Chapter Thirteen
Wade
I don’t know how long I can pretend.
It’s been three days since I saw Scarlett, and I can remember every little touch we had that night. Which is just wrong because we’re not dating. She’s not interested in me. She looks at me like I’m just a big brother. She hugged me because I was being kind. She clutched my hand in the car because she was nervous, so I pretended her hand was a microphone to distract her from bad drivers.
All of these things are easily explained away.
Except they’re all replaying in my mind over and over and over again. It’s like a highlights reel but without the peppy music.
She has sent an emoji every single day. And the way that I have started to look forward to that little gesture is a little embarrassing. That one little text is making my day.
Today, I have to go to court.
I’m testifying in an open insurance case about a house fire that occurred seven months ago. Because I was one of the responding firefighters, they asked me to testify. It’s simply one of those cases where the insurance company doesn’t want to pay out and is hoping to find fault. I get to give a simple testimony stating what we encountered in the fire. It should be rather low-key.
I get dressed in a pair of slacks and a collared shirt with a canvas jacket. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to testify in court, and it won’t be the last.This was one part of the career that I didn’t anticipate.
Then there’s the fact that I’m primping in front of my mirror because there’s a chance I might see Scarlett today. Do I put some gel in my hair and maybe a little hint of cologne on the off chance I’ll see her? I will admit my guilt to no one. Usually, I just wear my uniform from Station 7. But today, with the thought of seeing her? I want to look good.
I open the bathroom drawer and pull out the black tungsten ring I bought three years ago, after Phoenix’s birthday dinner, when he and Scarlett and Carson got into an argument about whether men should wear rings. Her words were, “There’s nothing more attractive than a man in a backwards hat and a ring on his hand.” Carson agreed—as long as it was a wedding ring. She argued back that it could be any ring.
I bought a ring the next week and have kept it in this drawer ever since. I’ve worn it once—the first day I saw Scarlett’s apartment.
Slipping the ring on my right hand, I finally find a comfortable fit on my middle finger. It feels strange having something around my finger.
After I slip on my watch, I pull out my phone and text Carson. I haven’t talked to him since the night I babysat the kids.
WADE
Have you been helping with the baby?
CARSON
We’re trading every other night now. It’s like she’s a different person.
WADE
The baby or your wife?
CARSON
Ashlyn. She seems happier. Who knew?
WADE
I did. Mom would have told you the same thing if you’d asked her.
I love my little brother, but sometimes he gets so focused on his own life, he forgets to look up at the other people in his world who might need his help.
CARSON
You’re always annoyingly right. I guess I just didn’t realize how tired Ashlyn was. We had a good talk on that date. It was the first uninterrupted conversation we’ve had in a long time—thanks to you. I really am trying to figure out this dad and husband thing. And I’ll get better at it.
WADE
I know you will. Just make sure you figure it out while your wife still likes you.
With our parents traveling a lot when we were growing up, we often stayed with our grandparents who live here in Serendipity Springs. They are fantastic grandparents but rather lackadaisical babysitters. I spent a lot of time trying to keep my brother out of trouble. It was another reason I like spending so much time at the Fernsbys’ house. Carson would play with Scarlett, and Mrs. Fernsby was a responsible adult who kept him alive. She usually got home from the courthouse late afternoon and fed us all dinner, making sure we stuck around and actually got our homework done. Looking back, I’m not sure how she did it. She worked a high-stress job, then came home and not only loved her children but managed to give me a childhood as well.
Having to look out for my brother has given me a sense of protectiveness that has followed me into adulthood. Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about being a husband, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see Ashlyn needs support.
CARSON
You’re a pain in the butt, but I love you.
WADE
Love you too, brother.
By the time I finish at the courthouse, it’s almost noon. When I leave, I find Jack standing in the hallway, waiting for me.
He testified today on the same case as me, earlier in the lineup than I was, and since they bring in the witnesses one by one, we weren’t allowed to see each other beforehand.
A few other people are standing in the hall. A woman with a large pink purse I’m pretty sure is hiding a small animal. An ear pops out of the bag, confirming my suspicions—it looks like a dog.
A few police officers stand gathered around one man wearing handcuffs. I spot Kevin Wilson, one of the police officers I know. He smiles and lifts a hand in greeting. I wave back.
“I’ll see you at racquetball tomorrow night!” he calls down the hall.
I laugh. “Make sure you stretch this time.”
Last time Kevin came to racquetball, he ended up limping out of the gym.
A side door swings open. Court-Liam—that’s the only way I know him—ushers us in. He’s the one who took Scarlett on a date a while ago. He walks out of the courtroom and greets me with a smile. “Hey, Wade! Great to see you again. You did great in there.”
“Thanks,” I reply. “You’re Liam, right?”
“Yeah! We met a while ago.”
I get straight to the point. “Are you going to go out with Scarlett again?” I try to say it in a friendly way, but it might not come across that way.
He looks at me in surprise. “Scarlett?”
“The court reporter.”
“Oh! Yes. She’s so nice. I really like her. But I started dating someone else, and Scarlett was super great and understanding about it. In fact, she kinda encouraged me to go out with this other person. She said she thought we would really hit it off.”
Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me at all.
“Hey, if you’re looking for somewhere to play racquetball, we play every Tuesday and Thursday, if we’re not working. I’ll add you to the group chat if you want.”
Liam looks excited at that. He grabs a scrap of paper out of his pocket, writes down his number, and hands it to me. “I’m not allowed to have my phone on in court, so this is the best I can do.”
