We clung to each other for a moment while we caught our breath. When he leaned back, I stared at him.

That was fucking awesome.

He chuckled. It was, wasnt it?

I want to do it again!

Give me a few minutes. He trailed his fingers up and down my arm.

So, were you rewarded handsomely?

Oh so handsomely.

He was still inside me but I didnt want to pull him out. Now I want more cockroaches to invade my apartment.

I cant believe you just said that, he said with a laugh. Youd risk your life for sex?

No. Just sex with you.

He lay down and pulled me with him, still saying inside me. This has been a wonderful and unexpected morning.

I cuddled with him and closed my eyes.

What are you doing tonight? he asked.

Hopefully that exact same thing.

He smirked. Im having dinner with my family. Want to come?

What? To meet his parents? The serenity I just experienced disappeared. Wasnt that too soon? Umdo you think thats a good idea?

Why would it be a bad idea?

Well, weve only been together for a few months.

So? I love you. I want you to meet them.

I felt like he just asked me to go skydiving.

He spotted my hesitance. But if you dont want to, thats fine. The disappointment was in his voice.

No, I do. I justI guess Im nervous.

Dont be, he said simply.

But your dad is famous.

He rolled his eyes. He shits and farts just like everyone else.

And your brother too.

Hes a douchebag. Dont be intimidated by him.

Iokay.

Okay? he asked.

If youre sure Why wouldnt I be?

Well, you should introduce a girl to your parents unless shes likethe one.

He gave me a serious look. And what do you think you are?

That made my heart squeeze. Really?

You think Id risk my life for just anybody? The amusement was in his eyes.

My eyes burned at his words. I never expected someone to love me in this way. And I never expected him to love me as much as I loved him. I love you, I blurted.

I love you too. His hand moved through my hair. So, youll come?

My heart raced. Yeah Good.

Flynn?

Hmm?

Can I have some money?

He raised an eyebrow. You never ask me for money.

I know. I hate to ask but I cant afford to buy fancy clothes right now.

He smirked. Jeans and a t-shirt are fine.

But, arent we having dinner at the Hamptons or something?

He laughed. Well probably get hot dogs and eat them in Central Park.

Really?

Like I said, we shit and fart just like everyone else.

4.

Ryan I was really dreading this. I put it off as long as I could, finding other things to do and making excuses. Janice kept pressuring me to step up and be a man, but this really sucked. Why did I have to find out? Why could it have been Scarlet? Or better yet, why did Monnique have to cheat?

I invited Cortland to play basketball a few blocks from my apartment.

Where are the guys? he asked.

Busy. I made a few shots and then he stole the ball.

When we played one-on-one, we were more competitive, so my body was drenched in sweat by the time we were done. We didnt keep score, but that didnt stop both of us from working hard.

After we called it quits for the day, we walked into a burger joint and sat in a booth. I tossed the ball in the seat next to me and waited for our food to come. The place kinda reminded me of Mega Shake, but it wasnt nearly as good.

Cortland returned from washing his hands then leaned back against the chair. My ass is about to fall off.

That out of shape? I asked.

I havent been working out lately.

I tried to think of something else to talk about. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt my friend. He was the best guy I knew.

Something wrong, man? Cortland could read me pretty well.

My ass is about to fall off too.

He smirked. Anything new with the wedding?

We decided to have it at Scarlets.

Oh. Since when?

My sister offered a while ago.

Cool, he said. He drank his soda. Thatll save you a lot of dough.

I didnt really care about that. Itll be nice to have it on the beach. Janice liked the idea too.

Now you can go on a big honeymoon, Cortland said. Where you guys going?

Havent decided yet. She wants to go to Paris or London.

And where do you want to go?

The hotel room, I said bluntly.

He chuckled. Then it wont be much different than your current lives.

Or somewhere where she has to wear a thong bikini.

How romantic, he said sarcastically.

I shrugged. She knows what shes getting into.

Sometimes I wonder if thats true, he teased.

The food was brought to our table and we both inhaled our food. When we were almost done, I knew my time was drawing near. An imaginary bomb ticked in my head. I was procrastinating as much as possible but now I was at a dead end.

You look like a ghost, man. Cortland gave me a firm look. The food bad?

No. I drummed my knuckles on the table because I couldnt sit still.

Then whats on your mind?

I released the air from my lungs, knowing this was the moment. I need to talk to you about something. And Ive been dreading this moment for a while now.

Okay Im just going to say it because I cant think of a way to be gentle about it.

Cortland tensed his shoulders. Okay Cals boyfriend works with Monnique. Apparently, they go to the same parties and he sees her pretty often. Last week, they were at Ringers when Monnique hooked up with some guy in the bathroom. I asked him if he was sure and he said yes. And she did cocaine I didnt feel any better getting that off my chest. Actually, I wanted to shrivel and die.

Cortland didnt react. He stared at me like he hadnt heard me. He didnt move a single part of his body. He didnt even blink.

Im sorry, man. Its been eating me alive for days.

He still didnt speak. He finally leaned over the table, resting his elbows on the surface then folding his hands in front of his mouth. I wasnt sure what I expected him to do; to yell, scream, punch me, I didnt know. But I didnt expect this calm reaction. He cleared his throat. Monnique?

I nodded.

You sure?

I wish I werent.

He fell silent again. His eyes looked out the window. Weve been having a lot of problems lately. Her job has caused us to drift apart. Shes been acting differently, really pushing me to the edge. But, she would never do that to me.

God, I felt like shit. I know this is hard to believe, but he seemed sure.

What happened, exactly?

She was high on cocaine and drunk on booze and she and this guy went into the bathroom and fucked. He said he saw them.

What guy? he asked calmly.

I shrugged. Some guy she models with. I guess theyve done a few features together.

His eyes flashed in recognition for an instant. And hes certain he saw this?

Yeah. He also said she was so out of her mind she may not even remember it. That might be why she never told you.

Cortland ran his fingers through his hair. When I picked her up that night, she was passed out on a couch. That must have been when this went down.