Just When I Think I'm Doing Fine....

Monroe and I made our way downstairs and grabbed our luggage from the concierge.  He had his arm around my waist as we hailed a cab and made our way over to his loft.  I had never been so thankful for a long purse strap, as I checked my purse for my phone and decided to make a few phone calls.  I rallied my girls and their boyfriends to the loft, just telling them ‘get to Monroe’s loft ... now!’

When we arrived we walked up to the door and Monroe said “Welcome home!”  I smiled and opened the door to the building and we made our way to the elevator.  It was kind of surreal; the elevator was one of those with the two horizontal doors that you have to pull closed.  He showed me where to put the key to get the elevator to move to his unit.  When it opened, we walked into his loft and to be honest I felt like I was finally home.  I looked around and smiled, thinking of all the things I wanted to do with his place, even though I didn’t think I was going to stay that long.  I knew I needed a fresh start somewhere, and that wouldn’t and couldn’t be in the same city as Craig. 

One by one my friends started to arrive at Monroe’s and we gathered around the island in the kitchen.  And each of them had brought a bottle of some kind of alcohol.  We all started talking and I took stock of what friends had shown up; Michelle and her boyfriend Ian, Stacey and her husband Bo, Courtney and her boyfriend Scott.  While Monroe gave them the low down as to what had happened, as I sat and listened and drank my red wine, a loud buzz filled the room.  We all went silent as Monroe was trying to figure out who it was.  Whomever it was Monroe allowed them up.  When the elevator opened up, I saw who it was and burst into tears, there stood my big brother Duane.  I ran to him and cried on this shoulder as he shushed me and told me everything would be ok.  The room seemed to lose its tension as we walked together out to the balcony.  Monroe resumed his story telling and when I was out of earshot produced the video for our friends to gasp at.

Out on the balcony Duane sat me down in a chair and squatted in front of me.  “Ok Baby girl what happened? I went to your condo and Craig was holding ice to his face and said that you hit him but then asked if I knew where you were.  I had to make a few phone calls to find out where you had gone to.  Now tell me what is going on here?”  I wiped the tears away and sniffled and gave him the low down of the last 2 weeks, including what I had just witnessed.  I saw the fire in Duane’s eyes and his body go tense.  He had always been so protective of me, and I was the only one who was able to calm him down “Duane look at me, I punched him, it’s over.  I’m not going back.  Do not do anything crazy, he’s not worth it.  I’m going to stay at Monroe’s until I figure out my next step.  But I will need you and the boys in there to go clear out my stuff from his condo.”  I was making a mental list of everything I needed removed.  Duane got up and sat next to me with his hand over mine, and breathed deeply to calm himself.  We sat in silence, and that was our reassurance that we were ok.  I got up and he followed me inside and I sat at the island and made a list of the items I needed from the condo.  All the boys said they would be willing to help, and the girls were going to go and make sure anything fragile was wrapped properly.  I gave Duane the list and gave the keys to Michelle.  This way Duane couldn’t go get in trouble.  By the time we looked at the clock we had realized it was well after midnight.  The group dispersed but were going to start moving my stuff tomorrow afternoon.

I yawned as I cleared the empty glasses of the island.  Monroe was moving my stuff into the bedroom I knew everything in my luggage was pretty much laundry and vowed to do both of our laundry tomorrow.  As I placed the glasses down I happened to look at my hand and noticed I was still wearing the ring.  It was then that I actually broke down and cried, and these were tears of sadness.  I turned and slid down the cabinets sobbed into my hands.  I couldn’t even imagine how it came to this, to me leaving the man I was supposed to marry in less than a couple of months, finding him thrusting himself up inside the person whom was supposed to be my best friend, and now in a loft that wasn’t even mine and trying to piece my life back together.  I slid the ring off and just held it in my finger tips, staring at it.  Monroe called out for me and then looked around the island and found me on the kitchen floor.  He bent down slowly and looked at my blotchy face “Bella, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but it will be okay.  Everything will work out the way it is supposed to, it is not the end of the world” I nodded as he spoke to me in a calm voice, and I got up and handed him my ring “Put that somewhere for now, I may have to sell it to get a place of my own”.