He disappears back into the room, his arms swinging as he goes.
He’s goofy, but I like him.
Jack steps up to me. “Was Scarlett the court reporter for your room?”
“It was someone else that I didn’t recognize.”
Just then, the courtroom doors open. The jury files out, and Liam hurries off to lead them to the juror room. Soon, the judge and the lawyers follow, and finally, the court reporter .
I glance up and down the hall, hoping to find Scarlett before I leave. I need to talk to her.
I follow the other court reporter down the hall and to a door leading into a small office. The poor woman I’m following turns around sharply and presses a hand to her heart. “You scared me, following me like that.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say earnestly. I hold my hands up in the air. “I should have said something. Do you know if Scarlett is here?”
The woman nods twice, then leans into the office and says, “Scarlett. Someone is here to see you.”
She turns back to me and watches me curiously. “Are you Scarlett’s boyfriend?”
“Nah, I’m her brother’s friend. Just figured I’d say hi if she was around,” I explain.
The woman smiles slowly at me.
“What do you want, Wade? I’m working,” Scarlett says as she stops behind the other court reporter. “I see you’ve met Claire.”
“Claire’s a lot nicer than you,” I tease her.
Claire’s eyebrows shoot up. “Is Scarlett usually not nice? I call her the pushover of the office.”
Scarlett sticks her tongue out at Claire, but since she’s standing a couple feet behind her, Claire doesn’t notice.
“A pushover? Scarlett?” I smile. “That’s just what she wants you to think.”
Now, Scarlett is looking at me with narrowed eyes and drawing her finger across her neck as she glares at me.
“Be nice, Scooter,” I warn her. “Or else.”
“Scooter?” Claire asks as she whips around to look at Scarlett.
“Scarlett’s nickname,” I explain.
“Oh really? How interesting,” Claire says as she gives Scarlett an assessing stare .
Scarlett smiles sweetly back at her. “The thing is, Claire, you should never believe half of anything Wade says about me. It’s his goal to pester me until I have the urge to scream. You two are actually very similar in that way. Funny how I’ve never noticed it before.”
“Like when you went in the closet and screamed after you had to talk to Sean Morton?”
I frown at that. “Someone made you scream?”
Claire turns back to me. “Scarlett operates under the misconception that the storage closet is soundproof. It’s not.”
“Claire, have you ever heard that wise old saying that silence is a virtue ?”
“Not where you’re concerned, dear,” Claire says as she reaches out to pat Scarlett’s shoulder blindly.
It’s like watching two bickering siblings. I’m not sure if I should step into the middle of it or if I’d be taking my life in my hands.
“Oh, hey, there you are!” Jack says as he walks around the corner. “I turned away for a second and you disappeared. Are you ready to grab some lunch?”
Jack walks up and smiles politely at Claire, then turns to grin at Scarlett. “I was hoping I’d see you again.”
It’s annoying to watch Scarlett blush under Jack’s attention. She didn’t do that the first time she met him. Granted, there were some distracting circumstances that night.
“Really? Because I don’t remember leaving a good impression that night,” she replies with a soft laugh.
“A bad impression from you?” Claire asks, her interest piqued. “What happened?”
Scarlett’s eyes go wide, but Jack just winks at Claire. “We had a good meal, and I learned she’s a bit of a salsa stealer.”
Scarlett relaxes and gives Jack his first real smile. I like that he’s not trying to embarrass her in front of her coworker. I don’t like that it seems to be making her view him in a different way. I want her to give me one of her real smiles.
Not my roommate.
“Do you have time to grab lunch today?” Jack asks.
I start to answer him, then realize he’s still staring directly at Scarlett.
He’s asking her out to lunch. My temples start to pound in an obnoxious rhythm. Jack is asking her out. This should be fine with me. It shouldn’t bother me.
“Maybe—” Scarlett starts to say.
It bothers me.
“What about sending that file over to the attorneys?” Claire interrupts. Bless Claire and her brilliant mind. Work is exactly what Scarlett should be focusing on. Not Jack.
“Oh, yes, that’s right. I need to get that sent over by two. I don’t think I have time for lunch today,” Scarlett says.
Jack gives his best pouty, disappointed puppy look. It’s not a good look, but it does make people laugh. “What about grabbing dinner sometime?”
She looks at him with a smile. “I’m free tonight.”
Jack shakes his head. “I have to work this evening. But I’ll give you my number, then we can have dinner the second I get off work tomorrow night.”
I’d like to smack the guy. He deserves it. Hitting on my Scarlett.
And she’s flirting back. I think that’s the part that bothers me most.
Scarlett says something to Jack, but I don’t catch it because Claire is leaning forward to talk to me. “You did really well on the witness stand in there,” she says with a smile. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Have you lived in town for a while?”
It’s a torturous few minutes of trying to carry on a conversation with Claire when really all I want to do is listen in on Jack and Scarlett’s conversation.
Finally, it’s time to go and both Claire and Scarlett disappear into their office. Jack and I walk down the three flights of stairs to exit the courthouse.
“You don’t mind that I want to go out with Scarlett, right?”
I don’t say anything as we stop to hold the front door for a lady using a cane.
Once we’re outside, Jack continues, “But I mean, her coworker seemed cute too. I don’t know. Which one?”
“If you can’t decide, you shouldn’t ask,” I snap at him.
He just laughs and follows me to the car.