Sharon was clearing her desk when Chrissy popped in to say good night. She nodded her reply absently pausing at Justin's patient file.

Will he come back? Did he take my advice to get some rest? What am I doing worrying about him, thought Sharon, shaking her head. In a way this was good news. She'd never have to see him again and relive those feelings. Plus he didn't recognize her.

That bastard! After all he'd done how the hell he didn't recognize her!?

"Um, Dr. Cooper," said Chrissy interrupting the battle going on inside Sharon.

"Yes," she replied, ignoring the stabbing of thousand pin pricks in her chest. She slipped on her coat and wondered at the concerned look on her receptionist's face. "What is it?"

"Mr. Boyd left angry this morning..."

"Oh," said Sharon and cocked her head. "Did he do or say something to-"

"No, no," she almost shouted, stepping forward and with an implored look. "He just looked very upset. And lonely. He will come back won't he? You can help him right?"

Sharon gave a smile and slowly shook her head. That was one question that had been plaguing her all day. Unfortunately, it was an answer only the man himself can give. "I don't know. But I hope so."

"I hope so. Good night then. See you tomorrow."

Sharon took another look inside Justin's file and stared at this marital status. Divorced. And obviously the source of his outburst and mad dash out of her office.

The man was not coping well with his divorce. Sharon was curious about what led to the breakdown of the marriage. More than likely Justin did something his ex-wife couldn't forgive him for. The best thing for him, if they'll have any more sessions in the future, is to help him realize and accept that the partner does not owe you forgiveness.

Typical man. Shaking her head, Sharon placed his file along with the rest inside her bag. When they do dirt they expect for us to be okay with it. Forgive them and move on like nothing happened. Like saying 'it didn't mean nothing' was enough. But turn it around and have a woman do the same wrong they did, they blow like Mount Vesuvius.

She'd never understood how a man refused to understand that they're being silly. Both male and female did the same crime yet the consequences and the punishments weren't the same.

They go all alpha male on you when another man trespasses on their property. Then they're the same ones who didn't appreciate what they had. And had to step out on trespass somewhere else too.

At least Casey never did that to her. Oh he did want someone else. The invitation proved that.

Sharon sighed and thought of Kim prompting to move on earlier that day. Maybe she should. Clearly, he didn't want her in his life. Or else, he would've came to her or called to tell her he was getting married. He called to talk to his son and the last time he did he promised to be a chaperone on their field trip. Which he never showed or never explained. Leaving Sharon to comfort their son for a week that his daddy did love him.

Guess wedding plans had him too busy to pick up a phone or text. Or that fiancee of his convinced him not to go.

No more. Kim was right. She should've let him go a long time ago.

Sharon opened the desk drawer, pulled out the invitation and stuffed it in her bag. She'll call as soon as she got home. Should have plenty of time to think about what to say after Uber picks her and CJ up to get her car and go home.

Well, at least that was what she thought when she had to wait an extra thirty minutes for her car, paying an arm, a leg and a spleen. Yet It give Kim plenty of time to meet her at the garage and follow her home. And still on a cat in heat high over Justin.

"I'm telling you Shar," pressed Kim for the umpteenth time as they made their way up the stairs. "You need to get on this."

They made a funny progression. Her son was leading them up the steps and twice now had to turn around to wait for them.

She'd only slowed down to put a little distance between them with his Aunty Kim talking perverted nonsense.

Her son was only four and didn't need to hear some of the dirty things barely whispered. If she had it her way he wouldn't hear or know about any of it until he was thirty.

"Mom. Aunty Kim," whined her son. "Hurry up. I'm a miss Spongebob."

"Oh stop complaining," replied Sharon stopping before him and playfully pinched his cheek. "The door right there. Besides Spongebob not going anywhere."

"Hhmm," he pouted, sticking out his bottom lip and tempting her to pinch those too. "You taking too long."

"That's because we're old," she joked, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze.

They reached the second landing, pulled out her keys from her bag and walked the short distance to the apartment she lived in.

"Old," exclaimed Kim, stooping down for a second. "Speak for yourself."

"I wanna open it mommy," said CJ at the same time, waiting with his palm up.

Sharon arched her brow and looked down at her son. Until he started shuffling his feet with his head bowed.

"How are you suppose to ask," she demanded. Sharon tilted his little chin up so that she looked into his eyes.

"Can I please open the door mommy?"

"Better. Here you go." Sharon placed the keys in his little hand and which he nearly snatched from hers.

"Yay!"

