42. Scarlet
Chapter 42
Scarlet
The oven beeps, and I reach in to grab the casserole pot, only to have Matthias’s large hands circle my wrists holding me back.
“You’re going to burn yourself.”
“Oh my God.” My brain clicks into place, processing the fact that I’d been so frantic I’d nearly burned my hands by reaching in without oven mitts.
I’m pulled back into a strong embrace, Matthias’s chin resting on my shoulder. “Why are you so nervous?”
“I just…it’s the first time we’re all meeting like this since you and I got married.” I rest my head back on his shoulder and lean into him, letting him take my weight. I ask the thing that’s been bugging me since he agreed to have them over. “Do they know I tried to run from you?”
His chuckles rumble through my back.
“Don’t laugh at me.” I struggle to pull away, but he bands an arm around my waist and holds me in place.
“I’m sorry. I promise I’m not laughing at you.”
“Sure sounds like you are,” I huff.
“It’s not that. It’s that they’ve always been on your side. Had I let them anywhere near here, they’d have helped you escape. Traitorist bastards.”
I twist in his arms, fingers balling in his shirt. “Seriously?”
Strong fingers massage into my tight shoulders. “Yeah, they definitely like you more than me.”
All the strain leaves my muscles, and my head drops to his chest. “Alright then. Let’s get everything ready.”
As if they perfectly timed it, the second I put the last plate on the table, there’s a loud knock on the door.
“Open up, big brother!” Bash yells and bangs again. “You can’t keep her from us forever.”
Matthias mouths, “I told you so,” then swings the door open.
Bash tries to sneak in, but my husband steps in his way. “Whatever you’re planning, knock it off.”
“Hey, that’s not fair. I wasn’t planning anything.”
Xander walks in, squeezing behind Bash. “He’s lying. He has a whole-ass plan to sneak Scarlet out of here.”
“The fuck you do.” My husband lifts his youngest brother up by his throat until his feet barely meet the floor.
Bash frantically taps out on his shoulder until Matthias releases him.
“It was a joke! I was just playing around.” He winks at me. “Plus, if she wanted to leave, she’s more than capable of doing that herself.”
Heat flushes my cheeks, knowing I’d tried just that.
“Move out of the way.” Misty’s familiar voice comes from somewhere behind them. She’s too small to make out from behind the Everette men.
The three brothers fall back as if she’s their leader and make room for her to pass.
Matthias bows his head in an awkward show of respect. “Thank you for joining us.”
She smiles wide. “Aww, you’re sweet, but I definitely came here for your wife.”
Damon slides his hand around Misty’s waist, securing her to his side. “Smells great in here.”
“Did you make all this?” Xander asks while examining the array of bowls and serving dishes on the island.
“Matthias did most of it.” I shrug, not wanting to take too much credit. I’m not a bad cook, but he definitely stepped up.
“Matthias?” Bash lifts a brow. “Our brother cooked this?”
“What? It’s not that hard,” Matthias grumbles under his breath, cheeks turning pinker by the second.
Bash leans toward me, placing his hand on my shoulder, and fake whispers, “This isn’t some elaborate plan to try to kill us, is it?”
Matthias lifts his brother’s hand off me. “You keep pushing it and you’ll wish I poisoned you.”
Damon comes in and pushes Matthias back. “Easy there. No need to threaten your family.”
Xander snorts, then coughs. “You’re one to talk.”
My husband rests his chin on the top of my head. “I’m already regretting this.”
I slip from under him, peering up. “Don’t say that. I want them to like me.”
“They already do like you.” He rakes his hand through his hair, messing it up. “Too much.”
I lean in close so only he can hear me. “Are you really jealous of your brothers?”
“I’m jealous of anyone who gets your attention.” He runs his thumb over my mouth and pulls down my lip.
Heat floods my stomach and swirls in my core. The possessiveness in the way he looks at me makes me want to cancel everything and just let him follow through on the promise his eyes are making.
“Ugh…I’m going to lose my appetite.” Bash makes a gagging sound that has me pulling back from my husband.
