by E. L. Todd
She didn’t say anything.
I tried to turn her around but she wouldn’t budge.
“Scarlet, I wouldn’t lie to you. Nothing happened.”
She finally looked at me. The tears streamed down her face. “You aren’t lying to me?”
I shook my head. “No. I would never.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “You aren’t going to run away from me?”
“No.”
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“You were going to tell me the truth?”
I knew she thought I was a hypocrite, but I really wasn’t. I was going to tell her the truth when I quit. She was never going to tell me the truth about Cortland. And I didn’t sleep with Maria. I walked away from her then opened my briefcase. I grabbed the letter and showed it to her. She took it with shaky hands and read it. It was my resignation.
She looked at me. “You didn’t tell them about Maria.”
“I hate her, but I don’t want her to get fired.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
I took the letter back and returned it to my case. “I would never work somewhere where someone was trying to sleep with me the entire time. I couldn’t’ stand it if the situation was reversed.”
“Thank you.”
I nodded.
“I guess I should go.”
“Scarlet?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for not running from me.”
‘Yeah,” she said. “I meant what I said, Sean. No more running.”
“I believe you.”
She started to cry again. “I want to come home. Let me come home, Sean.”
I closed my eyes. This was unbearable. “I know. It will be over soon.”
‘What more do you need to think about?”
“I just can’t be around you and Cortland and act like I’m not pissed. Just give me some time, Scar. That’s all I’m asking for.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I understand your frustration. Some woman just showed up to my apartment to have sex with me. I know you’re scared.”
“No, I’m not. I trust you.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
She walked to the front door and opened it. “Bye.”
“Bye, Scar.”
She stopped and looked at me. “Sean, why haven’t you asked what happened with Cortland? You don’t even know the whole story.”
I sighed. “I’m not ready to hear it, Scar.”
22
Scarlet
When I arrived at the basketball court, Ryan and Cortland were making shots in the hoop. Janice stood there with her hands on her hips, looking stunning.
Ryan looked at me before he made his shot. “It didn’t go well, huh?”
I shrugged. “Yes and no.”
Cortland grabbed the ball and dribbled it. “It either did or it didn’t. Did he ask about us?”
“No, he said he isn’t ready to hear the story,” I said.
Cortland nodded. “I guess I can understand that.”
“So what happened?” Janice asked.
I sighed. “Well, I apologized to him and he accepted my apology.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like it went well, then.”
I shook my head. “And then some gorgeous woman came over and asked him to go to coffee.”
Cortland dropped the ball, and Ryan’s mouth fell open.
Janice was the first one to speak. “What?”
Ryan walked toward me. “What happened?”
I stepped back. “Sean and I already talked about it. Nothing happened between them.”
Ryan was livid. “Then why the fuck does she know where he lives?”
I took another step back. “They shared a cab one night.”
Cortland shook his head. “I bet they did.”
I held my hands up, trying to calm them down. “I trust Sean. I know nothing happened.”
Ryan shook his head. “So, this whore has been trying to fuck him for a while?”
“Apparently,” I said.
“And he didn’t mention this?” Ryan asked.
“He told me today.”
“Because he got caught,” Cortland said.
“No, he showed me his resignation letter. He’s quitting on Monday and then he was going to tell me.”
Ryan stared at me. “I’m sorry, but isn’t this the same shit you did to him but now he’s doing it to you?”
“Not really—”
“Yes really!” Ryan clenched his fists. “This girl has been trying to get with him, but he didn’t say a word to you?”
I sighed. “But he was going to tell me. With Cortland, I was never going to say anything.”
Ryan started to walk away.
I watched him leave. “Where the hell are you going?”
“I’m going to talk to that fucker!”
I ran to him and pulled him back. “I trust Sean. I know he isn’t lying to me. And let us work out our problems. Before that woman came, we made a lot of progress. I think it’s going to be fine between us.”
“No,” he said. “He doesn’t fuck my sister in the middle of the night, then go out to coffee with some whore and not mention it to you. I’ll settle this.”
“No, Ryan.”
He jerked my arm away. “Let go, Scarlet.”
“Sean and I can work it out.”
He looked back at me. “Obviously you can’t. Every time you take a step forward, you take five steps back. One problem develops after another. I’m going to settle this, Scar.”
“It’s none of your business, Ryan.”
He glared at me. “Yes it is.” He stepped away from me then waved down a cab on the street. He jumped inside before I could get in another word. Janice and Cortland stood next to me and said nothing for a long moment.
Cortland sighed. “I feel bad for Sean right now.”
Janice nodded. “I do, too.”
“He didn’t cheat on me,” I said.
Janice looked at me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I said. “I know he wouldn’t do that.”
“I don’t think he would either,” Cortland said.
“Thank you,” I said.