Sharon watched in amusement as her little man jangled the keys in his effort to turn the lock. It felt as if it was only yesterday when the doctor first placed him in her arms. She remembered the fear and the awe. And for the brief moment he started up at her before closing his eyes to sleep with that cute, tiny mouth forming a perfect little O of cuteness in a yawn, she'd fallen in love.

Now look at him walking and talking. Almost reach her hip and wanting to do things for himself. Her baby was growing up.

Sharon turned to Kim to share her thoughts about her little man become a little man when she stopped short.

Forget a cat in heat. Kim was a pissed off cat. Her lips were pressed into a thin line and had her arms folded across her chest as if to hold in her anger. Still it didn nothing to tone done her fury.

"What's wrong with you?"

"We'll talk about it inside," said Kim in a tight voice. "Not in front of CJ."

Wondering what got her thong in a twist, they entered her apartment. CJ had already raced off to his room, Spongebob already forgotten, before she locked the door.

Her apartment was a modest two bedroom and one bath. The dining and living area was an open floor plan that led to a balcony. She had a simple, round pine and white pedestal table with matching chairs and navy cushions. Her living room set had the same theme of navy and pine.

She'd once had a cream sofa and chair set but learned the hard way that cream and rambunctious little boys didn't mix well together. She'd remember the feeling of warm plastic sticking to the her arms and legs growing up. How it felt as if she was peeling off a layer of skin whenever she got up from her mother's couch. And that it was always, always worse during the summer as they had no air conditioning. So the only relief from the pressing heat of a New York City heatwave came from the standing fan blowing hot air at her. She knew then that there won't be a plastic on the furniture future for her.

The sofa table had to shelves holding a few of her books and some of CJ's toys. Two ladder shelves were on either side of the TV stand. The left ladder held her entire DVD collection from Animal House to Willow. The one on the right, closest to the entrance, held some more of her psychology books. As well as some historical romances.

The apartment came with a washer and dryer hidden behind a door next to the balcony. And the balcony was furnished with a wooden, collapsible railing table and matching folding chairs.

Sharon and CJ's bedroom were side by side pass the balcony and the bathroom laid across from them.

She crossed the foyer, placed her bag on the dining table and looked towards her left into the kitchen. Sure enough her breakfast was sitting on her counter. At least she'd remembered to put it in the tupperware. Or else she'd be dealing with an ant festival when she came home.

Kim still hadn't said a word. Taking off her jacket, she placed on the back of the chair and waited. Whatever was bothering Kim was huge. They've been best friends since their junior year of high school. And for all the time Sharon's known her, a quiet Kim was a simmering angry Kim trying to gather her thoughts before she blows her top and say something she'd regret. Much better than a pacing Kim.

Uh, oh, thought Sharon. She's pacing.

"Kim," said Sharon. She moved towards her friend with caution as if she was some negotiator trying to talk someone down from jumping. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong," scoffed Kim, skidding to a stop. She stomped up to Sharon and held a piece of crumpled paper she hadn't noticed before. But oh, she noticed it now and felt as if someone dumped a bucket ice over her. "What the fuck is this Sharon? Casey's getting married?"

"Sshh," hissed Sharon, looking towards the hallway to her son's room. The door was partially open so she didn't think he heard anything. "Keep your voice down-"

"Why," interrupted Kim, not bothering to lower her voice. "CJ doesn't know right? But you did. For how long."

"Listen to me," Sharon pleaded as she tried to wrestle the invitation away.

"No." Kim snatched her arm out of reach. "Tell me. How long."

Great, now she's using short sentences. Sharon rubbed her forehead as she started to pace herself. Coming to a stop, she confessed, "I got the invite last week."

"Last week?"

"Yeah," sighed Sharon.

"Why'd you never said anything?"

Sharon threw her hands up in the air and cried, "I don't know. I'd been in shock and trying to get my head around it. Still am. He'd never wanted to get married."

"No."

"No?"

"No. You never said anything cause you still want your happily ever after with him."

"And what's wrong with that? CJ deserves his father."

"Which he never wanted to be! I know you Sharon. And I know that you have this obsession of having a perfect, happy life. That you seem to think only Casey can give you. Do you really think that after all this time, now that he's getting married, he'll change his mind and marry you instead or something?"

"I never said I want-"

"You don't have to!" Kim stood before her and grabbed Sharon's hands in hers. "That dream of a perfect, happy life...he's not going to give it to you. It's something you give yourself. And to share with those worthy of you. Come on, there's a sea of men out there. One of them can be that special someone. Give up on Casey and try testing the waters?"

