Page 79 of Dangerous Contract: Part 2

"I think it's sweet that she looks nervous. Oh, look..." Monique pointed at the screen. "Cas is getting out of the car."

Toya leaned closer to the screen. "He looks like he's lost weight."

"I know. Poor guy. I'm sad, too. Why haven't I lost any weight?"

Toya cocked her head to the side. "I don't know, Mo. Ask the pizzas you order every night."

"Shut up. I don't order pizza every night. Plus, pizza is my comfort food."

"Well, your comfort food has made me gain two pounds."

"You didn't have to eat it with me."

"Friends don't let friends be sad alone. You fight, I fight. You eat, I eat. That's what friends are for," Toya said, gaze returning to the screen. "Why is Cas dressed in a suit and tie?"

"He probably wanted to look nice for Meka. It shows that he takes this seriously. Look, he looks nervous too."

"These two are too fucking adorable," Toya whispered.

"Wait.... Is he... is he tearing up?" Monique asked, leaning so close to the screen that her head almost bumped Toya's.

Cas stopped on his way to the front porch. His gaze landed on Meka, and he just stood there, staring at her. The look in his eyes, paired with his facial expression, melted Monique's heart. He looked in awe of the vision that was Meka.

That was the look of a man deeply in love. That was the look of a man ready to risk it all for the woman before him. That was a look Meka deserved. Meka stared back at him.

Though they couldn't see her face, Monique was pretty sure Meka's expression mirrored Cas's. Neither Cas nor Meka moved. Neither of them spoke. Their gazes were locked onto each other.

They were caught in each other's orbit, and there would be no escaping this for either of them this time. Though no words had been uttered yet, their silence spoke volumes. Cas wiped his eyes and took a deep breath.

Meka brushed tears from her cheek, still rooted in the same place on the front porch. It was like they were afraid to move, like they thought this was a dream or something.

"Awww," Toya and Monique whispered as they watched Cas try to pull himself together.

He took a few deep breaths before turning his back to Meka. Though they couldn't see his face now, they could tell he was wiping his eyes. Some hated seeing a man cry. They considered men who shed tears to be weak.

That was toxic thinking. Men were human, just like women and children. Men had emotions. Men could get hurt like anyone else could. Men had vulnerable days just like everyone else. Cas's crying didn't make him weak. In Monique's eyes, it simply made him human.

"I feel so bad for him," Monique whispered.

"I do, too. Maybe we should help them flee the country so they can be alone and happy."

"There has to be a simpler way," Monique told Toya.

"What if there isn't?"

Monique sighed. "Does Meka have a passport?"

"Yes. I think so."

"If it comes to that, I guess we'll have to help them flee."

It was Toya's turn to sigh. "With Raz being in charge of their family now, maybe it won't come to that."

"That's if he hasn't changed," Monique muttered.

"Is that what you're worried about? You're worried Raz has changed?"

Monique nodded. "What if he's not the Raz I know anymore? What if this new responsibility has forced him to be like his father?"

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