Monroe went to say something but decided against it and pulled me to my feet.  He hugged me and led me to spare room “you stay here until I go back to New York, then the master is all yours.  I know you don’t have any sleep wear so I found an old t-shirt that you can at least wear tonight and then by tomorrow evening we should have most of your stuff back here.”  Monroe kissed me on the cheek and went to his room, closing my door quietly.  I lay back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling and the last thing I remember was staring up at the fan over my head.

I woke up the next morning and heard voices in the living room.  I put on a pair of shorts from my suitcase, still vowing to do laundry today, and walked out.  There were all my friends checking out my list with Duane leading the pack on how to get it all out and fast. I leaned against the wall and smiled, thinking how lucky I am.  Michelle turned around and smiled and walked towards me.  The group then turned and waved and Duane stood up straight and nodded in my direction. 

“Well I guess I’ll get dressed and go with you guys” I said and Michelle and the rest of the group all said ‘no, no you stay here.’  Duane approached me and said quietly “I think it’s best if you stay here, let us deal with this, I don’t want him anywhere near you right now.”  I knew there would be no changing Duane’s mind so I just nodded.  I went to the kitchen and made myself a cup of tea while the troops planned their attack on the condo.  Michelle came to the kitchen and leaned against the counter, her and I always had that kind of connection that we didn’t need to speak we just knew.  I whispered that I had jewellery in the bedroom in the jewel box on the dresser.  She nodded and moved back to the group as it seemed like they were ready to get on their way.

They all departed and headed down to their respected cars.  Monroe hung back for a second and said “I know you want to go, but I think it is best that you stay here.  I already told Craig we were coming and would appreciate if he is not there.  Just wait here we won’t be too long.” He kissed my cheek and closed his door.  I sighed and looked around the now empty loft.  I must’ve sat on the couch flipping through channels on the TV for over and hour before I decided to get up and go to the grocery store and get some food.  The least I could do for them was feed them after all the work they are doing for me.

I went to the local bodega and picked up various cold cuts and cheese, bread and buns, and some antipasto items.  I put everything into my carry all bag, stopped at the local beer store and picked up a 24 of beer.  I was thanking my lucky stars when I was walking home that Monroe didn’t live far, I had forgotten how heavy a 24 was. 

As I rounded the corner I was digging for my keys and bumped into someone.  I looked up and apologized and couldn’t believe whose eyes I was staring into......

Home Sweet...Oh No You Didn't!

Monroe pushed his way past me and found the condo filled with stargazer lilies.  The condo smelled amazing and I knew that Craig was trying to get back into my good graces.  The condo was brightly lit and there was music playing in the background.  Each of the songs we had danced to over the time we had been together on loop.  Each bouquet had a card, as I read each one it was written in his writing detailing each good memory we had together.  As I made my way through the condo reading each card and smiling, I turned to see a note on the table

            Isabella,

                        I know this will never make up for what I have done.  And I will forever be sorry and I hope that we can talk and work through this.  If you still love me, which I hope you do, you will go to the bedroom and see the gift I have for you.  Please forgive me!

                                                            Love Always,

                                                                        Craig

I knew Craig didn’t know what time I would be home.  But he went to such great lengths to surprise me I decided to head to the bedroom.  Monroe was trailing behind me as we got closer to the door.   When I opened it I found a small jewellery box in the middle of the bed with a stargazer lily and a rose entwined around it.  Craig didn’t always know how to say he was sorry so he would shower me with gifts, and this was no exception.  When I opened it I found a pair of 2 carat diamond earrings.  I sat on the bed and looked up at Monroe who was still a stoic as he always is in these situations.  He cocked his eyebrow and shook his head.  “Oh no Bella!  Don’t you back down now!  Think of what he’s done to you, he cheated on you....CHEATED! Not once but who knows how many times, and he will do it again!”  Just as I was about to soften we heard keys followed by voices at the front door and we both rushed into the bedroom closet and closed the door.  We have those closet doors that have the slats in them, so Monroe and I listened closely as we stood silently behind them. Monroe whipped out his smartphone and instantly started recording.

 We both heard a distinctive female voice, Chloe, “oh my God are these for me? I knew you loved me more than her!”  Craig snorted at her to kind of let her know that he didn’t need to woo her, and I was ready to dive out of the closet and rip them both apart but Monroe grabbed my arm and shook his head.   The door closed quickly and we then heard Craig get loud “WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING SENDING BELLA THOSE PICTURES? AND WHO SAID I LOVE YOU??? YOU KNOW I LOVE HER!!”

