𝑀𝓎 𝑀𝒶𝓃#1~When Love Lasts
Chapter 43

Two days later, Anna and I are sitting at the bar of the Sleepy sheep. It's on a Friday night, so of course Cedric is here.

He is sitting in a booth across the room having a beer and speaking with Lucas, and I am trying my hardest to ignore the woman who is practically dry humping his booth seat.

He doesn't even look up at her; he is just nodding his head, peering like he is struggling to be polite, but also looks like he is close to losing his shit.

I know that man and when his back becomes straight like that he is getting worked up. I'm trying to decide if it would be a good idea for me to go over there and intervene.

We are still dating, right?

I have spent the last two nights at Anna's home. She told me Cedric was busy consulting on a case two towns over, something about a string of robberies that has taken place every Thursday night for weeks.

I haven't talked to him, and tonight was the first time I saw him since he kissed me on the cheek and fled Anna's house.

Once he left, I wept like a baby. I know I'm the one who said he needed to prove that he saw me as a woman, but being away from him like this is physically hurting my heart.

Anna tried her hardest multiple times to get me to run back home to Cedric, but I couldn't help feel like I turned into a burden and until I was for sure that he no longer saw me in that light, I couldn't go back.

She is the bestiest friend I could have asked for. I am so happy that I met her. She has been helping me keep my mind off my hurting heart by drinking wine with me and staying up late watching horror movies.

Which makes us stay up later because we get scared.

I had expected him to come talk to me or for his protective side to show and at least sit by me, but he didn't. He clearly is giving me my space, and I just don't know if that's what I actually want now. I want him to see me as a woman again.

I want him to throw me against the wall and claim me like he did every night before that man tried to kill me.

Before, I had this scar on my throat.

“Lucas is such an asshole,” Anna hissed, wrinkled her nose and took a healthy sip of her lemon martini. “That red-headed bitch is throwing herself all over him like a dog in heat.”

I stopped my drink midway from my mouth and turned towards her.

What is she so upset about?

She has never complained or even mentioned Lucas in our conversations, and now she is in some sort of mood because a girl is trying to get lucky tonight.

“What's wrong?” I quizzed her, wondering what was going on between her and Lucas.

She is agitated for a reason.

“Ugh I'm sorry. I hate seeing that,” she sighed, placed her drunk onto the counter, and played with the lemon.

“Why?” I urged her, now super curious.

“I should have told you,” she whispered, looked around to make certain nobody could overhear our conversation, and then bent forward. “When I was younger, I had a crush on Lucas.”

I mean, I'm not entirely surprised. I'm sure it's very common for the younger sister to have a little crush on one of her older brothers' best friends.

It's not exactly unheard of.

“Okay? But why are you so upset now, Anna? What else are you not telling me?” I asked, knowing she was leaving something out for her to get this worked up.

“One night while we were still in high-school, when our parents were out of town, Cedric had a party. We were all drunk, and I was flirting with a boy named Mitch. He was super cute, and I had just wanted to forget all about my emotions for Lucas. Well, Lucas, for some reason, that night didn't like that I was flirting.”

“Did he have feelings for you, too?” I shouted without meaning to, I was just so shocked.

“Don't be so loud,” she whispered harshly, and covered my mouth with her hand.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, eyes wide as I looked around the bar to make sure I didn't gain the other customer's attention.

“That night I actually thought he did. He slipped away from my brother and Conor and pulled me into my bedroom.”

“What?” I demanded, leaning too far over, trying to get more of the story, and almost fell out of my bar stool. “Shit,” I cursed and grabbed onto Anna's arm to stop myself from going down flat on my face and embarrassing myself.

“Are you okay?” Anna asked while she helped push my barstool back to the correct position. “Maybe we both should slow down on the drinks,” she giggled.

“Hell no,” I laughed, threw my head back and tried to keep the tears from falling as my belly pained me from laughing so hard. “I'm having too much fun. Don't change the subject.”

“Avery-”

“I'm not letting it go,” I informed her, and shook my head.

“It was so long ago, and apparently it meant nothing to him,” she muttered and looked very sad, which made me sad for her on top of already being sad for myself.

“It clearly meant something to you.”

“Yeah it did.”

“Then tell me.”

“We had sex,” she explained, and looked over towards Lucas and frowned as the red-headed woman now climbed into his lap.

“You and Lucas?” I asked, not really believing what I'm hearing. I have known them for a few months, and I never would have guessed that was between them.

“Yes. He pulled me into my room, locked my door, and then carried me to the bed. He was saying all these things that made me think he felt the same way.”

“What was he saying, babes?” I requested.

I realize I'm sounding very nosy right now, but I need to know what he told her because it still bothers her years later. I want to be a good friend to her just like she has been to me and for me to be able to do that, I have to learn the details.

