Page 25

Chapter 25

Scarlett

“Seriously. Come over,” Theresa prompts, her excited eyes boring through my phone screen. “I need the details live and in living color.”

“This is live and in living color,” I point out.

She scoffs. “I don’t want to hear the details of your first time on a video chat—”

“It wasn’t my first time.”

Theresa gapes. “What? You weren’t a virgin? All this time… when did you…?” Her jaw slackens again. “You sneaky little bitch!”

I laugh out loud and fall back into bed, the phone still raised in my hand. It feels good to talk about last night to someone who’s happy for me.

“He wasn’t my first, but God, it felt like it—”

“No, come over. I don’t want to hear it over the phone.”

“You’re only saying that because you’re lonely and looking for company,” I reply. Her husband is still working the night shift.

“Fine. You got me. Now, get your ass over here.”

“Give me ten.” Enough time to change from this old housedress into something more acceptable. I don’t want to credit my awareness of how I dress to Aiden, but I must admit, I do put my clothes on with him in mind these days.

A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. I open our chat, reading the last message he sent me an hour ago.

I’m going to make it up to you, I promise.

Still smiling, I tuck the phone in my pants pocket, then reach for my jacket perched on top of the dresser. I already assured him there’s nothing to make up for. What happened this morning was not his fault. Would I have rather not been caught butt naked on the floor by his mom? Without a doubt. What happened next made it all worth it, though.

After checking on Milo and ensuring that he’s secure in his doghouse around back, I lock the front door with my key. A sudden rustling alerts me as I climb down the front steps. Glancing to my right where a short hedge separates us and the neighbors, I see it move. I roll my eyes. My neighbors have a tendency to let their cats out at night to wreak havoc. Our trash can is never the same when they’re done.

Making a mental note to have Daddy warn them again, I walk the short distance to my sister’s house. “Took you long enough,” she grumbles when I enter.

“It’s literally two minutes, you impatient little gossip,” I chastise, taking my nephew from her. I drop my ass on the couch, and she sits beside me with eager eyes.

“So?”

Grinning, I cover Georgie’s ears before launching into the details of my steamy night with Aiden. Theresa listens enraptured, squealing with glee when I’m done.

“It’s nice to know that I was wrong about him. I think he likes you, Scar. Guys don’t usually go to such lengths for a girl they just want to bang.”

“I think so, too, especially how he reacted when his mom walked in on us.”

Theresa’s mouth flies open. “She did what ?”

Again, she listens, half fascinated, half horrified as I mention the humiliating episode. My face still burns when I remember Mrs. Hunter’s furious expression. But what sobers me up is how Aiden shielded me, not only with his body, either.

“ Mom, don’t even think about it. Scarlett is my guest. Mine,” he said.

She opened her mouth to say something, but he interrupted “I’ll talk to you later.”

I couldn’t see the expression on his face, but it was enough to make her leave. Right after throwing a scathing glare at me.

“Oh my God.” Theresa palms her cheeks. “That’s not good.”

My stomach sinks. “You think so?”

“Remember Miley?”

I nod. Theresa and Miley were close friends back in high school, but they drifted apart afterward.

“From what I heard; she was married for two years. Two years of hell, because her mother-in-law hated her. She lost a ton of weight—remember, she was already skinny—and lost all her hair before realizing she needed to get out.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, the dads are usually cool, but when the mom hates you, it never ends well.”

“Way to burst my bubble,” I grumble, adjusting the now sleeping Georgie in my arms.

She shrugs sadly. “I’m sorry, just giving you the facts, sis. Things might be great right now, but don’t allow yourself to fall for him.”

I suck in a deep breath, staring up at the ceiling.

“Uh-oh.”

“Aiden is that kinda guy, Resa,” I mutter, looking sadly at her.

“I know. Tall, handsome, misunderstood with a secret heart of gold. Awesome in bed—I mean, on the carpet. It’s not even me and I’m falling.”

I can’t help it. I laugh.

Theresa chuckles back and pats my knee. “You’ll find your footing eventually. Until then, take it real slow.”

“Telling me to take it slow when we’ve already had sex is like closing the gate after the horse got out.”

“Well, at least guard your heart.” She stands and takes Georgie from me. I check the time and see it’s half past nine. Mom and Dad will be home soon, plus I have an exam at eight am tomorrow.

“I’m going to head back,” I announce when she emerges from the bedroom.

Theresa pulls me into a huge hug. “Baby steps, no expectations, got it? And don’t do anything that will distract you from that goal.”

“Come hell or high water, I’m giving that valedictorian speech. Bet on it,” I reply.

She smiles back fondly. “I knew you were something special when they brought you home.”

That earns her an even bigger hug and I wipe my teary eyes while going out. Mom, Dad, Theresa and her family, they mean everything to me. I’m doing this for them, too.

As I approach my house, I stop. I frown at the darkness. The streetlight that usually illuminates our front steps was working when I left. Why is it out now? I glance up and down the street. Why is it the only one?

Maybe I’m being paranoid, but the last four weeks have fucked with my head, enough to make me hesitate. I take my phone out, wondering if I should call Dad to check if they’re on the way—

“Scarlett? You okay?” Mrs. Hemmings, the neighbor with the annoying cats, stands in her doorway.

“Sure, Mrs. H.” I jerk my head toward the non-functioning streetlight. “Do you know what happened there?”

She shakes her head. “Probably a broken fuse. Are you okay with getting inside?”

It’s not like I can’t see. The other lights cast a dim glow over there, anyway. “Yeah, I’m good.”

I’m in my head, that’s all. Like Mrs. H said, it’s probably a broken fuse or something. I give her an assuring wave and keep walking, careful to feel the steps beneath my foot before putting my weight down. A sigh of relief escapes when I get to the front door. I’m really getting paranoid.

Chuckling to myself, I slip the key into the lock and it eases open even before I turn the key. I back off with a gasp, almost losing my footing on the top step. I know I locked this fucking door.

Ready to break into a sprint, I hear a sound that almost rips my heart apart. Without thinking, I dash into the house, falling to my knees beside the prone, whimpering form on my carpet.