Chloe was not one to back down on something she wanted “FIRST OF ALL, DON’T FUCKING YELL AT ME!  Secondly if you loved her why did you continue to fuck me for the last 6 months?  And lastly, I sent them to show her that it wasn’t just a onetime thing, for goodness sake you slept at my house when you told her you were on business!  I do everything she doesn’t do for you!!”  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I wanted to dive out there so badly, but Monroe was keeping me restrained and had his phone out recording the entire conversation.  She continued on “You know you want me Craig, look how hard you are.  You want me right now, you want to stick that hard cock inside me and pound away all the frustrations that your frigid fiancée causes you.”  We heard him push her to the wall and grunt “Is this what you want Chloe? You want me to fuck you?” She was moaning like a bitch in heat “yea I want you inside me now!”  And like that we heard the rhythmic thumping against the wall.  She was grunting and he was growling.  Monroe opened the closet door and crept out into the hallway with his phone still recording.  He held his hand steady and videotaped them, Craig’s pants around his ankles and her skirt around her waist, as they continued their tryst next to the door.  Tears started to roll down my face, but not in sadness, I was pissed!  My fists were balling up at my sides and I was following Monroe out of the bedroom. 

When I finally saw it with my own eyes, I lunged “YOU BITCH!!”  Craig practically dropped Chloe on her ass and tried to stop me from getting to her.  “Bella what are you doing here? It’s not what you think!”

“It’s not what I think huh? Your pants are around your fucking ankles and she’s practically leaking your cum out of her whore hole.  I can’t believe you two!” I reached up and clocked him right in the face so hard he fell over his feet, hit the ground and started moaning that he thought his nose was broken; Monroe was behind me videotaping everything.  Chloe looked shocked when she saw what I did to Craig and Monroe with his phone out and tried to run out but I quickly grabbed her by her hair and pulled her back.  “What I thought you loved him, now you’re going to turn tail and run because we caught you both red handed??”  I don’t know what came over me but I punched her right in the nose, blood started pouring out.  “You love him so much you stay with him!  You both deserve each other.”  They were both on the floor, Craig on the bottom and Chloe across him, looking like an ‘X” on the floor, holding their faces and moaning in pain.

I ran to the bedroom and grabbed the earrings.  “Thanks for the parting gift Craig...this should fund my move.  Oh and by the way in case you didn’t figure it out.....THE WEDDING IS OFF!”  I stormed out the front door, Monroe then said “AND ... Scene” as he stopped the recording.  “This will do wonders in court if we need it! Toodles!”  He slammed the condo door and sprinted after me.  I was a mix of rage and sadness; I burst into tears on Monroe’s shoulder.  He held me and walked me into the elevator where I thought I was going to faint.  I was having one of those big ugly cries; I was so conflicted with my feelings.  On one hand I had never felt so betrayed....on the other I never felt so vindicated and proud that I stood my ground.  I knew violence was never the answer but, in the heat of the moment I will not lie, it felt good.

Can We Talk?

I rolled my eyes as I made my way over to him.  I sat down next to him and looked at him typing away to someone on the computer.  He closed his lap top and turned to face me. 

“Ok, we seriously need to talk about this.  What are you going to do?  I mean this was not just a onetime ‘hit it and quit it’ this was a multiple time affair they had.  What are you going to do when you go home? Do you have some place to go?”  He asked me.

I placed my mug on the table and sighed, I honestly didn’t think we would try and conquer this on day 2 of our vacation.  “I honestly don’t know Monroe.  My heart is screaming to give him a chance; my head is trying to bitch slap my heart.” I giggled and then continued “I would’ve gone to Chloe but clearly that is NOT an option.  So I guess I will have to look at places when I get back.” I shrugged “You know you can’t keep me in witness protection forever, I’m gonna have to strap on my big girl panties and talk to him eventually.”

Monroe nodded through my response, and when I was done he handed me a key.  “My loft isn’t being leased right now.  So you can move in.  I’m going to be in New York for a while anyway.  I will help you move and then go back home.  I will come back if you need me, but you’re right.  You need to deal with this eventually.  And as much as I want you to move to New York with me...”  I nodded and leaned forward and hugged him tight.  Monroe had always lead the charmed life, affluent family, best of everything; his parents bought him that loft when he started university.  I never really knew what drew us together, other than I was not that friend who used him for what he had to offer.  I was his friend because he was my friend.  No strings attached.

