Perfect Fit - Brenda Jackson [24]
For the longest time neither of them said anything; then Rose asked softly, “When are you going to tell your parents?”
Sage inhaled deeply. More than likely Erol had phoned her parents looking for her, although she doubted he would tell them why. “Tomorrow. I can’t handle the thought of telling them today.”
Rose nodded. “And you don’t have to. You’re welcome to stay here tonight and for as long as you need a place to stay. I have an extra bedroom.”
After taking a sip of coffee, Sage said, “Thanks, but since my luggage is still in the car, I’m going to stay at a hotel tonight. I need time alone to think things through and make some concrete decisions. Besides, I wouldn’t want to cramp your style with Mr. Poole.”
Sage could tell by the sudden glare that appeared in Rose’s eyes that what she’d said had offended her. “Look, Sage, what I do with Mr. Poole is my business.”
Sage nodded. “I know that, Rose, and I’m sorry for what I said. I just don’t want you to make a mistake. That man has slept with other women in the office. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“Not since I made damn sure he had on a condom.”
Sage raised her eyes to the ceiling. “It’s not just the issue of unprotected sex, Rose. He’s using you. You’re just another one on his list.”
“Yeah, and the flip side to that is that he’s just another one on mine. He got what he wanted from me, and I got just what I wanted from him, and I must say everything I heard about him is true. That man sure can—”
“Rose!”
Rose stood and crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “What’s wrong, Sage? Does it bother you to discover I’m not a nice girl? Umm, what’s the term they use for women like me? Oh, yeah … promiscuous?”
“Rose, I—”
“No, you’re the one who’s the nice girl, yet you’re the one sitting at my kitchen table crying because her trustworthy boyfriend generously screwed her over. So pardon me for not wanting to get taken in by a man I thought I could trust. I’ve been there twice before. Remember, I’m the woman who walked in on her fiancé making out with another woman in a bed I was paying for. So forgive me for knowing just how they operate and deciding to enjoy them with the same attitude and detachment that they enjoy me, rather than fall head over heels in love with one and suffer the hurt and pain like you’re suffering now. So the way I see it, after what Erol did to you, you’re the last person who should be judging my lifestyle.”
Rose saw Sage flinch at her words and immediately regretted saying them. She sat back at the table and reached over and touched Sage’s hand. “I’m sorry, Sage, I shouldn’t have gone off like that.”
Sage tried smiling through the tears that clouded her vision. “No, you’re right, I was being judgmental, and I’m the last person in a position to be that way. Hell, I’m the fool because I’m the one who’s financially ruined because I trusted the wrong man. Maybe you have the right idea about love, trust and commitment after all, Rose. If you can’t trust the man you’re supposed to marry, then who can you trust?”
Rose scooted over closer to Sage and tightened her hand in hers. “You’re not a fool, Sage, and you’re wrong about me having the right idea. Maybe it’s the right idea for me but not for you. Regardless of what Erol did, you’re a one-man woman, and you can’t help but believe in love, trust and commitment. It’s part of your makeup. You’re hurting now, but you’ll get over it because you know that not every man is like Erol. You have your father and uncles to compare other men to. I didn’t have that. My mother was a single mother, and all I ever saw was a string of boyfriends who only took advantage of her. For a while I let myself follow in her footsteps, but I’ll never do that again. I will never love any man blindly. What I shared with Mr. Poole today was a sex-only encounter based on physical needs. The only thing I wanted from him was pleasure, and he gave me what I wanted. There was no love, expectations or commitment involved. And it had nothing to do with