"And what? Be like you," snapped Sharon, wrenching her hands away. "An open port?"

Kim recoiled as if she was slapped.

"Omigod," gasped Sharon as tears pooled in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I didn't meant it."

She reached for Kim's hand but she dodged away again and marched toward the door. Sharon tried to follow and apologize again but was stopped when Kim turned around with her hand in the air, silently demanding to stop.

Anger, hurt and then pity crossed her features. Because of the last emotion she witnessed Sharon almost thought Kim had forgiven her. Instead Kim lowered her hand, balled up the invitation and threw it straight into her face.

"Remain stuck. That's what you want right," she said before unlocking the door and slamming it shut behind her.

Sharon stood there feeling like the shittiest friend in the world. Why did she say that? How could she say that? It was all Casey and his fiancee's fault. If only he'd marry her years ago. Than she wouldn't have lashed out her best friend like that. All because Kim was only telling her what she'd already knew. Still her heart couldn't take that truth and now Kim was suffering from Sharon's hurt feelings.

Why isn't it her name on the invite? What was wrong with her?

"Mommy," called CJ, grabbing her hand. "Did you an aunty fight?"

Sharon hadn't noticed CJ had left his room. Wiping the tears that started falling down her cheeks, she cleared her throat and look down into her son's worried eyes. Giving his hand a squeeze she nodded and said, "Aunty and I had a little fight. She said Spongebob was smarter than Patrick. But I said no, Patrick is smarter."

CJ smiled and giggled, "No he isn't mommy. Spongebob smarter. Aunty right."

"I guess so," nodded Sharon. "Go watch TV a bit before dinner. Okay?"

"Kay."

"And no jumping on the couch," she said a little too late as the boy took a flying leap and bounced into his spot.

Sharon sighed and picked up the invitation off the floor. She went into the kitchen and flattened out the creases. With each crease a new tear fell. And with each tear she mourned the loss of her dreams of a loving husband, a happy family, a house and a normal life.

**

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Bout time you showed up," came Terrell's muffled yell from the kitchen as Justin locked the door behind him and turned off his security alarm. "Food's getting cold."

"Are you eating my food," asked an incredulous Justin. He took off his shoes and placed it on the shoe rack next to a pair of black and white pumas. "Weren't you supposed to deliver the food?"

"Hey, I got hungry after packing your fridge and waiting for you," said Terrell, shoveling some more rice and peas and curry chicken. Then pointed at the spot next to him."'Sides, I saved you a plate."

"Nah," replied Justin, sitting on the bar stool. "Ate already."

"You sure?" He pointed again at the plate wrapped in silver aluminum foil. "She made roti."

Justin waited a beat before he tore the foil off. As always mama King out did herself. He didn't know what else she made but by just looking at the food, Justin was almost hungry again.

Terrell had topped the plate to near bursting of rice and peas, curry chicken, steamed cabbage and roti. A soft, tortilla like bread.

He couldn't possibly eat everything as he had an early lunch. And he did have the chicken quesadilla. But Justin was sure his stomach could spare some room for mama King's famous roti.

He left his barstool to get himself a fork when Terrell cleared his throat and stopped him in his tracks.

"Fork," he asked with a smug grin on his face as he held one in his hand.

"Bum," replied Justin taking the utensil. He took the roti, forked some of the curry chicken onto it, rolled it up and took a bite. The combination of soft bread and curry was like a firecracker going inside his mouth with nowhere to go. It took him several moments to get use to the heat, before he clapped Terrell's should in thanks for the food. "Gonna tell mama King you ate my food."

"Hey, hey, hey now," said Terrell. "You trying to get the messenger shot? It's hard work delivering food. This is to tie me over until I get back to Baltimore to do whatever errands mums want me to do."

"I don't know what you complaining for," said Justin as he watched Terrell take his plate and silverware to the kitchen sink, rinsed off the food and put them in the dishwasher. "You always let her know when you have a day off. And she always has you doing errands. Sometimes I wonder what ya'll do once you settle down, get married and what not."

"Not gonna happen." Terrell shuddered and knocked on the wooden cabinets. "And for your information she'd be happy."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. And you know how I know," asked Terrell as he sauntered to the fridge, opened the door and grabbed himself a Heineken. And back to rummage through his drawers for the bottle opener. Taking a swig from the beer, he plopped down on the stool to his left and leaned backwards with both his elbows on the counter. "She'd been hinting for grandbabies. And she wasn't talking about my baby sister. There's no way I'm ready to have kids."