He sighed. “But in light of recent events, I don’t know, Scar. You guys haven’t been okay in a while. Maybe he had a slip up.”
I sighed. The idea was unthinkable. I wouldn’t be able to go on if it was true. “No, he wouldn’t do that. He would never hurt me like that.”
Janice wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “I hope you’re right.”
“And what does Ryan plan on doing?” I asked. “Torturing the truth out of him?”
Cortland shook his head. “I really don’t know. I hope it doesn’t come to blows.”
“Why is everything so messed up?” I said.
Cortland grabbed me and wrapped his arms around me. I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes. Being with him somehow made me feel better. Other than Sean and Ryan, he was my closest friend. I was closer to him than I was to Janice. If Sean told me I couldn’t see him anymore, I don’t know what I would do. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him close to me.
He leaned toward my ear. “Do you wanna go to Mega-Shake and get your mind off of it?”
“Nothing will get my mind off of it,” I whispered.
“Do you want to go home, then?” he asked.
“I want to move back in with Sean.”
He sighed. “I know. I’m sorry this is happening.”
“It’s not your fault, Cortland.”
“I shouldn’t have slept with you to begin with.”
“Even though it’s ruined things with Sean, I wouldn’t go back and change it.”
“Really? Why?”
&nbs
p; “Because now you’re one of my closest friends.”
He held me tighter. “I love you too, Scar.”
Janice patted my shoulder. “Let’s go home. I suspect that’s where Ryan will go when he’s done screaming at Sean.”
I sighed. “You’re right. Let’s go.”
23
Sean
As soon as I heard the pounding on my front door, I knew Ryan had decided to pay me a visit. I suspected that Scarlet would explain the whole thing, but Ryan didn’t believe my innocence, apparently. I turned off the television and opened the door.
He marched into my apartment and slammed the door behind him. His eyes were wide open and they shot out sparks when they looked at me. He was furious. I tried to remain calm so he wouldn’t yell, but I knew it was inevitable.
“ARE YOU FUCKING WITH MY SISTER?”
“No, I love Scarlet. I would never betray her, Ryan.”
“Then why is this prostitute coming to your front door? I find it odd that she knows exactly where you live.” He stepped closer to me and I stepped away. I knew he was going to punch me, but I wanted to be out of the way when that fist came at my face.
“After the office went out last night, she and I shared a cab. The driver dropped me off first.”
“That’s fucking bullshit and you know it!”
“I’m not lying.”
“Then how does she know which apartment number you are? She obviously came with you to your door.”
I paused at the accusation. I wasn’t sure how she knew. “She must have watched me or asked the landlord.”
“Try again.”
Now I was getting angry. “I didn’t cheat on Scarlet. That one woman is a crazy slut. Yes, she told me she wanted me, but I said I had no interest. I even introduced Scarlet to her.”
“If you rejected her, then why did she come to your apartment?”
“She keeps trying to seduce me. That’s why I’m quitting on Monday. It isn’t fair to Scarlet.”
“And I like how you told her about this whole thing.”
I knew what he was implying. “I was going to tell her on Monday after I quit.”
“I’m sure,” he said sarcastically.
“I was. I already have my resignation letter. I just never expected Maria to show up here.”
“Maria? Your girlfriend has a name?”
I felt my blood boil. “I didn’t fuck her! I don’t know how many times I have to say it. Scarlet knows I wouldn’t do that to her.”
“Well, Scar is distraught with depression and pain. She can’t think clearly anymore.” He stared at me, accusation brewing in his eyes.
“We’re still together. I just need space right now. I’m still upset that she lied to me. And I’m still angry about the wedding fiasco. The only reason why she apologized for that is because she wants me back. I know she still doesn’t want to get married there.”
“She already apologized to you. That should be enough if you still love her.”
“Of course I do.”
“Then move back in with her.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“I’m still not ready. Maybe you think I’m unjustified in being angry, but I couldn’t care less. Scar fucked Cortland and never told me about it. I could move past that part—even though it kills me—but not the lying. She was never going to tell me the truth. That’s just hard to accept.”
Ryan was quiet for a moment. “I do understand. I would be angry if Janice did the same thing.”
I felt my heart freeze. I slept with Janice. I was doing the same thing by not telling him. I would have to talk to Scarlet about this.
Ryan continued. “But if you cheated on Scarlet, I’m not going to let that go. I will beat you until they take you to the hospital—which will be pointless because you’ll be dead.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t.”
“If I find out that you lied to me, it will be worse—much worse.”
“Since you and Janice got together, your tattoo girls haven’t come to you for casual sex? That hasn’t been a problem for you?”
Ryan was quiet for a moment. “That has nothing to do with this.”
I nodded. “So, it has. And what did you do to stop it?”
He glared at me. “I made it clear that I was in love with Janice.”
“And did that stop them from wanting you?”
“No.”
