28. Ellis #2
Her eyebrows squish together. “For what?”
“I know I'm the reason you feel that way. But, I need you to listen to me right now, okay? To really hear me...” I wait until she nods. “Yeah, okay, I'm listening.”
“You are fucking likeable. You're more than likeable. You’re—” I almost tell her she’s loveable but manage to catch myself in time. “You’re a good person who deserves good things. You’re smart, loyal, kind, and fierce. I'm so damn sorry I ever made you feel any way other than that.”
“It’s fine.” She tries to downplay all of it, including my role in it. “It's fine. And it's not like it was just you. I chose to internalize it.” She fluffs her hair. “No hard feelings.”
I scoff. “Lots of hard feelings, but I swear I'll make it up to you, any way you want.”
“Any way?” she wags her brows. “Because I can certainly think of a few.”
“Any way,” I confirm. “Starting tonight. But we better head inside before Atlas starts blowing up my phone asking where we are.”
“If we don’t hurry, Nora will decide she misses James too much and bail.”
“Wouldn’t want that.” I kill the engine, and we both hop down, meeting at the tailgate.
I grab her hand, twining our fingers together without hesitation before heading for the door.
Loud music and the scent of sizzling steak meets us about halfway to the door.
“Smells good,” she murmurs.
“Important question... how do you like your steak?” I look down at her, my eyes wide. “Your answer here might be a deal breaker.”
“Medium rare,” she says, the duh all but implied.
“Good girl.” I grip the handle and pull, holding the door open for her.
She shakes her head as she strides past me, all sass as she says, “That’s my line.”
“Fuck yeah, it is,” I crowd her from behind, slipping my arms around her middle. “And I’m looking forward to being your good boy when we get home.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Atlas gags, making us jump apart. “Don’t think I’m ever gonna get used to that.”
I glare at him as I loop two fingers through her belt loops, tugging her closer. “Better get used to it… and fast.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Got us a table in the back,” he says, giving us his back as he stomps off.
“Off to a great start,” Scarlet murmurs, her shoulders rounding in.
“Fuck him.” She whips around to face me as I go on, “Yeah, yeah. He’s like a brother to me, but part of being a good friend is calling your friends on their shit. And he is most definitely on some shit when it comes to you. And, yes, I am well aware I bought into said shit for far too long.”
We fall into step behind him, walking single file to a rectangular high-top table, where Nora’s chatting with two woman I don’t know.
“Oh, Cara, you’re here,” Scarlet says, rushing forward to greet the short, but curvy brunette.
“I am.” She beams. “This is Sophie.”
“Hi, it’s so nice to meet you.” She reaches out and shakes Sophie’s hand. “You know Nora already, Cara, and I’m sure y’all already did your own introductions.” She grabs my hand and yanks me forward. “This is Ellis.”
“Nice to meet you both.” I pull out a chair for Scarlet, helping her into it before situating myself in the one to her right.
“So,” Nora says, drawing out the word. “I have questions...”
“Good fucking luck getting any answers,” Atlas grouses, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Be nice,” Nora hisses, cutting her eyes his ways.
He holds up his hands like he’s innocent.
“Well, I can only speak for myself, but this conversation requires alcohol.” She flags down an employee as they walk by. “Can I get a creek water?”
The server nods and turns to me. I order myself a beer, and she scampers off.
“I'm gonna be honest.” Nora bounces in her seat. “I don't really think I can wait for your drink to get here. I'm gonna need you to spill now.”
Cara inclines her head toward Nora. “I have to agree with her, Scar. Spill.”
Scarlet turns toward Sophie. “So sorry this is your introduction to me. I promise I’m not always drama.”
My best friend seems to be stuck in asshole mode, because the idiot makes a point of scoffing—loudly.
“Ignore him,” Scarlet says, in a sickeningly sweet voice. “It’s the only way. Now, back to the issue at hand—I have a stalker. Sophie, if you didn’t already know that, now you do. And he’s been… escalating. Things got terrifying here recently, so I called Ellis.”
“You could’ve called us,” Nora insists.
“Or me,” Cara adds, a touch of hurt bleeding into her words.
“I could have, but despite what Atlas thinks, I’d never purposely endanger anyone. Ellis was already aware of the situation, so going to him felt… right. I’ve been staying with him since then, and in that time, we’ve grown closer.”
Right on cue, Atlas huffs like a toddler in need of a nap. Swear to god, he could rival James right now. Maybe he needs a snacky-snack?
