Read Online Here and Now by E. L. Todd - Free Book Online Page A

and Mike crept toward the door, trying not to be noticed. We rose slowly from our chairs, trying not to distract Ryan and Janice. I knew dishes would be flying through the air in just a second.
    “How dare you say that to me?” Janice screamed. “It’s just a stupid party? Our wedding day is just a stupid party? And you have the audacity to say I’m materialistic because I’m not giving it up s o I can donate money to charity? I’m well aware of the fact that people in the world don’t have what I have. And I appreciate everything I have every single day. But that’s beside the point, Ryan. This is about us and where we are now. You’re lucky this ring is tattooed on my finger otherwise I’d chuck it at your hard head!”
    “Go, go,” Sean whispered.
    We crept to the door then tip-toed through it. We shut the door then dashed down the hallway, like we’d see Ryan get kicked out with a pissed look on his face. When we got to the street, we all took a deep breath.
    “God, that was bad,” Monnique said.
    “I would not want to be either one of them right now,” Cortland said.
    “I knew they would fight,” Laura said. “But…I didn’t know it would turn into that.”
    “They scream at each other like they hate each other,” Sean said.
    “But then they screw like rab bits,” I said. “It’s normal for them.”
    Mike shook his head. “Cassandra and I didn’t always get along, but it never turned into that.” That was the first time he mentioned her voluntarily.
    No one had a response to his comment.
    “Do you think they’ll break up?” Laura asked hesitantly.
    “No,” I said automatically. “They’ll fight for a few days then be back to normal.”
    “Are you sure…?” Laura didn’t seem convinced.
    “I’m not worried about it,” I said. “They are volatile but they are stable at the same time. Honestly, Sean and I would get divorced before they would walk away from each other.”
    Sean looked at me, a glare in his eyes.
    “Hypothetically,” I said.
    “You think they are a stronger couple than we are?” he asked, his tone clipped.
    “Now we have another fire to run from,” Cortland said.
    “No, that’s not what I meant,” I said. “I just mean they’ve been more stable than any other couple here. Cortland and Monnique broke up, and you and I have been on and off for ten years. It took us forever to get our shit straight. When Ryan and Janice go through tough shit, they keep it together. Ryan doesn’t even leave the apartment even when he wants to strangle her. That’s all I meant.”
    “Whatever.” Sean didn’t look at me.
    I knew I would get an earful of this later.
    “Um…what should we do now?” Cortland asked.
    “I guess we could get a drink,” Monnique said. “I could use one.”
    “Me too,” Mike said.
    We walked to a nearby bar then sat in a booth. We all ordered hard liquor. No one was messing around tonight. Mike and Laura sat next to each other, but neither one engaged the other in conversation. Mike downed his scotch and Laura finished three glasses of whiskey like water.
    “You drink a lot,” Mike said.
    She shrugged. “I like drinking.”
    He smirked. “That makes two of us.”
    They seemed to be getting along pretty well.
    Cortland cupped his ear. “I can still hear them fighting.”
    Mike laughed. “I think I just heard Janice throw a bowl at his head. Poor bastard.”
    “My sis ter was being ridiculous though. Fifty grand?” Laura shook her head. “That’s way too much for a wedding. I don’t care how rich you are.”
    “I would have done it for Scarlet,” Sean said. “Because I’m a stable, reliable, and dependable husband.” He didn’t look at me when he spoke. But I knew that jab was directed at me.
    Cortland rolled his eyes. “Let it go, man.”
    Sean ignored the comment.
    “Is that too much for you?” Monnique asked.
    “Honestly, I would have said no too,” Cortland said. “Ryan had every right to be upset.”
    “He