Love Hurts Read Free Page B

ask me to be your best man, and then you ask me to be your baby’s godfather. You’re already dropping a lot on me…”
    “It’s just one more.”
    “Okay.”
    “If something happens to me, could you please take care of my family?” I hated thinking about the possibility. What if I got in a car accident and I left Cassandra all alone? I would obviously give her all my assets, but I would need someone to protect her and my kids.
    Sean took a deep breath. “Don’t talk like that, man.”
    “Please?”
    “You don’t even need to ask me that. You know I would take care of Cassandra. She’s family. I know you would do the same for me with Scarlet. You’ve already proven it.”
    “Thank you.” I stepped away from him. “That means a lot to me.”
    “And you know everyone else would be there too. Just don’t think like that. Every time Dad says shit like that, it practically gives me a heart attack.”
    “But at least he’s prepared,” I said sadly.
    “Let’s change the subject,” he said quickly. “This is too depressing.”
    “Okay.”
    We stood there awkwardly.
    “So…what’s going on with Cortland and Monnique?”
    He shrugged. “They’re still broken up last time I checked.”
    “It seems like something is going on between them.”
    “What did you see?” he asked.
    “I just saw them staring at each other.” I shrugged. “If they love each other that much, why don’t they just be together?”
    “I don’t think Cortland trusts her anymore.”
    “Well, I could say the same about Cassandra. But I let it go and now look at me. I’m a happy bastard.”
    “What’s your point?”
    “I don’t know. I guess I don’t have one.”
    “He’s been dating.”
    “And how’s that going?” I asked.
    “Nowhere.”
    “That just proves my point.”
    Cassandra came back to me and found her usual place under my arm. She always crept up to me and found her rightful place. I was much taller than her, but I liked looking down at her. I could usually see down her top.
    “We’ll see you later,” Sean said.
    “Bye.” Scarlet waved as she followed her husband out the door.
    After the door was shut, I turned to Cassandra. “Now what?”
    “I think I want to put ten inches in my mouth…”
    My spine shivered at her words. “Boy, am I glad I proposed to you.”
    She gave me a playful look and pulled me back to the bedroom.

2
    Cortland
    Monnique and I hadn’t discussed the night we hooked up. I didn’t tell anyone about it because I knew they would give me a hard time. And she obviously hadn’t because they would have said something the moment they saw me. Monnique was never one to kiss and tell.
    On the night of Mike’s engagement, she and I hardly spoke. But we did stare at each other a lot. I saw her look from across the patio, and there were countless times when she caught mine. I had no idea what I was doing. This couldn’t be healthy.
    But I couldn’t stay away from her. I tried. Honestly, I did.
    I spent the next week focusing on work. I hadn’t had another date because I didn’t see the point. It would just end the way all the others did. They would offer sex and I wouldn’t be able to go through with it. Then I would be horny and hook up with Monnique again. The past was bound to repeat itself.
    I forced myself not to contact her. She usually reached out to me but she had n’t said anything to me. But that didn’t stop me from thinking about her. She was always on my mind, those brown eyes drilling into mine.
    When lunchtime came around, I walked to Sean’s office to see if he wanted to get lunch. Sometimes he couldn’t leave because he was tied up in meetings, but he usually went out for lunch even if Scarlet didn’t stop by.
    I knocked before I entered. I learned my lesson last time I just walked in.
    “It’s open,” he said.
    I stepped inside and flinched when I saw Scarlet and Monnique standing by his desk.
    “You’re just in time,” Sean said. “Where do you want