Wow...I am such a delinquent! I apologize again for the lack of speedy updates with this fic. I have been writing feverishly, so I hope to be updating more quickly in the near future. I am also working on a Wicked fic. I will not start posting chapters from that until it is finished in order to avoid slow updates. Read on and enjoy!
Maureen mentally kicked herself. Why did she tell him that? She was only making thins worse. It would only be a matter of time before Collins and Mark found out. Knowing them, they were probably listening to every word from their room.
What would Collins say? He had seemed almost giddy at the thought of her and Roger together. Maureen groaned and went into her room to warn Benny that the proverbial shit had hit the fan.
The minute Benny saw her face he knew it had not gone well. He held his arms out to her and she curled into his warm embrace. The moment she did she regretted it because hot tears welled in her eyes. She sniffled and Benny held her tighter. Maureen hated crying. She didn't even know why she was crying. Maybe it was the fact that Roger hated her now. The thought had her outright sobbing.
Benny rocked her gently and rubbed her back soothingly. "It's going to be ok, Mo. He'll calm down and you guys will make up." He kissed the top of her head.
"We have to tell Mark and Collins. I don't want them to hate me too."
"Baby, they don't hate you and neither does Roger. He just has to get used to the fact that we're seeing each other." Maureen nuzzled her face into his chest. Benny chuckled. "You are too damn cute sometimes."
Maureen giggled and wiped the last of her tears away. "I guess I better go tell them," she sighed.
"Do you want me to come?"
"Would you?"
He kissed her tenderly. "For you, anything." He quickly got dressed and they went to confront their friends hand in hand.
Maureen rattled the beaded curtain that was the door to Collins' and Mark's room. "Come in. I thought you might be here soon," Collins' voice beckoned. Maureen swallowed past the lump in her throat and passed through the curtain with Benny close behind.
Collins was sitting at the end of his bed, staring at the floor. Mark gazed at her from the window with pity and sorrow in his eyes. He hated any kind of conflict, especially where his friends were concerned.
The silence hovered around them for what seemed like hours. It was Maureen who broke first. "Collins, I…" She trailed off, unsure of how to begin. She knelt in front of him. She wanted to look him in the eye when she did this. "I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner, both of you. There's no excuse for it. The only reason I didn't say anything is because I was scared."
Collins looked at her, confusion apparent on his handsome face. "What was there to be scared of?"
"I thought you would be angry with me, especially after you looked so happy the other day when you told me about Roger. I had already slept with Benny at that point," she admitted sheepishly. Benny had the grace to look embarrassed.
Collins looked so disappointed Maureen wanted to cry again, but she steeled her nerves. Tears wouldn't help right now. "I heard everything you said to Roger. I wish you had gone about this differently, but you're a grown woman. We can't tell you how to live your life. We can only support your decisions and be there to catch you should you fall," Collins told her.
Maureen threw her arms around him in a fierce hug. She was deeply relieved that Collins was taking the news better than Roger. "I love you so much," she whispered in his ear.
"I love you too, kiddo," he replied warmly.
She released him and gave Mark a similar treatment. "I don't know what I would do without you guys," said Maureen when she resumed her place beside Benny. Collins suddenly became serious.
"Benny, could I talk to you alone for a minute?"
"Sure."
Maureen gave his hand a small squeeze and left the room. Mark went to follow her, but Collins stopped him. "I want you to hear this, Mark." Mark took a seat on the edge of his bed.
"You didn't work late the other night, did you?" asked Collins, looking Benny directly in the eye.
"No," he answered simply.
Collins rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not happy about this situation, but I'm willing to accept it for Mo's sake. Let me make one thing perfectly clear. If you hurt her in any way, you're out of this apartment."
Benny nodded grimly. He understood the rules. He was an outsider who had been welcomed into their family. If he screwed with one of them he became the enemy. Mark looked absolutely stunned. Collins blew his breath out in a rush.
"C'mere man." He hugged Benny as only guys can. "We're cool for now."
Benny laughed heartily. "You are a piece of work, Collins."
"I'll take that as a compliment. By the way, don't worry about Roger. He'll come around."
"Yea, I know. Thanks."
Mark sighed in relief. That had gone better than he expected. Unfortunately, his heart was broken too and nobody could know. It didn't matter anyway. Maureen would never look at him the way she did Benny or Roger. All he could do was put on a brave face and pretend the yearning in his belly could be filled by a really good sandwich.