Well, not all the details.

“That he couldn't stop himself. He blamed me for walking around in my short black dress and was driving him crazy. He was tired of keeping his hands off me.”

“What else?” I asked when I had a feeling she was leaving something else out from that night.

“While he was inside of me, he whispered in my ear and said that he was in love with me,” she murmured, tears falling from her eyes, and I pulled her into my arms to comfort her.

“Then why are you and him not together, sweetie? I don't understand. You still love him, don't you?” I asked and waited for her nod in conformation before continuing. “And if he loved you, why didn't y'all get together?”

“Cedric,” she mumbled.

“What?”

“Cedric would not have been happy.” She expanded.

“Have either you or him tried to talk about it with Cedric?”

“No but-”

“Then how do you know how he would have acted?” I questioned her. “You both were too afraid to tell him?”

“Well, I was terrified because I didn't want to ruin their friendship. He still doesn't know.”

“I honestly think he would be okay with it now, Anna. You and Lucas are both grown now. You're an adult, it doesn't matter what your big brother says anymore.”

“That's not the only issue.” She sighed and swept her gaze towards Lucas again. “The next morning, he woke up and pretended like it never happened.”

“What?” I whispered, now growing angry for my best friend and wanting nothing more than to throw the rest of my chocolate martini towards Lucas, and I didn't even care if Cedric got caught in the cross fire.

“I got up happy, Avery, so fucking happy. Then I went downstairs and decided to make breakfast for them. I knew they would be hungry once they woke up. Once they came down, I grabbed Lucas's plate and sat down by him. He told me to stop acting weird and then started texting a girl right in front of me. I asked him if he remembered what happened the night before, and he told me no.”

“Do you believe him?”

“I don't know what to believe. I was embarrassed. I gave him my virginity, Avery. He was and still is the only man I have ever slept with, and he doesn't even remember it.”

“Oh my god,” I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. “So you and him never talked about that night?"

“No. I never mentioned it again, and he went back to acting like I was just his best friends annoying baby sister.”

“Maybe you should talk to him about it now, Anna-”

“No. It's been years, Avery, if he remembered and wanted to talk about it with me, he would. He had plenty of chances,” she sighed. “I had to just let him go.”

“But he was the first man you been with, Anna. If he doesn't remember, don't you think he is entitled to know?” I asked her, trying to understand why she would want to keep doing this to herself.

“I can't handle being rejected by him, Avery. It would ruin everyone's friendship. I have learned to deal with it, and I'm fine with it now. Yeah, it does still hurt, you know? It's difficult to get over the man you see almost every day for years and then still continue to see because he is one of my brothers best friends.”

“But what if he remembers?”

“That would be worse. That would mean that night meant nothing to him, and he just lied about the things he said to get me into bed,” she whispered, as little droplets of tears fell from her eyes.

“Don't cry babes. I'm sorry,” I sighed.

Maybe tonight isn't the best night to talk about this. We are both drunk. I'm in my feelings over Cedric, and she is now in her emotions over Lucas.

“Why don't we-”

I was fixing to suggest we hit the dance floor and forget about both of our men drama, but when my eyes landed back onto Cedric, I spit my drink out, liquid flying from my mouth and I choked.

“What happened?” Anna demanded and patted me on the back.

“That bitch,” I snarled, slammed my glass down on top of the bar, hoping I didn't crack it. I didn't want Coner to be upset about that and jumped off the bar stool.

“What?” Anna urged confused but followed my movements and jumped off her bar stool.

“Look,” I growled and pointed towards her brother and the bitch that had her hands on him.

I watched for several minutes, chest rising and falling quick as emotions flared inside my heart. She had gotten even closer to Cedric, and he wasn't pushing her away.

What the hell.

“No.” I snapped and started marching my way across the dance floor.

That's my man, and she will take her hands off him.

I'm not the jealous type, but one thing I learned from Cedric was it's okay to be possessive of the person you love and right now, I'm feeling extremely possessive.

Cedric's eyes widened as soon as he saw me approach his booth. He opened his mouth to say something, but I didn't give him the chance.

“I suggest you take your hands off my boyfriend right now.” I snarled at the woman, who had pushed herself in closer to Cedric, her boobs were almost touching his arm.

“Excuse me?” She ordered, shocked. “He hasn't complained.” She grinned.

I swallowed the hurt and continued. “Well, until he ends it with me, he is still my boyfriend so as I fucking said, take your hands off him.”

“I don't think so,” she snarled. “You can go away now. We were enjoying ourselves.”

“Oh?” I sought and aimed my angry gaze towards Cedric. “Enjoying yourself Ced?”