12. Scarlett
scarlett
. . .
I could feel my sisters’ eyes on me while I ate, but I knew I couldn’t avoid the questions burning in their stare. I didn’t look up. I kept eating, trying not to look towards the phone I had set face down next to me. If I did, I would give away the fact I was seeing someone.
Merri. Merritt Hart. Merri and his beautiful eyes and the perfect way he cuddled me.
“What?” I finally broke down and asked, lifting my head to look at them. Sure enough, three sets of almost the same dark shade of brown as mine stared right back at me.
“What’s going on with you?” Olive asked.
“You look all… happy,” Raven added. “You look happy,” she accused.
“And I normally look like…”
“Daria reincarnated,” Coral cut in, and I couldn’t help myself, I giggled. Their eyes widened, and I rolled mine. “You guys, I’m allowed to be… cheerful.”
And deliriously happy. I had no idea how much life could change in a week. Every day started the same way since the morning after Merri and I had hung out.
I woke up to a good morning text that put a smile on my face. When I messaged him back, he’d call, and we’d talk while I got dressed and had my morning coffee. We texted throughout the day. Merri usually checked in or asked what I’d like for dinner. And around five, usually right on the dot, Merritt stopped by with dinner in hand.
Every single day for the last week.
It’d been exciting. Being around Merri felt like being home. It was easy. I couldn’t find another way to describe it. I’d never felt that comfortable in my own skin with someone who wasn’t family. And he had been right about something. He didn’t play games. Maybe it was because he was older and more in tune with what he wanted, but he didn’t hide the fact he wanted to be around me. I never wondered how he felt. He let me know. Hanging out at my place every spare moment we had. He’d even slept over on the couch the night before.
Everything was great except for two things.
One, and weirdly enough the one that bugged me the most, was the fact he still hadn’t kissed me. I understood that he wanted to be a gentleman, but I didn’t see how a kiss would hurt. I’d surprised myself by trying everything I could think of. Touching his arm, staring up longingly into his eyes.
And nothing.
I started to think it was me. Maybe that’s why I was twenty-five and had never been kissed?
The man had an iron will. I’d even hopped up on his lap last night before we went to bed and played with his hair and kissed his cheek. Sure, we cuddled and hugged. Talked and laughed. He’d even rub my shoulders.
But that was it.
The second issue was that the gifts kept coming. All with sweet notes signed by my secret admirer. I had no idea who they could be from, and I was starting to feel guilty. I was pretty sure it wasn’t Raven playing some elaborate prank. Heck, after the diamond stud earrings that arrived two days ago, I knew even if they all pulled their money together, all three sisters wouldn’t have been able to swing a prank like that.
Someone was out there.
Watching and sending me gifts.
It should have crept me out, but it wasn’t like the notes were creepy.
Whoever sent them would write things like they hoped I had a good day or told me how pretty I was. I knew it was stupid not to tell anyone, but the gifts had been coming two weeks now and seemed to vary. From small things like a packet of paper towels when mine had run out and I hadn’t remembered to pick some up, to diamond freaking earrings.
I knew it was stupid not to tell anyone.
Not to mention the guilt that had been mounting about not telling Merri. Maybe this person who was sending me things hadn’t noticed Merri coming and going? What if they didn’t care? I shivered and noticed Coral’s hand waving in front of me, her brows bunched
“What is going on with you?” she asked, and I frowned.
“What?”
“First you were all happy, then you turned pale as a ghost.”
“No, I didn’t!” I pressed the back of my hand against my cheek. “And nothing is going on.”
“You sure?” I playfully rolled my eyes.
“How are you?” I asked. “Have you heard from Lord Voldemort?” I refused to use Jack’s name. Coral shook her head and looked away, but not before I noticed the flash of pain behind her dark eyes. Raven shot me a look that could kill, and I didn’t miss the disappointment in Olive’s gaze either.
“What?” I asked. It was obvious something happened. “What did I say?”
“Nothing. I’m going to use the bathroom.” My older sister rose and left.
“Good job, dummy,” Raven muttered.
“What?”
“Maybe if you weren’t holed up at home all the time and hung out with us, you’d know that Jack…” Olive shot a look at Raven that made her shut up. A heavy unnerving silence hung between us.
“That Jack, what?” I asked, but when none of them chimed in, I got annoyed. “Come on! They were together for ten years! We all know this is a bump in the road and they’ll get back together before you know it.”
“He’s seeing someone,” Olive chimed in. And just like that, I felt like the world’s crappiest sister. If the news of Jack seeing someone new, a guy who had been like a brother to me, felt like a slap in the face to me, I could only imagine how Coral felt.
“What?” I whispered.
“She found out last night.” Raven shrugged. “It’s not your fault. We should have texted you, but it was late, and we figured we could share today but––“
“I put my foot in my mouth.” I rubbed the bridge of my nose.
“You didn’t know.” Olive’s hand covered mine. “I’m sorry for being bitchy. It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s but his. I just can’t believe he’s seeing someone already.”
“And he had the balls to take her to the brewery,” Raven added.
“No!” I gasped. I shut my eyes for a moment. Poor Coral!
“I get that we live in a small town and places to go on dates are limited, but come on!” Raven huffed. “You should have seen her! It was like when she told us they’d broken up all over again. Except this time, we didn’t drink our weight in tequila.”
“Shit. I’ll be right back.” I stood and headed to the bathroom. When I pushed the door open, she was at the sink washing her hands.
“They told you,” she said and then muttered, “Little sisters have big mouths.”
“Are you okay?” I ignored her comment and walked towards her.
“I’m fine.” Her lips were pressed in a thin line.
“I’m sorry. I should have been there and––”
“And nothing.” Her shoulders relaxed. “This was going to happen eventually.” She shrugged. “Life goes on,” she whispered and her lips wobbled. God, I am the worst! “Life goes on, and it’s not your responsibility to follow me around. Honestly, I think you have the right idea.”
“What do you mean?”
“Picking up some granny hobbies and holing yourself away from the world sounds better than going out and…”
“Bumping into people?” I asked when her voice drifted off to nothing. I didn’t miss the way her eyes started to get glassy. I knew if I hugged her, she would break down and cry. Knowing Coral, that was the last thing she wanted to do. “How about we hang out at your place and spend the day junking out?”
“We just had brunch.” Coral chuckled and sniffled.
“Who cares?” I smiled because I knew reminding her of Mom’s favorite Trejo family saying would cheer her up. “Calories don’t count on the weekend, right?”
“Right,” she answered, then something in her expression changed. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” I groaned. “Why?” Was it that obvious I was seeing someone? Or hanging out Because was it dating if he wouldn’t kiss you?
“I don’t know.” She sighed. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say you’re seeing someone.”
“I see people all the time! I’m not blind,” I joked, but there was something in her eyes that made me think Coral’s big sister sense was going off. “Come on! Let’s hurry and get out of here before Raven picks at all our food.” I winked. She relaxed enough to follow me out.
Since we had all ridden together, I didn’t have a moment to respond to Merri’s texts or calls. I just hoped he would be okay with that. Even if it did suck that I wouldn’t be able to hang out with him like I’d planned.