I thanked him as I pulled away and asked if I could use the phone.  It was only day 2 and I knew I needed to talk to Craig.  If this was going to be over, I wanted to at least give him a heads up, not that he deserved it.  Monroe passed me his cell phone and I went to my room.  I didn’t even care if there was a time difference I just dialled Craig’s cell phone.  I won’t lie when I say I was hoping it would go to voice mail.  On the second ring he picks up and starts yelling:

“WHERE IS SHE MONROE? TELL ME NOW OR I WILL FIND YOU...”

“Hi” I say quietly.

“Oh my god baby!! Where are you?? Baby let me explain everything....please come home.  Don’t throw our relationship away.  Chloe meant nothing to me, please believe me....come home let’s talk about this.”

“Craig I’ve seen the pictures.  And I mean all the pictures.  Your little girlfriend sent me some of the pictures you two must’ve taken.  How do you explain that?!  You can’t make this go away, it happened, and more than once.  You and I need to take some time apart; when I come home I will be moving out and into a place of my own.  So you can see your girlfriend, whom you’ve snuck around with for months, out in the open now if you choose.  Since she claims you love her.”

“That bitch” he whispered.  “Baby please let me come get you, we can go and talk.  Where are you Bella, I will come for you right now.  I do not love Chloe, I love YOU!! Please, Bella I need a second chance.  Don’t shut me out.”

“Craig I am away, far away.  I will not be back in the country until Saturday.  I will come by and get a few of my things and will send for the rest.  Please don’t be there when I come home.”  I hung up the phone before he could plead anymore.  I wiped away the tears from my eyes and took a deep breath.  I walked back out to the living room and found Monroe on his laptop again.  I figured he was working so I handed him his phone and walked out the double doors into the warm sunshine by our infinity pool.  I was standing there and he came out and with one look he knew that I had broken it to Craig that I was moving out.  He nodded and all of a sudden I felt him push me into the pool.  I screamed as I fell in and came up sputtering and giggling.  Monroe was bent over laughing at me, he always knew how to break the tension, but I certainly wasn’t expecting this.    I look at him as sternly as possible “Revenge is a bitch, keep that in mind Monroe!”  I start to walk out of the pool and I am wringing out my clothes as much as possible.

This was going to be a fun week, if Monroe died trying.  He already had me out of my funk in a matter of 2 days.  We decided to call room service and stay in for the night.  As much as I knew he wanted to go out and hunt down some cute guys, and I tried to encourage him to go, he wouldn’t leave me.  We had a wonderful dinner, followed by a walk on the beach where we reminisced about our friends growing up.  Every story beginning with “Do you remember the time...?”

When we returned to our suite I was exhausted from laughing.  I hugged him and said good night.  I turned to him and thanked him for everything, to which he responded with the biggest smile and you’re welcome.  We retired to our bedrooms and I fell asleep looking out of the windows at the stars.

The week passed by in the blink of an eye.  Monroe had planned spa days, and we lounged by the pool.  We did go out one night and it was like old times with us.  On the Friday night before we were to head home, we decided to hit the disco again.  We danced and drank the evening away until Monroe found himself a cute boy and well let’s just say, after he tucked me safe in the suite, I didn’t see him until almost noon the next day looking quite well sexed.  I teased him asking him if he remembered this name to which he threw a banana at me and laughed.  We started packing for home, to which I was not exactly thrilled about, but I knew I had to go sometime.  But I felt a lot more confident about it with Monroe by my side.   He walked into my bedroom holding my phone (which he had fully charged for me) and my engagement ring.  I slid my phone into my purse and looked at the ring; my ring.  That is when it hit me at just how much had happened. 

I slid my ring on and grabbed my luggage.  Taking a long look back out the window and sighing.  It was a quick flight home, and customs was not a headache.  We pulled up in front of our place, and I looked up out the window at our building.  Monroe got out and took our luggage out of the trunk.  When we walked into the building we were greeted and I asked if we could leave our luggage down with the desk.   Monroe and I went upstairs and I stood outside staring at the door.  All that was going through my head was ‘what if Chloe is in there? What if he forgot I was coming home and they have decided to make their relationship public knowledge?’  Monroe nudged me and I snapped back to reality and put my key in.  I slowly opened the door, hoping my worst fears weren’t going to come true.  We both walked through the door and I was frozen in spot.....