Regardless of what crawled up his ass, I’m not having it. Scarlet’s been through enough. “Do you have something you want to say?”
“Honestly…” He hesitates, his eyes flashing toward Scarlet before locking back on mine. “I think this is all bullshit.”
Nora, god love her, looks like she wishes the floor would swallow her whole. She’s not a big fan of confrontation, so I’m sure this is killing her.
I start to put him in his place, but Scarlet reaches over and lays her hand on my thigh, squeezing softly to let me know she’s got it under control.
“I’ve spent long enough letting the likes of you walk all over me, Atlas. You don’t like me, that’s fine. I’ll make it. But this fucking animosity—which is all on you, by the way—is toxic.”
“You would know.”
If looks could kill, Atlas would be eviscerated on the spot. “You’re acting like a child. Grow up. You want to call our relationship bullshit? Go for it. I don’t care. Your opinion of me is irrelevant. But Ellis deserves—”
“Relationship?” he sputters, choking on his drink.
Nora worries her lip between her teeth, casting nervous glances around the table. “Please be nice,” she whispers to her fiancé.
“I'm trying, Pip. Really, I am.” He softens his tone for her, but I can see his anger in the stiff set of his shoulders and the way he’s white-knuckling his glass.
“Try harder, bro,” Cara says, not caring one bit that she’s willfully walking into a proverbial minefield.
Scarlet sends her a grateful smile before addressing Atlas.
“Look, I get it, okay. This is weird… for everyone. The one constant since Ellis and I met is our mutual dislike for one another. Our not getting along is the status quo. Lucky for us though, we cleared the air, and we’re happy together.
So, either get on board or...” She trails off, unsure how to end her particular threat.
Luckily, I have no such trouble. “Or get the fuck out of our lives.”
Cara and Sophie are riveted to the shitshow taking place at our table, their eyes ping-ponging back and forth with every shot fired.
Atlas's face goes completely blank. “You're telling me you would choose her… Scarlet,” he spits her name. “Over me, your best friend?”
“You don’t fucking get it, man.” Shaking my head, I drop my chin to my chest. “I'm telling you that my best friend would never make me choose.”
Nora, Cara, and Sophie all nod.
Nora wraps her arms around Atlas’s and rests her head on his shoulder. “He’s not wrong, and I think deep down, you know that.”
Atlas drops a kiss to the top of her head before picking up his drink and draining it. “I'll try.” Holding my gaze, he squares his jaw. “I'm not saying I'll like it, but I'll try.”
“That's literally all anyone's asking.” Scarlet throws her hands out wide. “Change is hard. I get that. I don't expect you to magically like me overnight. Some days I don't even like myself.”
I tug her into my side, bringing my lips to her temple. “We’re gonna keep working on that, baby girl.”
She turns in and presses a chaste kiss to my lips.
To his credit, Atlas only looks a little green around the gills when I address him.
“All we’re asking you to do is to be respectful.
You’re a good guy. I wouldn’t think of you as my brother if you weren’t, so suck it up and figure it out.
I had a lot of misconceptions where Scarlet’s concerned, and I think you do, too. ”
“Yeah, maybe.” Atlas shrugs, staring down into his empty glass.
A weighted silence falls over the table, but Clint appears with a tray full of drinks before anyone can say anything.
“Scarlet, I’m so glad you made it.” He places her drink in front of her with flourish. “I knew Cara was here already, so when I saw a creek water come through, I was hoping it was you.”
She lifts her shoulders and smiles. “It's me.”
I don’t fucking like her smiling at him. I don’t like him, period. I can’t put my finger on why—other than the obvious, he wants what’s mine—but that’s enough for me. But I’ll play nice. For now.
“I hope you brought your appetite. We got to sample everything yesterday and it was out of this world.”
“I’m really excited. It smelled so good coming in.”
I clear my throat, and Clint’s eyes snap to mine, and he finally passes me my beer, and goddamn if it isn’t all foam.
I push my pint glass away and stick out my hand. “Clint, right?”
“In the flesh,” he says proudly, sliding his hand against mine. “And you are?”
I know he damn well knows who I am, but whatever. Two can play this game. “I’m Scarlet’s.”
He drops my hand like it burned him. “Scarlet’s what?”
Smirking, I shrug before swooping down to kiss her neck.
“Well,” he says tightly, “I’ll send your server by to take your order.”