6. Scarlet
SIX
SCARLET
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” my best friend asks for what feels like the billionth time.
“Yes.” I hiss the word, dragging out the S.
Let’s be real, the only things my Friday nights ever consist of are The Creek or snuggling up with a new book and Fefe.
“I was sure the first time you asked me, and the second, and the third, and I’m sure now.
This is your honeymoon trial run. Not to mention, y’all deserve a night out. Some alone time, you know?”
She glances down, flexing her fingers so that both her manicure and engagement ring glitter in the overhead lights.
“Logically, I know we do, but...” As if on cue, James, her eleven-month-old starts to fuss.
She shoots me a meaningful look as she rushes to pick up her son.
“It's just hard leaving him, you know? Especially when he’s cutting teeth.”
My spine stiffens, but I shrug off the discomfort trying to wrap itself around me.
Because I most certainly do not know what motherhood is like.
I have no clue what it’s like to love another being so deeply, and if I’m being honest, I probably never will.
But Nora doesn't mean anything by it—the girl wouldn't even hurt a bug, and I mean that literally.
She doesn't even kill spiders. Nope, she makes Atlas capture them and set them free.
“I can only imagine,” I say with a lightness I don't actually feel. “But he's in good hands with his Aunt Scar.” I open my arms, and she passes James my way. “Aren't ya? You know you are.”
He snuggles into me, rubbing his cheek against mine.
“Holy shit. You sure you wanna let her hold him?”
My heart launches itself into my throat as I freeze on the spot. Why is he here and why does his deep, raspy voice curl my toes?
I reposition James to my other hip right as Ellis enters the room alongside Atlas. “Why are you here?” I ask bluntly.
“Be nice,” Nora pleads, though I’m not entirely sure which of us she’s speaking to. She turns to me, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. “Please don’t be mad.”
Her big puppy dog eyes and anxious tone set me on edge. Something’s up, and I’m definitely not going to like it.
“Why would I be mad?” I ask even as dread settles in my gut like a stone.
“Looks like they finally wised up about leaving James alone with you,” Ellis murmurs, looking all too proud of himself.
A pang of hurt rubs against my tender heart, but I shake it off before it can take root. He’s full of it, he has to be. Ellis Wilder is nothing more than a dumb boy desperate to get a rise out of me.
“If I’m so terrible, why was I their first choice, huh?” I snuggle James closer, swaying on my feet as I try to keep my cool. I really shouldn’t goad him, but he gets under my skin like no one else.
“A temporary lapse in judgment,” he mumbles, tilting his head sideways as he takes me in. “God knows, I wouldn’t trust you to watch my dog.”
“You don’t even have a dog.” Really, Scarlet? That’s the best comeback you could think of? You sound like an idiot.
“Not the point, Scar.”
“Then what is your point?” I demand, my patience wearing thin.
Nora, bless her heart, is watching the two of us with equal amounts of concern and intrigue… like we’re a train veering off the tracks, and she can’t look away.
“I’m just saying,” Ellis presses on, his tone conversational, like we’re two strangers discussing the weather.
“I don't know what kind of spell you've worked on Nora, but Atlas and I are immune.” He crosses his arms over his stupidly broad chest and glares at me like I’m evil incarnate.
“I'm here to make sure nothing bad happens. After all, you have a history.”
I gasp, his words hitting their intended target like a poison-tipped arrow, sinking deep into my subconscious. I can practically feel the toxins working their way into my bloodstream as I fight like hell to keep my tears at bay and think of a snappy retort.
Luckily, Nora has my back, giving me time to lock down my emotions. “What is wrong with you?” she spits with murder in her eyes. “You apologize right now or... or… or you can leave!” She stomps her foot for good measure, and I swear if I didn't think it would send her running, I'd hug her.
Ellis visibly deflates, dropping his eyes toward the floor. Upsetting Nora is tantamount to kicking a puppy, so I know he feels awful.
Like the chicken shit he is, he mumbles a vague apology to his feet.
His lackluster apology doesn't faze me though, because I'm over here feeling like the anti-Grinch—with my heart three sizes too big—thanks to Nora standing up for me. Does that make me a sap? Maybe so, but after a lifetime of no one ever truly having my back, it feels damn good to be got.
“He isn’t leaving,” Atlas says, finally joining the conversation.
“Nora told me about the notes you’ve been getting.
When I asked Ellis here as a precautionary measure, he shed a little more light on the situation.
” He narrows his eyes my way, silently telling me he knows there’s more to it than what I told Nora. “It’s final.”
My heart sinks to my gut as my entire body warms under his scrutiny. I want so badly to be annoyed, but at the same time, I get it—so I swallow back any arguments, bitter as they may be. “Understood.”