Island Time.....

**May 2013**

We made our way inside and straight to the west jet counter.  I passed my passport to Monroe and he pulled out his wallet and passport.  I tried to offer something for the tickets and he scowled at me, which instantly told me to back off.    We checked our luggage and headed towards security. I was surprised that the line up wasn’t longer; when Craig and I went to Punta Cana we were waiting forever to clear security.

It was a quick run through security since we really didn’t have much on us. And before I knew it we were boarding the plane.  I couldn’t believe we were sitting in first class, it was so comfortable.  Once we were in flight I was wishing I had my phone and looked over at Monroe who was listening to music and leaning back in his chair.  I went to reach for my phone and he grabbed my hand, smiled and held it.  He shook his head and mouthed “not now”.  I knew he was right; he was the only one who was making any sense right now.  I leaned on his shoulder and closed my eyes, and all that kept playing in my head was what Craig had said to me.  Then I started thinking ‘was it my fault? Did I push him to this?’

Monroe gently shaking me awake, as he handed me a drink of orange juice and champagne.  He held his up and made a toast “To sun, drinks and cute cabana boys” as he winked as we clinked our glasses and I forced a smile.  He looked me in the eye “It is NOT your fault! You didn’t tell him to stick his penis into Chloe.  And Chloe didn’t trip and fall vagina first onto him.  Let him stew on what he’s done, and we will deal with it as we always do.....together.”  He kissed my forehead and we drank our champagne. 

I must have been emotionally exhausted because next think I knew I opened my eyes again to the captain asking us to put up our trays and fasten our seatbelts.  It was a smooth landing, and we were the first ones out of the plane and down to baggage claim.  We got our luggage and headed for exit.  When the doors opened we were hit with a warm blast of air.  I couldn’t get over how beautiful it was and we hadn’t even reached the resort yet.  A short cab ride later, which I insisted I pay for, we had arrived at the most beautiful mountain top resort. 

I was in shock and awe at the beautiful island.  When we checked in and led to our suite, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  The double doors opened upon our living room, to which was furnished with rich mahogany furniture.  As I looked up there were huge glass doors leading out to our own private (wait for it...) IN FINITY POOL.  I looked at Monroe, my mouth hanging open, and thought I was going to cry.  We managed to snag a 2 bedroom, which I knew was more for Monroe’s sake than mine, and each room had its own private balcony overlooking the ocean.  I sat on the huge king sized bed and leaned back, instantly raising my left hand and looking at my engagement ring. I sighed as i played with it.  My heart wasn’t ready to give up on Craig, but my head was screaming otherwise.  Monroe walked in “ok baby girl, bathing suits on now.  We are here to relax and plot our revenge against the world.”  He looked at me and I looked at him “Take it off and give it to me. I will lock it in the safe with our passports.  You need to think, not be distracted.” He was not taking no for an answer as he held out his hand.  I slid it off my finger, for the first time in a year, and handed it to him.  I felt so naked without my ring on.  He yelled from his room “get into a bikini ... we are going to try the infinity pool”. 

A few hours later after relaxing in the pool I was showering and changing into a summer dress that Monroe had packed up.  I walked out and asked him for my phone, he looked at me and was about to say no, when I quickly said “I have to face it sometime.”

We sat together on the balcony off of Monroe’s bedroom and decided to start with Craig’s messages.  Most of them begging me to come home, let him explain, professing his love for me, and give him a second chance.  Then they started to get accusatory, blaming me for driving him to her, for me never being around, then again the apologetic ones started all over again. Monroe was snorting while reading them, muttering ‘asshole’ and ‘douchebag’ upon occasion.  I sat in silent contemplation over what I had just read.  There were still Chloe’s texts to read, but I didn’t know whether I wanted to know what she had to say for herself.  However, Monroe was not letting this go, he wanted to know.  So we opened it up and there were more pictures of them together, and some of them were pretty explicit.  I couldn’t believe my BFF could do this to me.  I started to cry and Monroe took the phone and scrolled through them.  He finally found some text from her that simply stated “I am not sorry that we slept together, but I’m sorry we hurt you.  He loves me Bella, and I hope you won’t come between us.”  All of a sudden I was enraged.  I started screaming “LOVE? SHE THINKS THEY ARE IN LOVE?? WHAT THE FUCK DOES SHE KNOW ABOUT FUCKING LOVE????”  I was about to haul my phone over the balcony when Monroe stopped me.  He removed it from my hand as I leaned in and cried angry tears. 

