Page 76 of Rude Boss 2

“Yes. It did. I was in love for the first time in my life and Quintessa had to leave me. I was never the same after that. So, when I started growing into manhood after college, I got in shape, started dating woman after woman after woman, looking for something—someone who could give me the same euphoric feeling I had when I was with Quintessa, but guess what? I couldn’t find it. It didn’t matter how pretty the girl was, how smart she was—none of that mattered. I was chasing something I could only obtain from one woman. That’s when I knew I had to find Quintessa, and I was willing to do whatever it took to get her. That’s how I know she’s everything I ever wanted. No one else comes close in comparison.”

Amos nods. “She feels the same way about you. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know. I just hope she can get used to the new man that I am. That’s all I worry about with us.”

Amos sucks down a swig of beer and says, “I can tell you right now—she doesn’t care as long as it’s you.”

I already know that, but to be honest, Quintessa wasn’t really feeling me before she knew I was Stewart. She was just starting tolikeme, but when she learned I was Stewart, she fell in love with me because of our past. Our history. I’m not sure if I should be worried about that.

“Billy, let’s get a round of shots over here,” Cooper says.

“What are we doing? Vodka?” Billy asks.

“Yeah, that’s good. We’re celebrating love over here tonight!” Cooper says ecstatically. He’s in rare form. He’s usually calm and mild-mannered. Tonight, he’s turning up for me – celebrating my life.

When the shots come, Cooper instructs everyone to raise their glasses. He says, “This is for Essex, my boss and friend—someone who was lucky enough to find what every man needs—his perfect woman. This is for you, brother.”

We touch glasses. Vodka splashes out of them and we toss back what’s left.

Dad says, “I’ll be right back.” He heads for the exit instead of the bathroom, so I dismiss myself to see where he’s run off to. On the way out the door is when it hits me – we’re celebrating my upcoming wedding and he’s lost the love of his life – my mother. This must be hard on him. It’s hard for me to know she won’t be here to see me marry the love of my life.

When I step outside, Dad’s looking up toward the sky and somehow, he knows it’s me even though he didn’t turn around to see who it was. He says, “Your mother would be so proud of you.”

“I’m sure of it,” I tell him. “It’s what she always wanted for me, isn’t it?”’

He turns around and nods. His eyes are misty, but he holds the tears back. “It is.”

He exhales sharply and says, “Treat her right, because some of us don’t have our queens any longer. Boy, how I wish I could be with her now.”

“I know.”

“It hurts every day. People say it gets easier with time, but I’m here to tell you—it doesn’t. So, my advice to you is to love that woman witheverythingyou have because one day, you may not be able to.”

He pinches tears from his eyes, sniffles, and says, “Ah, but that ain’t about me. It’s about you. Let’s get back in there.”

I pat him on the back, and we walk back inside to continue the celebration.

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