Love Conquers All (8 page)

The bartender came back.

Are you fucking kidding me?

“From the same gentleman at the bar.” He turned away and left.

Monnique eyed it but didn’t turn around to look at her admirer.

I wanted to break his jaw. I blatantly glared at him but he didn’t notice me. He kept staring at Monnique waiting for her to acknowledge him.

Monnique passed the glass to Ryan. “This one is yours.”

The bartender came back immediately. He carried a tray with five drinks. He placed them all on the surface. “He says now that everyone at your table has a drink, maybe he could have a minute of your time.” He walked away again.

Now our table was covered in more drinks than we could ever need. Now I was really irritated with this guy. And the fact he had smooth moves made me more pissed. But since Monnique was so mature about me going on a date, I knew I had to be mature in return. “Monnique, you can talk to him if you want. Don’t let my presence get in the way of that.”

She didn’t look at me. The menu was still in her hands. “As far as I’m concerned, the only guy here is you.”

My eyes softened at her words but I didn’t say anything. I’m glad she didn’t look at me so she wouldn’t see how much I was affected by her words of love. I just wanted to pull her into my arms and never let go.

Everyone else gave her a sympathetic look. Even Ryan was moved by it.

But I couldn’t speak. Nobody could.

Her admirer approached our table, looking spiffy. The fact he was tall and good-looking irritated me. “Since you didn’t like the drinks I sent you, maybe my company will be better. My name is Jerome and I’d really like to know yours.”

I watched her face to see her reaction. If she thought he was attractive, she hid it. It didn’t seem like she was interested in him at all. “It takes a lot of confidence to walk up to a girl in a bar and strike up a conversation out of thin air. And I think it shows a lot of good qualities about you. Unfortunately, I’m not interested. But I am flattered by the attention.”

He smiled like he hadn’t just been rejected. “Normally, when this part of the conversation happens, I just walk away. But you’re just too beautiful for me to turn around and leave. I’ll do anything to have a conversation with you. I’ll even buy you another drink to make that happen.” He winked at her.

I really didn’t like this guy. He was such a smooth talker.
Ugh.

“Because you really are one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen,” he said. “And I’m not throwing a line at you. Honestly.”

I knew it wasn’t a line. If it were any other woman, I would say he was full of it, but with Monnique that wasn’t possible.

Monnique tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, showing me she was nervous. “I’m—”

“Before you reject me again, just hear me out.” He held up his hand then put it down. “This is my resume; I’m a sports agent. I have my own company and I work directly with athletes from the New York Giants and the Knicks. I went to college at NYU and I have a master’s degree. My annual income is a quarter of a million, and my hobbies include running, hiking, and spending time with my friends and family. I don’t have any kids and I’ve never been married. I’m looking to settle down with a wife and kids. I’m not looking for a one-night stand. Now take that into consideration before you reject me.”

Fuck, this guy sounded perfect.
I had a quick daydream about her marrying him and having his kids. It made me want to gag.

“Damn,” Janice said. “Someone really wants a date.”

“I’d go out with him,” Scarlet blurted.

Sean glared at her.

“What?” Scarlet said. “I’m referring to a universe where you don’t exist.”

He still glared at her.

I knew Monnique would say yes. She’d be stupid not to.

Jerome smiled at our table. “Listen to your friends and give me a chance. I’ll make the other men
you’ve dated look pathetic.”

Monnique looked at him and spoke in a firm voice. “Jerome, you’re clearly a catch. But I’m in love with someone else.”

“Oh.” The disappointment fell on his face. “I didn’t realize you already had a man.”

“I don’t,” she said. “But my heart is taken.”

He nodded. He opened his wallet and put down a business card. “Call me if that ever changes.” He left the door with sagged shoulders, like a man who had just been defeated.

Monnique didn’t touch the business card. It just sat there. When she looked at me, our eyes locked for a moment. A silent conversation passed between us. I knew she loved me, and she knew I loved her.

I didn’t know what I would do if she said yes. She wasn’t committed to me and I made it clear we were over. I just went on a date and got naked with some woman. She didn’t owe me anything. But I was relieved she said no. It would have broken my heart along with everything else in my body.

No one spoke for several minutes. The gang kept shifting their gaze from me to her, watching us interact silently. Maybe they were waiting for me to tell her how much I loved her, that I couldn’t get aroused by another beautiful woman throwing herself at me.
Maybe they thought I’d fall to my knees and beg her to take me back. Or that we would start going at it on the floor. But none of those things happened.

Mike and Cassandra walked in, his arm around her waist. She wore a dress that didn’t hide her swollen belly, and he wore slacks and a collared shirt. They stopped and eyed the drinks on the table.

“Damn, you guys must be wasted,” Mike said.

We all snapped out of our melancholy at his arrival. I wasn’t sure how I felt about
Monnique and our relationship but it could wait. Tonight was about Mike, not me and my personal bullshit.

I stood up and shook his hand. “Happy birthday, man.”

He winked at Cassandra. “It was a very happy birthday.”

I cringed. “I’m sure it was.”

“Dude, it was so hot. She was all tied up—”

“Let’s keep our personal stuff personal,” Cassandra whispered in his ear.

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. It was fucking hot. Now I’m really a man.”

“You weren’t a man when you knocked her up?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Nah,” Mike said. “That was child’s play.”

Scarlet hugged him then hugged Cassandra. “Happy Birthday.”

He nudged her in the side. “Thanks for tying her up.” He added a wink.

Scarlet grinned. “I figured you appreciated my services.”

“Fuck yeah I did,” Mike said.