I awoke the next morning in my bed.  The sun shining through the large windows, it was breath taking.  Forgetting where I was I reached out for Craig, hoping this was all a dream, but i found a cold empty half of the bed.  It hit me that it wasn’t a dream and that in one night I had lost my fiancée and my best friend.  I got up and went straight to the shower, and got lost in the shower, washing away everything I had been through in the last 24 hours.  I stepped out of the shower, dried myself off and then put on a tank top and shorts.  I walked into the living room where Monroe sat with his lap top out, typing something out.  I saw he had already ordered breakfast and tea for me.  I smiled realizing he was the one true friend I had.  I looked over at him as I made my tea and asked “what are you doing?”

He simply smiled and stated “why plotting our revenge my dear....”

 

How Could You?

**May 2013**

We stood staring at each other.  Craig kept looking back and forth between Monroe and me.  When I finally took a good look at him, he looked like he had showered.  I cocked my eyebrow at Monroe and he smirked.  I have always had such confidence around Monroe.  It was like he provided me with a backbone.

“Going somewhere Bella?” Craig asked rather sarcastically.  Monroe went to say something and I lightly grabbed his arm to silence him.

“Looks like you had a shower.  Working hard again?”  I pushed past him and he grabbed my arm lightly and looked at me “what is going on? Where are you going?”  I pulled my arm away and said in my most sickeningly sweet voice “Oh, just out with Monroe.  I left the details on the dining room table.”

Craig walked into our place and Monroe and I made a quick getaway towards the elevator.  As we got in we heard the door open and Craig yelling “Bella wait!! Bella please don’t” as he barrelled down the hallway.  I stood in the farthest corner as the door closed tightly and started to cry again.  Monroe pulled me close and didn’t let go.  We got to the lobby and exited the building and hailed a cab.  As we got in and it pulled away I saw him....running after me....calling for me.

We quickly pulled away into traffic and my phone instantly started ringing with Craig’s personalized ringtone. I went to answer it when Monroe snatched it out of my hands shaking his head.  He knew that Craig would work his magic and sweet talk me into coming home.   He tucked my cell into his jacket pocket and took out his phone told the cab driver ‘Fairmont Royal York’ and started making phone calls.  I paid the driver despite the looks that Monroe was giving me; we grabbed my luggage from the trunk and headed into the hotel.  Monroe hung up and looked at me “all arranged”, as we headed for the elevator.  I could hear the muffled ring coming from inside his jacket, but I knew Monroe wouldn’t give it up to me until we were well out of Craig’s reach.

“Where are we going?” I asked as we exited the elevator and went to his hotel room.  He tried his best to ignore me, as we got into the room and he started packing.  He handed me his phone “Call your boss, and tell him you need to take some personal time.  DO NOT CALL CRAIG!”  I nodded and phoned my boss, and asked if I could take some personal time due to a family emergency.  He obliged and offered to help if he could; which I graciously thanked him for but declined.  I didn’t need any more people finding out what happened.  I handed the phone back to Monroe and asked again “Where are we going??”  He smiled and said “It took a lot of me cashing in favours owed to me, and a lot of favours I’m going to owe some people...but we are going to St. Lucia.  You need to be as far away as possible right now, so you can clearly think about your next step.”  I smiled and a tear rolled down my cheek.  What did I do to have such an awesome BGF?  I hugged him tight and thanked him, and Monroe just apologized for having introduced us and having to break us up.  Though my head acknowledged that it was over, my heart wasn’t ready to give up yet. 

I asked for my phone back and had to promise that I wouldn’t call Craig or Chloe or answer any of their attempts to contact me until we were out of the country.  He handed it to me and I saw 20 missed calls mostly from Craig but a few from Chloe and Courtney.  I didn’t even look at the texts but there were a bunch of those too.  We were walking down the hall with our luggage and heading for the elevator when my mom called me. 

