The Wandering Caravan by E. L. Todd Page A

thought Monnique would be over the fight we had a few nights ago, but she wasn’t. She normally didn’t hold a grudge about anything. She was a free spirit and didn’t waste her time being upset about things out of her control.
    But she was still pissed.
    When we went to bed that night, she turned on her side and faced the wall. She cuddled with a pillow instead of me and acted like I didn’t exist. I hadn’t brought up our argument because I didn’t think anything else needed to be said. I hoped the passage of time would rid the tension between us.
    But it didn’t.
    And now having her next to me was killing me. I missed the way she smiled at me, like I was her superhero. She would be clingy with me and never let me go. And I loved that. Now I felt like a stranger to her.
    I was always the perfect boyfriend to her, as much as I could be at least. I always picked her up from work even when it was at 3:00 a.m. I made her breakfast in bed every Sunday. I made love to her like I loved her. I told her she was beautiful every day, twice a day. I made her feel loved and cherished. I always helped with the housework and complimented her cooking. I really made an effort to make sure she never left me because I loved her so damn much. And I found it hard to believe that my one single flaw would push her away like this.
    “Baby,” I whispered. “Talk to me.”
    She held the pillow tighter and didn’t speak.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset.”
    I still got nothing from her.
    I decided to be more aggressive. I hooked my arm around her waist and pulled her to me, forcing her on her back. She tried to turn over again but I crawled on top of her, using my strength and size to make sure she couldn’t move. “Talk to me.”
    “Cortland, I’m tired.”
    “You’ve been tired for the past five days.”
    “Well, I am,” she said quietly. She turned her face and stared at the wall again.
    “Look at me,” I commanded.
    She sighed then met my gaze.
    “Why are you so upset?”
    “I told you I didn’t want to talk about it and you pressured me anyway. No means no, Cortland.”
    “Stop saying my name,” I snapped. She didn’t flinch when I raised my voice. “You call me babe. That’s it. Nothing else.”
    Monnique closed her lips.
    “I’m sorry about my curiosity. It’s such a big part of your life, and I don’t understand why you haven’t shared it with me. I tell you everything. You know exactly what happened with Elizabeth. I don’t even know when you broke up.”
    “Why does it matter?” she snapped.
    “It…it just bothers me.”
    “If I don’t want to tell you, I don’t have to. The fact you’re forcing me just makes me despise you.”
    “Despise?” My voice choked. That was harsh…
    “Then you call Scarlet right away. I know you asked her to pry it out of me. I’m not a locked safe you need a crowbar to open.”
    Scarlet told her?
    She glared at me. “No, she didn’t say anything to me. But I know you, Cortland. You run to her for everything.”
    “No, I run to you for everything. Scarlet knows a lot about me, but after you came into my life, I only confided my secrets to you.” Was she jealous of Scarlet? She never mentioned anything before.
    “That doesn’t make you entitled to all my secrets.”
    “Baby, take back what you said.”
    “Take back what?” she asked.
    “You said you despised me.”
    Her lips were sealed.
    I stared her down. “This is the first real fight we’ve ever had. I sincerely hope they aren’t all like this. Don’t say hurtful things to me if you don’t mean them. Because if you really meant that…maybe you shouldn’t have moved with me.” It hurt to say that, but it was the truth.
    She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just upset.”
    I waited for her to take it back.
    “I didn’t mean it…”
    I moved further over her then brushed her lips with mine. “I’m sorry I invaded your privacy. I just want to know everything about you,