Ryan shook his hand. “I’ll have to try that with Janice.”

“You haven’t already?” Mike asked incredulously.

“Well, we have a stripper pole,” Ryan said. “Believe me, we have our
kinks.”

Janice slithered into his side. “And I’m already too much for him to handle.”

Ryan shook his head and rolled his eyes since Janice couldn’t see him.

Sean didn’t acknowledge his brother. He kept looking at Scarlet, an unhappy look on his face. “Maybe you should go have hot sex with Jerome.” The displeasure was in his voice.

“Yeah, maybe he can actually knock her up,” Ryan jabbed.

Sean glared at him.

Scarlet chuckled at his insult, and Sean turned back to her, a look of murder on his face.

“Sorry,” she said quickly.

“How would you feel if I said I’d go out with some woman?”

“I don’t think I’d care,” she said with a shrug. “It’s not like you’re going to leave me and actually do it.”

“I want to be the only man you picture yourself with,” Sean said.

Mike stared at them. “And I thought I was controlling…”

“Stay out of this, asshole,” Sean snapped.

“Just get over it,” Scarlet. “I was just joking.”

“You want me to bend you over this table and teach you a lesson?” Sean’s eyes were wide.

“Please don’t,” Ryan blurted.

Monnique hugged Mike and Cassandra. “Happy birthday.”

“Thanks,” Mike said. He stared at her before realization came to his eyes. “Damn, I wish Cassandra could get drunk. I’d throw you two together and wait for something to happen.”

Monnique’s cheeks tinted.

“What?” Cassandra asked.

“Monnique and Scarlet made out when we partied in Vegas,” Mike said. “It was awesome.”

“You want me to make out with Monnique?” she asked.

“Or Janice. Not Scarlet. That would be gross,” Mike said.

“Hey,” Scarlet said. “I’m not gross.”

“You’re like my sister,” Mike said. “Totally disgusting.”

Ryan pushed Janice a little closer to Cassandra. “Maybe if they stand next to each other long enough…”

“Yes,” Janice said sarcastically. “Because if two women are in the same room long enough, they have to make out.”

Mike and Ryan stared at them hard and waited.

“You guys are ridiculous.” Janice came back to Ryan. “You like girl on girl action?”

“Uh…is that a serious question?” Ryan said.

She pressed her body against his. “How about we have a threesome?”

Everyone froze, shocked by the suggestion.

Ryan’s eyes were wide. “What…? Did I…? Wait. What?”

Janice smirked while she rested her hands on his chest. “You, me, and a girl we both find attractive…”

Ryan’s eyes were still wide like he just had a stroke. “You’d be down for that?”

“Yeah.” She gave him a sinister look.

His mouth was open. “You’re the perfect woman.”

She shrugged. “So I hear.”

Ryan grabbed her hand. “Well, we’re leaving. Happy birthday.”

“Ryan,” Scarlet pressed. “No.”

Mike shook his head. “No, dude. I totally understand. Get the hell out before she changes her mind.”

Ryan looked at Monnique. “So…would you—”

“You better be joking,” I snapped.
This was my girl.

Monnique picked up on the anger in my voice because she knew me so well.

“Kidding,” Ryan said.

I wasn’t sure if he was or not.

“Let’s start drinking,” Ryan said. “Janice and I can be kinky later.”

Sean looked at Scarlet and wiggled an eyebrow at her.

“Never going to happen,” Scarlet snapped.

He sighed unhappily.

Rounds were ordered and we downed every glass. Cassandra and Scarlet didn’t drink. They both had water while everyone else had a good time. I noticed Monnique ordered a glass of wine but she hardly touched it. She drank her water most of the time.

Everyone was initially awkward with Monnique and I being in the same room, but that quickly changed. We were back to normal, laughing and having a good time. Monnique was funny and witty. She made a lot of jokes. One made Ryan shoot alcohol out of his nose.

After I had three drinks, I cut myself off. I didn’t want to be drunk when I left the bar. I looked at Monnique’s glass again. It was untouched. I wondered why.

When it was almost one, everyone started getting tired. Scarlet was leaning into Sean’s shoulder, ready to fall asleep. Cassandra was also tired but she tried to hide it better.

“My baby tired?” Mike asked.

“I’m sorry I’m such a party pooper.”

“You’re carrying my baby. You’re entitled to be a party pooper. Plus, I really tired you out when I fucked your brains out.”

“That you did,” Cassandra said.

“We need to find a girl,” Ryan said. “She’s gotta be hot.”

“Definitely,” Janice said.

Were they really going through with this?

One by one, each couple said good night and left the bar. After we said our goodbyes, Monnique and I were
the only ones left. My half empty beer sat in front of me while her wine remained untouched.

I eyed it. “Did you not enjoy the wine?”

She pushed the glass away. “I don’t drink anymore. I just pretend in social circles.”

Oh. I could figure out why. When she drank, she went overboard. I’m glad she realized that.

“I’m really excited for Mike and Cassandra. I want to see their baby.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I’m sure it will be cute.”

“Do you think they’ll really have a threesome?” Monnique asked. “Ryan doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy to be into that.”

“He’s had plenty of threesomes before
.”

“TMI,” she said with a light laugh.

I smiled then dropped it. I thought being alone with her would be awkward but it wasn’t. A part of me still saw her as mine, that I could tell her anything and be myself. Even when we didn’t speak, the silence was a comfort. It reminded me of the nights we’d have dinner and didn’t speak. I missed that so much it hurt.

“Do you have another date lined up?” she asked. She spoke to me like we were just friends. If me dating bothered her, she hid it well.

“No.”