“So you understand my situation perfectly.”
“But they didn’t come to my house. I made it clear I was committed to someone.”
“As did I. It isn’t my fault that she came here.”
Ryan sighed. “I want to believe you.”
“You know me, Ryan. I wouldn’t cheat on anyone, especially Scarlet—my fiancé. Even if I knew I wouldn’t get caught, I still wouldn’t do it. Scarlet has been the best I’ve ever had.” I suddenly felt awkward talking about her like that with her own brother. “I just—don’t need it anywhere else.”
Ryan nodded. “I feel the same way about Janice. She’s amazing in bed.”
“So is Scarlet.”
Ryan didn’t respond to my comment. “I’m sorry that I came over here and started more drama. I know you and Scarlet are already going through a tough time. I didn’t mean to make it worse.”
“Forget about it. In truth, it makes me happy that Scarlet has someone to protect her when I’m not around. I would have done the same thing if I had a sister.”
“Thanks for being cool about it.”
“Just don’t threaten to put me in the hospital again.”
He laughed. “Don’t let any other girls come to the apartment.”
“That’s a fair trade.”
He stared at me. “Are you and Scarlet going to be okay?”
I sighed. “We’re working it out.”
“I really hope you still marry her. I talked to her about her selfish, brat-like ways. She’ll stop acting like that.”
I smiled. “Thanks. Sometimes she won’t listen to me.”
“And you think she listens to me?” He laughed.
“Well, a little more, at least.”
“What are you waiting for, Sean?”
“I’m not ready to hear what happened between her and Cortland. I’m just not ready.”
Ryan nodded. “I can understand that. But if you are going to take her back anyway, why be apart? You may as well work on this together.”
“No. I need my space. I can’t be around her and Cortland right now. I’ll just rip his head off, and I’ll treat Scarlet without any respect. I need to get over this before I come back to the relationship.”
Ryan sighed. “She had good intentions. She didn’t want to ruin this family—that’s all.”
“You aren’t mad at Cortland?”
“I was, but I forgave him after a while. The truth is Scarlet and Cortland got a lot closer because of it—as friends. I realize how odd that sounds, but they were both going through a hard time when they slept together. They were just helping each other.”
I nodded. The idea of them sleeping together made me sick.
Ryan walked to the door. “I’ll see you later.”
I moved behind him. “Okay.”
“Do you want me to say anything to Scarlet?”
I was quiet for a moment. “Tell her I love her.”
“Alright.” He walked down the hall and disappeared.
24
Scarlet
“Ryan’s here,” Janice said.
I jumped from the couch and ran to the door. I looked at his knuckles. They weren’t bloody. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean nothing?”
“I didn’t beat the shit out of him.”
“And that’s it?” I asked incredulously.
He looked at me. “I believe him.”
“I told you,” I said. “Sean wouldn’t do that. Not to me or anyone.”
; He nodded.
“And what else happened?”
“That’s it.”
“You were there for over an hour.”
“We talked about your relationship.”
“What did he say?”
“He needs space. The same thing he’s been saying.”
I sighed. “Anything else?”
“He loves you.”
I smiled. “Well, I’m glad everything is okay.”
“I apologized for storming over there and threatening to kill him.”
Janice laughed. “That’s a first. Ryan never apologizes.”
I nodded. “That surprises me too.”
Ryan smiled. “I think you guys are going to be fine, Scar. I understand why he wants to be alone.”
“What did he say?”
He shrugged. “He’s just not ready to deal with the idea of you sleeping with Cortland. It makes him—a little crazy.”
“I can understand that.”
“And he says he can’t be around Cortland because he’ll just want to kill him the whole time.”
Cortland sighed. “That’s good to know.”
I looked at Cortland. “He won’t hurt you.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. You’re his fiancé. I would be upset if Monnique slept with Ryan before we got together.”
Ryan made a guilty face. “Uh, maybe now isn’t a good time but—”
“Shut the hell up,” Cortland said with a laugh.
I rolled my eyes. “I know you slept with everyone in Seattle, but you couldn’t score Monnique.”
His eyes widened. “What? Hell yeah I could. I’m amazing in bed. Tell them, babe.”
Janice laughed. “He knows his way around.”
Cortland shook his head. “She wouldn’t date a tattoo artist.”
My brother smiled. “I would love to chisel some ink into that skin. I should offer her a free session.”
Cortland raised an eyebrow. “You better not.”
Ryan laughed. “We’ll see.”
“I have an idea,” I said.
“What?” Ryan asked.
I looked at Cortland. “Let’s go on a double date.”
“You, me, Monnique, and Sean?” Cortland asked.
“Yeah.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I really don’t want to get my ass kicked in front of my girlfriend.”
Ryan laughed.
“Cortland,” I said. “We can prove that there’s nothing between us anymore.”
