Here and Now Read Free Page B

guilty.”
    Kirk nodded to a girl sitting at the bar alone. She was wearing a short dress and she had a smokin’ body. “Go talk to her.”
    I glanced at her then turned away. “Not my type.”
    “She’s a C cup with legs for days,” Cameron snapped. “Yes, she is your type.”
    “Look, I appreciate what you’re trying to do but I’m just not ready, okay?” I didn’t mean to snap at my friends. I knew they were just trying to help. “I’m sorry. I can’t just move on from the love of my life and fuck a random girl. It’s only been a month. To desecrate our relationship by being with someone else so soon just…doesn’t sit right with me. Call me a pussy if you want but I don’t care. I love her. And…I can’t do that.”
    Kirk and Cameron exchanged a look then turned back to me. Kirk patted my shoulder.
    “I’m sorry, man,” Kirk said. “Whatever you want.”
    Cameron nodded. “We’re here for you no matter what. We can take baby steps.”
    “I don’t need baby steps,” I whispered. “I just need time.”
     
    When I was having lunch with Scarlet, she eyed me for a long time.
    “What?” I asked without looking at her.
    “How are you doing?”
    “Fine.” That was my automatic response.
    “Well, you’ve been quiet and distant…”
    “I don’t have much to say.”
    She put her yogurt on my desk and sighed. “I guess I’m just worried.”
    “You don’t need to put me on suicide watch.”
    “That’s not what I meant,” she said gently. “I just don’t want this break up to change who you are.”
    I didn’t have a response to that. I deleted all the spam I got in my email then focused on the screen.
    “Mike?”
    “Hmm?”
    “I know it didn’t work out with Cassandra, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work out with someone else.”
    “Thanks, Scar.” That was my polite way of asking her to shut up.
    “I’m being serious, Mike. Don’t give up.”
    I finally looked at her, giving her a firm look. “Not everyone is you and Sean. We don’t meet our soul mate and automatically become best friends. We don’t have an epic love that makes everyone else’s look weak. We aren’t all meant to settle down. We aren’t all meant to be happy.” It was my darkest truth. I was meant to be alone.
    “That’s not true, Mike.  You will find someone.”
    “I can find someone with a drop of a hat,” I snapped. “Women would line up to be with me. I have the looks, the money, the security, and the loyalty. But none of them are worth my time. Cassandra was the first girl who made my heart beat. What are the odds I’ll find someone else who can do the same thing?” I held my gaze, burning into hers. “Slim to none.”
    “No, not none,” she said firmly. “You will find her, Mike.”
    “I’m done talking about this,” I snapped. “I know you’re trying to help. I do. But you can’t help me with this. I will make my own decisions and I will deal with my grief in whatever way I can.”
    She backed off. “Okay. “But I’m here for you if you need me.”
    “I know,” I said gently.
    The sound of her spoon dipping in her yogurt, and the click of my mouse filled the room.
    “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” she said.
    I thought we we re done talking about Cassandr. “What?”
    “Janice asked her sister to be her maid of honor.”
    “So?” Why would I give a shit about that?
    “Well, I know you and Laura slept together last year.”
    I totally forgot about that. It was meaningless and pointless. She was good in the sack, but when I called her a few days later, she never called me back. I was a little hurt by the rejection but I got over it. I never expected it to go anywhere. “Your point?”
    “You’re probably going to be seeing a lot of her because of the wedding.”
    “I don’t have a problem with her,” I said immediately. “I won’t even talk to her.”
    “I just wanted to give you a head’s up.”
    “Thanks.”

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    Hazel
    The first