tub of ice cream you want.”

I smiled. “I’ll let you know.”

He kissed my hand. I could tell he didn’t want to leave me. “When you’re in your last trimester, I’ll stay home with you.”

“Not necessary—”

“I’ve already decided.”

I knew I shouldn’t fight with him. “Okay.”

He kissed me again. “Have a good day.”

“I will.”
Not really. Laying bed all day sounded horrible
. At least Sean would be home in a few hours. He’d spend all night with me, entertaining me and making me laugh.

“Bye, baby.” He kissed my stomach again then left.

After I worked for a few hours, I started thinking about Cortland. He and I hadn’t discussed Monnique since the night he had his break down. She was
at the dinner a few nights ago, but she wasn’t talkative and neither was Cortland. I decided to call him. It rang but he didn’t answer. Then I remembered he was at work. Not everyone lay in bed all day like I did.

Olga knocked on my door. “You have a guest.”

“I do?”
Who the hell was it?

“Miss Monnique.”

“Oh.” That was a surprise. “Could you send her up please?”

“Certainly.” She left and Monnique walked through the door a moment later.

“Hey,” I said. “What a lovely surprise.”

She smiled, but it was forced. “I came by to give this to you. I wasn’t sure when I would have another chance.” She sat on the edge of the bed and opened a bag. “This is ginger. My mom used to take it when she was pregnant with me. She said it helped with the nausea.”

“Thank you. That was thoughtful.”

She pulled out a onesie
. “I couldn’t help it. I thought this was cute.”

“It is cute. Thank you.” I took it and held it to my chest.

“And there games and books for you.” She put it on the bed beside me and sighed. She looked like she was trying not to cry.

“Monnique, what’s wrong?”

She took a deep breath. “I’m not having a good day. I just wanted to bring this by before I left.”

Left? “Where are you going?”

“Seattle.”

“Like, permanently?”

“No. I’ll be gone for a few weeks though.” Her lip quivered and she tried not to cry.

I knew Cortland ended it with her. “I’m so sorry…” I rubbed her back.
“I’ll talk to Cortland. I haven’t had a chance.”

“Cortland?” She sniffed. “Oh. This has nothing to do with him. He doesn’t want to be with me anymore and I accept that. I’ve let him go. He deserves someone better.”

What? “I’m confused. Then why are you leaving?”

She covered her face for a moment and took a deep breath. She was preparing herself for the words. “My father passed away…”

The words hit me like a brick wall. “What? When? How?”

“Last night.” She wiped her tears away. “He had a heart attack. That’s all I know. I’m flying out tomorrow. That was the earliest flight I could get.”

I held her in my arms and rocked her back and forth. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s all my fault. I left him to be with Cortland even though I knew he was depressed and drinking. If I were there, none of this would have happened.” She sniffed again.

“Don’t say that, Monnique. Sometimes things just happen.”

She pulled away and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be stressing you out.”

“No,” I said immediately. “I’m glad you told me.”

She stood up then brushed more tears away. “I should go.”

“Does Cortland know?” I blurted.

“No. He wouldn’t care either.”

“Yes, he would,” I said firmly.

The light was gone from her eyes. “You didn’t see him, Scar. You didn’t hear him. He’s done with me.” She headed to the door. “I’ll call you when I get a chance, okay?”

I hated seeing the pain in her eyes. I knew she really hurt Cortland, but her apologies seemed sincere. She was a different person now, the girl I used to know. And I hated to see her suffer. “Okay.”

“Bye.” She walked out and shut the door behind her.

What do I do? Do I tell Cortland?
I had to. I knew Cortland better than he knew himself. I knew he would want to know. He could act like he hated her and wanted nothing to do with her, but I knew that wasn’t true. Even though it would piss off Sean, I grabbed my keys and left the house.

When I arrived at the office, I tried to dodge Sean as much as possible. Since he and Cortland worked on the same floor, I knew that would be hard. I kept my head down and maneuvered toward his office.

“Scar?”

Damn.

“Mike?” I turned and looked at him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, wearing a black suit.

“I need to talk to Cortland.” I looked down the hall to make sure Sean wasn’t around. “Please don’t tell my husband I’m here.”

He shrugged. “That guy can smell your pussy from a mile away.”

I hit his shoulder. “I’m serious. I’ll leave as soon as I’m done. I don’t want him t
o pull that Neanderthal shit on me.”

He rolled his eyes. “We just care, Scar. And you’re asking me to lie to my brother, my flesh and blood.”

“Please.”

He smiled. “Sure. I hate that asshole anyway.”

Sean appeared down the hall. Judging the look on his face, he already knew I was in the building.

Fuck.

He marched to me. “Why are you here? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just need to talk to Cortland. It’s important.”

“Why didn’t you just call him?” he snapped.

“He didn’t answer,” I hissed.

“Then you should have called me.”

“I don’t have time for this.” I held up my hand. “After I talk to him, I’ll go home
and stay there.”

Sean glared at me. “You said you would stay home. Are you going to keep lying to me?”

Mike stepped away. “I have a call to make…”

“No,” I snapped. “It’ll just take a minute. Like I said, it’s important.”

“What’s it about?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll tell you later. I don’t have time right now.”

Sean looked pissed but he held back his anger since he was working. “Come by my office before you leave. I’ll walk you out.”

“How did you even know I was here?”

“Your security card shows a flag on my computer. That way I’ll know whenever you’re in the building and where you are.”

“God, you’re fucking crazy.”

“What? I just want to know where my wife is.”

“At least you can’t smell my pussy a mile away.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“I’ll just talk to you later, okay?”

“Come to my office,” he said firmly.

“Fine. Whatever.” I turned away before he could get another word in. I loved him like crazy, but man, I fucking hated him too.

I barged into Cortland’s office without knocking. He was sitting at his computer.

He stood up. “Scar, what’s wrong?”

“I need to talk to you about Monnique.”

His face changed. “I have no interest in talking about her. You should go.”

I ignored him. “She came to my house an hour ago in tears.”

“Am I supposed to care?”

“Her dad passed away,” I snapped.

He stilled then looked into my eyes. His voice completely changed. The cold ice of his words was gone. Concern moved into his eyes. The brightness in his eyes was gone. It was full of black. “What…?”

“He had a heart attack last night. Monnique is flying out tomorrow to prepare the funeral. Cortland…she’s devastated.”

“Why didn’t she tell me?”

“She said you hated her.”

He sat down then rested his face in his hands. “I don’t hate her.”

“Are you going to go to her?” I knew his answer before he said it.

He grabbed his bag then logged out of his computer. “Of course I am.”

“Cortland, stop wasting time and just be with her, especially now.”

“I…I don’t have time to think about that right now. She needs me. I have to go.” He left the office without saying goodbye to me. I watched h
im go, hoping that some good would come from the despair.

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