"You'll never know." Justin cleaned his plate, walked around Terrell and placed it in the sink. He leaned on his elbows on the counter behind Terrell and said, "Not until the right woman comes along."

"I doubt it," scoffed Terrell. "Most women can't be trusted. Not even the right ones."

Justin didn't know what to say to that. He'd once thought he met the right one. Now look at him. In a townhouse big enough for a family of four with no family living in it.

"Besides," interrupted Terrell, giving him a pointed look as if he knew where his thoughts were. "You have a better chance in finding the right one."

"Really," sneered Justin. "Didn't work the first-"

"That one doesn't count," pressed Terrell. "She doesn't count."

How did it feel?

When will that woman's words stop haunting him? The more he heard those four words, the more the stabbing pains in his heart becomes. And to his dread it's the sound of her voice, coupled with her caring, chocolaty eyes had replaced the gnawing pain of the memory of meeting his ex-wife for the first time.

Instead of mourning the woman who didn't want him. Now his heart lamented over the woman he didn't want to want. It didn't make any sense at all. He'd just met the woman today but why did it feel that they've met before?

Justin didn't believe in reincarnation but he couldn't ignore what he felt when he walked into her office and saw her sitting there, just as nervous as he was, although she hid it well. Desire wasn't the only thing flowing through his body and his cock. Beneath the yearning was a feeling of excitement in reuniting with an old friend and a wish to wrap his arms around her. Pulling in that lush body in his own as if he was finally returning home.

Shaking his head, Justin thought hard where and when he might've saw Dr. Cooper before but came up blank. More than likely, he saw her in a restaurant or club somewhere years ago. If that was the case then he was the world's biggest dumbass back then. If he'd been any wiser, he would've have chattered her up and cockblocked anyone else trying to get with her. Then maybe he wouldn't have gone through so much hell with Rosa. Although he didn't know the doctor well, he could tell that she was a much better woman than the succubus he married.

"Yo, man." Terrell startled him out of his thoughts as he clasped his shoulders and squeezed. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Justin's eyebrow arched in confusion.

"For bringing shit up that reminded you of her."

"Who you..." Amazed and shock, Justin stared in Terrell like some alien life form just told him he's an alien prince who needs to return home to save his planet. For the first time in a long while, he hadn't given much thought to his ex and the fucked up shit she put him through.

No, this time his thoughts were claimed by another woman. And as happy as that made him, proof that maybe he was finally moving on, it made him just as wary. Dr. Sharon Cooper was really one dangerous woman. Definitely a woman he can't mess around or just have benefits with. Anything more than that he didn't was ready to do again anytime soon.

He was right after all. He had to stay away with her. His body's urges be damned.

Not quite ready to admit the truth, Justin nodded and said, "No prob. Thanks for the food thou and tell mama King for me. I'm just going to look over some work then chill the rest of the day."

"Cool," replied Terrell, not looking entirely convinced before a smile split across his face. "Don't forget about this Friday. You're not holding yourself up in here working. It's men's night out and we hitting the clubs."

Justin almost protested but Terrell cut him off reminding him that he promised already. They both knew that the men's night out was really Terrell's way to distract Justin and cheer him up.

After the divorce, Terrell regretted introducing Rosa to him, subsequently ending their friendship. As well as made himself a sentinel of sorts over Justin, screening women left and right, like some mother in law from hell. Especially around this time of year, when his divorce became final just three days before their wedding anniversary.

Surprisingly the usual stabbing pain never came. Justin felt numb and he didn't want to admit why. Instead he told Terrell he couldn't wait. While he silently vowed to meet a woman to help get the sexy therapist Ron just had to send him to out of his system before she claimed a deeper hold on him.

And Justin didn't know how right he was until later that night. He'd dreamt he was driving his car with Rosa at the wheel while he sat at the back. Suddenly the car stopped and Justin watched helplessly as she and his little girl got out and into another car. Justin yelled after them and banged his fists on the door. Neither turned around and the door refused to open. The sun soon disappeared plunging everything into darkness as the door car drove off. And it didn't slow down until Sharon appeared in the road. The sun rose behind her, enveloping her in a soft halo. An angel waiting to guide him into the light. This time Justin knew the doors will open but the knowledge woke him up in a cold sweat.

Oh, Sharon has put her foot in it this time. What should she do so that Kim would forgive her? And ouch, Sharon is finally meeting her ex and his fiancee, in the next chapter. :-O

Hope all goes well. ✊

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