I answered and she immediately starts raising her voice “ISABELLA WHERE ARE YOU? CRAIG HAS CALLED HERE WORRIED SICK.  HE SAID MONROE KIDNAPPED YOU; TELL ME NOW WHAT IS GOING ON???”

I immediately start trying to calm her down. 

“Mom relax Craig and I need some time apart, things have happened that I do not want to discuss on the phone.   No Monroe didn’t kidnap me; we are going away so I can clear my head.  You’ve known Monroe his whole life; you know he wouldn’t do that.”  She immediately calmed down and asked if the wedding was still on, which I couldn’t give her a straight answer to.  We stepped out of the elevator and I promised to call my mom when we reached our destination.  She seemed to be calmer as I hung up and we got into another cab.  “Pearson .... departures terminal 3”

I closed my eyes gripping my phone as we made our way to the airport.  I must’ve fallen asleep because next thing I know Monroe is shaking me awake.  My phone rings as I am getting out of the cab.  I didn’t even think twice when I answered it.

“Oh good you answered, baby just listen don’t say anything.  I know this looks bad, but Bella she means nothing to me.  I was lonely you and Monroe were off planning the wedding, or you were tired from work and planning that I needed an outlet.  I know it was wrong and I am so sorry, please come home.  Let’s talk about this.  Remember what I said I love YOU, do you remember that?”

My eyes are welling with tears and the anger surged through me as I respond “so this is my fault? It’s my fault that I was too busy to fuck you so you turned to my best friend?!  Really is that what you are saying?  So every time I don’t have the energy to fuck you...this is going to happen?   I....”  and just like that Monroe grabbed the phone and hung up on him and stuck the phone inside his jacket.  He grabbed me and held me as I cried into his chest; he slowly leaned down and whispered “let’s get out of this place.  Time for sunshine, drinks and cute cabana boys.”  I giggled between sobs and nodded before sticking my shades on and walking with Monroe into the airport.

Picture Perfect?

**May 2013**
“Who was that?”  I asked as he quickly shoved his phone into his pocket.

“Oh it was just my mom” he said as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him.   I saw his eyes darken and he started to bite his lower lip, looking down at me wrapped in just a sheet. I felt him grow hard against my belly and his grip got tighter and his hands went lower around my ass and he squeezed.  He leaned down and kissed and sucked on my neck as I leaned into him, one hand still gripping the sheet closed around my naked body.

“Let go of the sheet” he said huskily.  I looked around and was nervous, biting my lower lip, goosebumps had started covering my body.  Craig lightly put his hand over mine and massaged my hand to let the sheet go.  I looked up into his blue eyes as she sheet fell away from me and pooled at my feet.  My nipples becoming erect from the cool ocean air, he looked down and groaned from deep inside.  A sound I have come to know and resonates through me to my core.  I feel his grip grow tighter around my thighs as he lifts me up and I wrap my legs around him.  He carried me inside our suite and straight to our bedroom.  Craig laid me down slowly on the bed and quickly removed his shirt and shorts.  He crawled back over top of me and slides inside quickly.  I groaned as he filled me and he was thrusting quickly and roughly bringing me to the brink quickly.  I swear I saw stars as I came hard around him, he held still and deep inside me and as I started to come down he started thrusting again harder.  He pulled out and flipped me over and grabbed my hair and thrust into me fast, I felt another orgasm building up inside me as he reached around and rubbed me.  I exploded and he pushed deep inside and came with me with a loud groan.  After we collapsed on the bed Craig withdrew and pulled me close.  Both of us out of breath and in our post orgasmic bliss, I finally felt we had found what we were missing.  We just needed to spend more time together, no contracts or wedding planning; just us.

We spent the rest of the week either sunbathing, or wrapped around each other.  I was so sad that we had to leave and go back to reality.  He was in the shower as I packed up our stuff, and I heard his phone ring.  I grabbed it and saw it was Chloe (my best friend).  I shrugged as I answered it:

“Hey Chloe!  How are you?”

The line went silent as I repeated

“Chloe? Are you there?”

 She stuttered “OH Sorry! How are you Bella? How is the vacation?”

