Page 85 of Mr. Red

I neglect to tell her why can’t leave her alone—I’m in love with her. I care for the people I love; it’s just natural. I don’t want her to be sad, sick, or hurting. If she needs something, I want to be the one she turns to. Hence, why I’m here trying to help her.

In true Scarlett fashion, she’s fighting me on it.

“Oh-kay. You do know I’ve been on my own for quite some time now. I promise I’m not a complete idiot.”

“It’s so much better when I’m around, though.” A side of my mouth lifts. “You’re probably feeling better just because you’re in my presence. I have that effect.”

“Right,” she says, rolling her eyes. “It wasn’t the medicine or the nap.”

“Nah. Those things wouldn’t fix anything.”

She shakes her head back and forth, unimpressed.

I head into the kitchen and start making dinner. Why she likes macaroni and cheese so much, I’ll never know. That shit is terrible for you.

I’m making myself a steak, salad, and a potato. I placed a food order while she was sleeping so I’d have some actual food to eat. Maybe I can talk her into some sort of vegetable.

“You want some mashed potatoes?” I turn around to ask while filling a pot of water.

“No, that’s okay, I’m sticking with my mac and cheese. But thank you.”

She’s always so appreciative. One of the reasons I love her.

There’s that love word again.

Fuck, shit got real, quick. I knew my feelings were growing on our trip, and then she took me on a fun day out on the lake. No one besides my parents have reciprocated love to me that way; everyone I’ve dated just expected things of me. Scarlett is showing me love through her actions which I appreciate. It’s how I express my feelings too. Now we’ve spent so much time together these past weeks, I can’t see my life without her. I’m here because I’mshowingher my love.

I hope she gets the message.

Ilovehow she doesn’t seem to want a lot out of life. She’s content and happy. I think Texas will grow on her, as long as I can convince her to move out there with me. A trip first to get her introduced would be best.

“So, I have to go to Texas at the end of the week,” I start.

She frowns. “How long will you be gone?”

She’s sad because she thinks she won’t be seeing me. My heart almost breaks. Who knew it would be so nice to be wanted?

“I’d like you to join me and meet my parents.”

Her head snaps up. “You want me to meet your parents? In Texas?”

I nod. “Yeah. We’ll be back by Monday. You won’t miss any work.”

I see her fidget with her fingers and hair. This can’t be too much to ask of her. She wants to be with me. It’s the next step.

“Okay. What about your work?” she asks.

“I’ve planned to take some time off this weekend anyway. I have most of the renovations finished; I still have appliances and paint, but that’s easy. The inspectorwill go through everything, but I’m pretty sure I’m up to code.”

I add in noodles to the boiling water, turning away from her. I can tell she’s thinking, but I’m glad she agreed. All part of my plan.

“I’m scared to meet your mom,” she spits out. “She’s going to hate me.”

I turn back to her. “Why would you think that?”

“I’m a vegetarian, I’m from the west coast, I’m not rich.”

“She isn’t going to hate you. She’ll just think you’re weird at first.”