I squeeze through everyone and put a stop to the nonsense. “Let’s eat.”
Plates in hand, they pile food on top and take a seat at our ginormous table. Even with its size, the four grown men make it look tiny.
I smile at the sight. “It kinda looks like you’re sitting at a kiddy table. I can almost picture your mom coming around the corner.”
The atmosphere in the room shifts. It hasn’t been hard to see how strained their relationship has grown with their mother. There was a fair bit of gossip surrounding her being a cruel bitch to Misty.
I look at my new friend and press my lips together, wringing my hands. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought her up.”
She smirks. “Don’t worry about it. Damon took care of it.”
All four brothers look a little too pleased, and I almost feel bad for their mother. Not quite though.
Matthias passes me a heaping plate with turkey and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy with sides of corn and cheese broccoli. I take a deep breath, letting the smell fill my senses. My stomach growls, and Matthias raises one brow at me.
“I thought we talked about you eating lunch?”
We did…I may have skipped it anyway. Oops. “I tried.”
He puts my fork in my hand. “Eat.”
Even an unimpressed Matthias is hot.
I take my first bite, buttery goodness washing over my taste buds, and hum.
“I take it back. This is delicious.” Bash says from my left side.
We’re sitting three on each side, Misty, Damon, and Xander on the opposite and Bash on my left while Matthias’s on my right.
I can already tell my husband is regretting our positions.
Bash leans over the table, going closer to Misty. “Did you know she saved our lives?”
He smirks, as if remembering a good moment instead of a traumatic one. “You should’ve seen her. I thought she was some kind of fifteen-year-old avenging angel. Blood dripping down her arms as she broke us out. She pulled two knives from her pocket and told us to stick the pointed end into anyone who comes near us. Her fucking dad walked by when she was leaving, and she unloaded a clip in him.”
Bash wraps his arm around my shoulder, still addressing Misty. “I fell in love with her right then.”
Matthias growls, the room turning cold. “Get the fuck away from my wife.”
Bash’s mischievous grin is still visible, even while he’s looking down at his plate. He’s trying to give off the appearance of innocence, but I have no doubt this boy is devious. If left up to his own devices, he’ll get into nothing but trouble.
“So, Bash. How about you? Are you looking to settle down?” I ask.
He snorts and has to take several gulps of his wine before being able to speak. “Not a chance. Why bother settling down when you can have fun forever.” He points at Damon and Matthias. “These guys are old.”
“Fuck off,” Matthias replies with no heat behind it. It’s clear this gentle teasing is a part of their day-to-day life.
Xander opens a new wine bottle, and it goes around the table. I go to fill my own cup, but Matthias covers it with his hand.
“What are you doing?” I whisper, not wanting to advertise his craziness to everyone.
He kisses my temple. “Just in case. We don’t know for sure you aren’t carrying my baby.”
That sounds entirely too pleasant.
There’s an itching feeling at the back of my brain, trying to tell me that something’s not quite right. That I’m forgetting some very important details. My fingers trail over my stomach, but I brush it off. I’ll remember if it’s important.
“I want to hear all about my brother kidnapping you,” Xander says.
Bash adds, “Right! He wouldn’t let us in on any of the fun.”
Whatever’s bothering me is lost in the banter between my family. Warmth fills me, and my chest aches as they pull me into the conversation with them. My experience with family is cold, brutal, and sick. Everything was a transaction, and we only seemed happy when we put on our public facade.
Everything about them feels genuine, like this is an everyday occurrence. It’s so comfortable I want to sink into it and save it forever.
Matthias leans in and presses his lips to my ear. “You belong here, Scarlet. They’ll love you just as much as I do if you’ll let them.”
His words replay over and over. If I’ll let them.
I let out a breath and join the conversation.
It’s time to let go of the fear of rejection and let myself be happy.
Misty gives me an all-knowing look from across the table and rests her head on Damon’s shoulder, who immediately adjusts to let her closer.
I smile when Matthias does the same with me.
I belong here.