I giggled and said it was amazing and that we had finally reconnected and it was back to the way it was.  I didn’t even think to question why she was calling Craig; since I knew she had his number in case of emergency when we were out.   I half wondered if Craig and she were planning some kind of surprise for the wedding, she was one of the bridesmaids after all.  We made some small talk before she hung up and Craig came out of the shower.  He saw the phone in my hand and he went white. 

I handed him his phone and said nothing, just continued to pack as he paced around almost scared to ask who called.  When I looked at him, I knew something was off and just blurted out “It was just Chloe, maybe she was trying to get a hold of me but I didn’t bring my phone.  Are you two planning something?”

He laughed it off and said “it’s nothing” and proceeded to get dressed.  Craig knew how to distract me and came up behind me, smiled as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck “I Love YOU Bella, don’t ever forget that”.   I smiled and playfully pushed him away and finished our packing so we could make it to the airport on time.  A quick cab ride and a bumpy air flight later we were home and unpacking.

I turned on my phone and had a few messages from Monroe saying he was in town and wanted to see me as soon as possible.  I called him to let him know I was back and he wanted to come over.  I told Craig he was coming and he said it was good timing because he wanted to run to the office to make sure that the deal went through.  I thought it was odd, as it was a Sunday, but what do I know about stuff like this.

An hour later Monroe had showed up at my door and looked stressed out.  I quickly invited him in and opened a bottle of wine. 

“What’s wrong? Why do you look like you are about to ...” I didn’t even finish the sentence when he blurted out loud

“CRAIG AND CHLOE ARE FUCKING BEHIND YOUR BACK!!”

I was shell shocked.  We had just come back from vacation, we were getting married, and they wouldn’t do this to me. 

“No Monroe, you’re wrong.  They can’t be.”  I heard my voice shake and tears well up.  Monroe had always been a straight shooter with me.  And I knew he would never lie to me, what did he have to gain from it?! 

“Bella, I’ve been in town for a week trying to find you.  Courtney told me you two went on a pre-honeymoon.  I didn’t know how to tell you but a few of my friends have been seeing them all over town the last few months.  I tried to deny it to them too.  That is until they started sending me pictures.  Bella...think about it.....he’s been pulling away for the last little while; Chloe has not helped once with planning anything, she’s always busy.  Yea busy on her knees....” He stated that last bit dripping with sarcasm and venom. 

We were about 1 month until the wedding.  I sat down next to Monroe; I was white as a sheet and drank my whole glass of wine.  “Let me see the pictures.”  He hesitated until I glared at him with daggers, he knew not to mess with me at that point and pulled out his phone and flipped through picture after picture of Craig and Chloe with their tongues down each other’s throats at various bars downtown.  The tears started pouring down my cheeks.  I started to get mad at myself thinking it how stupid I was.   How could I not see this happening?  I started to cry harder and was a loss for words.  Between sobs I asked him to email the photos to me.  He hesitated but knew I had to have evidence to confront Craig. 

We sat on the couch, my head on his shoulder “What am I going to do now?”

Monroe sat up and said “Well we are going to print out those pictures.  And leave a short note.  Pack a bag and you and I are going away.  Tell your boss you need some personal time and I’m calling in some favours you are not staying here where he can talk his way out of this.”  He got up off the couch and moved to our computer and printed out the pictures.  He strategically laid them out on the dining room table, all the while I am sitting on the couch, sobbing. 

“Bella come on, he will be back soon.  We have to get out of here.  Write that note say something like I hope she was worth it....I am packing up your bag.  COME ON GIRL!”  I started giggling as he started to bring out his flamboyant side in that last sentence.  I wrote out a short but sweet note to him:

Dear Craig,

Thank you for the lovely vacation. It served as a great distraction from your “contract” and my wedding planning.  Looks like you had quite a bit of “negotiating” to do with the client.  Maybe one should be more careful where one chooses to wine and dine clients.  Oh wait that’s not a client, that’s my BEST FRIEND!

I hope she was worth it. 

Isabella

I contemplating leaving the ring on the table too, but I decided it was not going to end up on that trolls finger.  Monroe comes speeding around the corner with my suitcase, a few things still hanging out of the zippers.  I grabbed my purse and made sure I had my passport, wallet and cell phone, we made our way to the door.  I opened it as I slid on my sunglasses and there stood Craig, keys in hand.