“She has sense, after all,” Ellis mutters to no one in particular. I want to chew him a new one—desperately—but I’ll take his usually brand of assholery over talking about me and my many shortcomings.
Or my stupid admirer, for that matter. Especially since Ellis has actually read one of the letters.
“Anyway.” Nora cuts her eyes toward the guys. “You both have our numbers and the number to the bed and breakfast is on the fridge. We'll be home before lunch tomorrow. If you need anything, and I mean anything, don't hesitate to call.”
“Ten-four,” Ellis says, still refusing to look my way. Which is perfectly fine by me. He can never look at me again for all I care. The less I have to see his handsome—I mean stupid—face the better.
“You two get outta here. I've…” Ellis clears his throat, shifting uncomfortably on his feet as he corrects himself. “…we've got this. Promise.”
“Best behavior,” Atlas growls as Nora rushes back to the bedroom to put the finishing touches on her outfit. “I fucking mean it. My girl’s already nervous enough being away from James for the first time, so if either of you ruin it for her, I'll make you wish—”
“Heel, Fido. Officer Jackass and I might be oil and water, but we can put our differences aside for one night... for y'all. And if not, then he can go home.”
“You wish,” he says at the same time Atlas says, “No, he really can’t.”
“You're right. I do wish, but this isn't about me, Ellis. Think you can set your ego aside for one night?”
“Ego?” I try my best not to smile at the outrage in his voice. “What ego?”
I roll my eyes and walk into the living room with James on my hip, settling us both down onto the couch.
Nora breezes back into the room, prattling on like she never left. “The pediatrician's number is on the fridge, too, and—”
“Nora, babe, we got this. Go out with your man, eat good food, and have fun. Don't worry about us.”
“What she said,” Ellis mutters, still pouting with his arms crossed like a scolded child. “But not make-another-baby fun. Wrap that shit up.”
Atlas groans as Nora's cheeks flush as red as a strawberry, as she once again flits out of the room. “What in the hell is wrong with you, man?” Atlas growls, his eyes never leaving Nora’s retreating form.
“Oh, you’re just now realizing something's not right with this one?” I press my nose to the top of James's head and inhale his sweet baby smell. Although these days he’s edging into the stinky, sticky toddler smell. “Better late than never, I guess.”
“There's nothing wrong with me, Princess.”
I flip him off, discreetly of course, using the hand I'm rubbing James's back with.
“Real cute, Scar.”
My lips curl into a wicked grin. “That's the first smart thing I've heard you say all night.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose before throwing himself down onto the couch beside me, far too close for comfort. I try to inch away from him, but he just manspreads further. He’s so close I can practically feel the heat of his body next to mine.
“I mean it,” Atlas says, his glare flipping back and forth between the two of us. “Act right or...”
“Or what?” Ellis says, unable to stop himself from poking the proverbial bear.
“Or I'll enroll y’all in couple's therapy.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
It's obviously an empty threat, but Ellis on the other hand, explodes. “You can't do that—we're not... she's... I...”
“You're what?” Nora asks, walking back into the living room and leaning over the back of the couch to soak up some last-minute baby loving.
“Not a couple with Scarlet!” he shouts, outrage soaking his each and every word.
“Okay.” She draws the word out as though speaking to a child, which is apt, because he’s certainly acting like one.
“Are we just stating super obvious things?” She scrunches her nose. “Okay, my turn… my hair is red.”
“Dammit, Nora. I know your hair is—”
“So, we're not stating the obvious?” She plucks James from my arms and cuddles him to her chest. “Then what exactly are we doing?”
Ellis cuts his eyes toward Atlas and sighs in defeat, slumping back against the couch. “Nothing.”
She glances between the three of us before shaking her head. “Whatever. He's already had a bath, so no worries there. We usually eat around six, which I guess y’all already know.”
“Take a breath,” I murmur. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
Nora shoots me a grateful look. “He has dinner in the fridge with heating instructions. He’ll want a bottle at bedtime, which is usually between eight and nine.
He'll sometimes get fussy and wake up around one or two, but usually settles down pretty quickly. He typically sleeps until seven. His bottle is prepped and ready in the fridge, along with instructions on how to heat it. Breakfast is easy—fruit and eggs.”
She wrings her hands together—something Atlas catches right away, sliding his hand into hers and squeezing gently. “Um... let’s see… he hates being swaddled but loves being rocked. I read to him every night but you totally don't—”
“Nora, babe, we've got this. Go, have fun. I'll check in periodically.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” I move to take James back but Ellis beats me to it, snuggling the little guy against his broad chest.
Not gonna lie, seeing him hold a baby does things to me. Stupid, fluttery things. The kind of things I’ll never, ever admit out loud, not even for a million bucks.
There are some things worth taking to your grave, after all.