Page 103 of Mr. Red

“So where did you go?” I look up at him.

“I went to take care of the bill. I don’t want you to feel like you owe your dad anything.”

I freeze. “I’ll pay you back.”

“Nope. You’re my girlfriend. Iwantto take care of you. When are you going to listen? I want to do things for you. Let me get this one.”

I mutter, “I can take care of myself.”

“I know. Sometimes it’s nice to have some support just because.”

Matt makes me avoid the “what if’s” again. He makes me think it’ll be fine if I move with him. At some point, I’m not going to be able to avoid things anymore, but it’s not tonight.

Chapter 55

Matt

A few weeks have gone by since meeting Scarlett’s dad. Scarlett has been super busy with the gym. I still see her every day. I’ve insisted on it. She has been getting in late, though.

It’s early, maybe six in the morning. Scarlett is next to me, sleeping on my chest. I didn’t bother getting up at four this morning so I could spend some time with her. I can’t get enough of her. It used to freak me out, but I’ve accepted it now.

The sun isn’t up yet, and I’m going through my e-mails. I’ve posted the apartments for rent. There’s one more apartment available and I have several inquiries from possible tenants. Some of them have already filled out an application.

As soon as someone signs the lease on the last place, I’m out of here. Well, until I convince my business partner I’ve made enough to turn a profit and we should expand. But that’ll take time.

Luckily, Scarlett has agreed to move with me to Texas. If she hadn’t, I don’t know if we would continue our relationship. Long distance relationships only work if they are temporary; one of us would have to make some changes to our life. Scarlett said she was alright with moving; I think she loved it there. I’m anxious toget back.

Since Scarlett was so busy, I stayed busy too. I finished my project a little earlier than planned. I’ll be telling Scarlett the good news as soon as she wakes up.

Chapter 56

Scarlett

I look over my to-do list on my phone as I walk downstairs for some coffee. I have a busy day ahead of me, so I’m up a tad earlier than usual.

Matt is on his laptop, already dressed in khakis and a black shirt. I wish I’d had a wake-up call from him in bed. It would’ve been a good way to start the day.

“Morning,” I say with a little wave.

“Hey, sweetheart.” He’s staring at me with a look I haven’t seen before. Anxiousness, perhaps.

“Everything okay?” I hit the brew button on the coffee machine.

“I have some news. My project should be done soon. All I have to do is get a tenant in the last unit, then I’m set to leave. Which means you’ll be leaving.”

It’s too early for this. I haven’t even had coffee yet. I think I should go back to bed. I don’t like how this day has started.

“Hmmmm.” I stare down at my coffee as I stir it.

“Yeah. Looks like we could be headed back to Texas in about a week.”

Fuck this day!

“A week?” My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline line as I turn towards him. “You were supposed to be here for at least two more months!” I needed more time to figure outmy plan. We had been making headway, but there’s still a lot to do. I don’t have a replacement for myself. I don’t have anything set up for the spa. Plus, we’re still renovating.

“Yes, six months was the plan, but you were working, so I was working. So, unless it takes longer to fill this unit than the other units, we should be heading out this weekend. I suggest you get your bags ready. I can have movers come to your place Saturday. Do you want to keep everything?”

My eyes start watering. I’m not ready to move, and I have a feeling Matt isn’t going to be happy. I told him I would go with him. I thought I could figure things out in time. I still have no idea what I would do in Texas and I’m scared to go without some sort of idea.