Chapter 4
1288 Wouchers
But she flashed back to Maricela draped over his shoulder, the hand he had had on himself in the shower, and the moment he had groaned “Mari.” Suddenly, his hand looked filthy.
She jumped back.
“Lucille…” Cedrick stared at his empty hand, kind of shocked, then sighed, “Sorry, they were out of line. No hard feelings, okay? I’ll make it up to you. Whatever you want, I’ll buy it.
Maricela shot Harlan a playful glare. “See what you did? You upset Ced’s wifey. Say sorry! Not everyone is as rough and easy–going as I am. You can’t tease them the same way.
Lucille sneered inside, “What a load of fake crap.”
But the guys couldn’t tell. They were lapping it up.
Harlan refused to back down. “I did! I didn’t know Lucille would walk in. I was totally joking.”
“It isn’t a joke unless the person being joked about thinks it’s funny,” Lucille shot back, voice quivering. It took every ounce of guts she had left to get the words out.
She was the cripple. She didn’t deserve Cedrick.
That single thought had haunted her for five straight years. Whenever someone side–eyed her or thought she wasn’t good enough, she’d duck for cover like a scared bird and hole up for days, fixing herself alone.
“But I already apologized,” Harlan muttered.
“I… I’m not taking your sorry…” Lucille stammered, shaking even harder. It was her first time ever standing up to a joke about her leg.
“So what do you want?” he grumbled.
She didn’t know. She just kept shaking her head. She couldn’t stand Cedrick’s buddies making fun of her, and it hurt even more that he sided with them.
“Shut up,
both of you.” Cedrick rose and stepped between them.
09:24
Chapter 4
He was the boss of this pack.
Right after college, he had dragged them all into business. With his smart ideas and relentless drive, they had built the company they had today
So when he said stop, everybody else shut right up
“Lucille,” Cedrick looked at her with the same old flat stare, nothing like the way his eyes Int up in that video. “They’re my close buddies, and they’re not trying to be mean. Let it slide for me, okay? I’ll get the driver to take you home.”
“Lucille.” Maricela pouted and snuggled up to Cedrick. “If you’re mad, blame me Don’t ice out Ced. They threw this party because I’m back. Ced, make Lucille stay. I’ll pour her a drink and say sorry.”
Ugh, so hypocritical.
“Forget it.” Lucille stared straight at Cedrick. He was the one letting Maricela talk like that. She swallowed the bitterness, voice steady. “I don’t do alcohol, and I sure as hell don’t take a drink from some cheap bitch.”
Maricela’s eyes went watery. “Ced, is she calling me a bitch? I—” She sniffed hard. “It’s okay, really. She got me wrong. Let her say her piece; it’s no big deal. Don’t be mad at her.”
Cedrick’s face hardened. “Mari was trying to be nice. Why the nasty bite?”
Nice?
Only an idiot would call that “nice.”
Was Cedrick an idiot?
No. He just picked sides, not truth.
Whoever he liked was right.
Lucille looked at the two of them and the others behind. She felt a wall she could never climb stood between her and them.
They were on the same team, a solid clique, while she was an outsider barging in. Actually, she had never even made it inside. She was extra, even on the edge.
She swallowed her tears, gave a snort, and turned to leave.
09:24 T
Chapter 4
Behind her, Maricela said to Cedrick, “Lucille-”
“Don’t worry. She’s good at playing along. I’ll go sweet–talk her later. Let’s keep going. Forget her.” Cedrick glanced back at Lucille and texted the driver: “Take Lucille home.”
Lucille wanted to walk out like she didn’t care, but her legs wouldn’t obey. The more she fought for dignity, the more they shook.
Rushing out all flustered, she probably looked just like Harlan when he imitated her.
They’d burst out laughing the second the door shut.
She swiped the tears away hard and hurried off, but her legs wobbled more.
When Cedrick’s driver finally got outside, Lucille was already gone.
He came back and told Cedrick.
Cedrick frowned and called her, but she hung up. When he tried again, her phone was already off.
Harlan was kind of pissed, and now he let it rip. “Bro, she has got that attitude because you keep letting her. With your cash and looks, any girl would treat you like a king. Yet she’s acting up. Man, you’re way too soft.”
Cedrick said nothing.
The others chimed in. “Harlan is right. You bust your ass out there for her and your family, and she can’t even show a little understanding. Now, she gets pissy over nothing. She isn’t worth it!”
“Yeah. Tying the knot with you is like winning the lottery for her. No kidding, who’s gonna want a lame girl? If you walk away, she’ll be stuck with some other cripple!”
Maricela waited for the right moment to chime in. “Ced, don’t let their remarks about your wife get under your skin. They mean well and care about you. After all, you’ve been friends for years. Even if some words sting, brush them off and don’t dwell on them!”