Disclaimer:See Chapter One

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Erin looked at Neela. "I mean it." She closed the door and stepped into the hallway. "I've been with Ray through it all. Every whore. Every one night stand and every girl he's ever been in love with."

"Why'd he fall in love with me and not you?" Neela felt the cat in her beginning to come out.

"Oh, honey. He didn't love you." Erin laughed. "He what? Said you were the best friend he's ever had?" Neela stared at Erin, which made the latter smile. "Of course he did. Every girl he's had eyes on has heard that line. I've heard that line. Ray doesn't say he loves someone unless he means it." Erin stood closer to Neela. "He loved you, but not in the way you want to believe he did."

"You're a bitch." Neela snarled.

"Maybe, but I want you to know that I love Ray and he loves me and if I have to, I'll fight for him. You seem like a nice woman and I would like to be friends, but don't try to take Ray from me, otherwise you will see what a bitch I can be." She went back inside, leaving Neela wondering about her words.

"Still here?" Ray's voice echoed down the hall.

"She's a bitch, Ray. Just like Tony."

Ray stood staunch. "Don't you EVER call my wife a bitch again, Neela." His voice was soft, but harsh. "Just because you can't…"

"Look, Ray. I'll try to be nice and friendly because I still care about you, whether or not you believe it, but if she so much as…"

"Leave it, Neela." His voice was now threatening. "I'll see you at work tomorrow." He watched Neela leave, a small part of his heart breaking. He knew he still cared about her, but the woman who held his heart was inside and he knew her bitchiness was ready to come out. Erin had never liked it when a man yelled at a woman or was, in the slightest of ways, harsh. For her to have sent him out for groceries, he knew she had heard what he and Neela had been talking about. He sighed heavily before thinking about going in. He opened the door, expecting her to jump his case the minute he opened the door. "I'm home. Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine. You see Neela before she left?"

"Yeah." He put the groceries on the table. "You are amazing, you know that?"

"Doubt that." Erin started to put the groceries away.

"No, seriously. One minute you're the sweet charming Southern belle and the next you're a bitch." He flinched as she reached over for the can of corn.

"Just like my mother." She smiled.

"Is that such a good thing?" Ray laughed. "No offense, but I don't want to see your ass the size of your mom's. Otherwise, I'd have to leave you for that super skinny super model." He teased.

Erin playfully threw the plastic sack at him. "And if you end up like your poppa, I'm leaving you for Pratt."

"Ouch!" Ray grinned.

Erin faced him. "I heard what you said to Neela."

"Erin…"

"I don't care what she's done to you, Ray. You don't ever talk to anyone that way. You can't blame her for your legs, babe. You got drunk and walked in front of the truck."

"She never let me…"

"If you ever talk that way to her or me or any other woman while I'm around, it won't be only your legs you're missing." As if nothing happened, Erin smiled at him. "But, your momma raised you better and I know you won't. Now…" She walked over to him. "I'm sure your legs are hurting. What about taking a load off?" She kissed him.

"Ya know, I was just thinking that I needed to lay down." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

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Pratt looked at Neela as she walked back in. "Everything okay?"

"His wife's a bitch." Neela slammed the door of her locker.

"Whose wife?" Gates interrupted.

"Ray's." Neela sat down on the bench. "Erin. She's a real…you know what she said, Greg?"

Pratt sat next to her. "No, what did she say?"

"She told me not to push her because if she had to fight for Ray, she would."

"Wait. Barnett's married?" Gates could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"Yes. Six months. To an old friend of his from Louisiana." Neela's voice was full of pain and rage and, Pratt swore, a bit of venom.

"Wow. Who knew?" Gates smiled. Secretly, he was happy because now Neela could see the truth of who Ray Barnett really was. "I'm sorry, Neela."

"No, you're not, Tony." Neela looked at him. "You're actually happy because you never liked Ray and wanted nothing more than to keep us from being together and now that we can't, you're gloating inside." Neela spat. She wiped her eyes. "I've got work to do."

Pratt looked at Neela, remembering the last time she was this torn apart was when Michael had died. He hated it then and he hated it now. He hated that, like four years earlier, he couldn't fix it. "Get to work, Gates."