Chapter 26
Scarlett
After a shower together, we’re in the kitchen. I’m making some eggs and breakfast potatoes while drinking some coffee. Matt is sitting on a barstool at the bar top watching me.
“I don’t have meat, but I have facon,” I say, holding up the box with a cheesy smile on my face.
“You know I’m from Texas, right?” He stares, unimpressed. “It’s a land far away where meat is allowed and considered tasty.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Texas. I didn’t know you’d be here, so your options are fake meat or nothing.” I turn the potatoes.
“You fixing to make toast?”
“I think I have some whole grain.”
“Oh cool, cardboard and eggs. Don’t you like food when it actually tastes good? Maybe we should’ve gone out for breakfast.” He mutters the last part.
“I didn’t think you would be so picky. Here I was thinking a nice homemade breakfast would be nice,” I tell him.
“You’re cute when you’re being feisty.” He lifts one side of his mouth. “I’m just saying, I enjoy food. Actual food. Not whatever is in facon.”
“Are you a foodie? My friend Lana loves food too. The only time food tastes good is when she’s around. I just make food because a girl’s gotta eat.”
“Can’t you eat for calories and taste?”
“Sure. I don’t have the patience for that, though. If you want to cook, then by all means, go ahead.” I wave my spatula over to the stove.
“I will next time.”
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me?”
He moves behind me in two strides, grabs my waist with one arm wrapped around me. I’m bent over a bit while his other hand is looming over one of my ass cheeks. It’s not intimidating me, though. My lips turn up with excitement.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but I can do whatever I want with my eyeballs,” I respond.
“We’ll see, won’t we,” he says with a slap to my ass. His voice seems to vibrate every speck of my body. It just makes me want to be in “trouble” with him more often. Then he starts kissing my neck, and if I don’t put a stop to this, we’re going to have a cold breakfast.
“Ready for your amazing breakfast?” I shuffle away from him and lift the two plates.
He grabs his plate, then sits back down at the bar top. I sit next to him, then we start eating together.
“I was thinking.” He pauses.
“Does anything good come from that?”
He smirks. “I want to take you on a trip. Have you all to myself.”
“What kind of a trip?” My leg starts fidgeting.
“You know like a week or two together. Do some fun activities. Have you ever traveled?”
“I don’t know if it’s the best timing to leave right now.” I keep my eyes on my plate as my stomach twists .
“Why?” He frowns.
“I just bought a gym with my friends. We close in about twenty days, but there’s a lot of work and planning to do.”
“I know. That’s why I was thinking you should get away sooner than later.”
“That leaves no time for me to put a plan in place for when we do take over, though. I need to make sure everything will run smoothly.”
“You aren’t going to be able to do much until you close. Perfect timing to get away now .”
“I don’t know, there’s a lot of work we have to do. We have to paint, I have to order new mats, replace some equipment, and start interviews with trainers. I can’t leave all of that to my partners. I’d have to talk with them about it. Don’t you have work you have to do here?”
“I’m waiting for my deal to go through as well. The waiting stage. I can do my other work anywhere.”
“Ah.”
“We’ll go for a week. It won’t be too far away, if it makes you feel better.”
“Anywhere would be cool. I haven’t been out of the state. I’m just not sure on the timing. Where would we be going?”
“Okay, talk to your partners. Make sure you get the time off.”
Is this open for discussion? He didn’t ask it like it was a question.
“Yeah, it’d be cool to go. I’ll talk to them and see how far we get with planning. I’m not making any promises. In the meantime I can get our itinerary all set up for the trip. When and where were you thinking?” I say, pulling out my phone ready to research, research, research.
“I’ve got it covered. ”
“I’m sure you do, but I could help plan. I’m pretty great at it.” My leg continues twitching, itching to get started on reservations and activities.
“This is more of a surprise for you.”
I look up from my phone. “I’m not big on surprises.”
“Mine are really good.”
“That doesn’t help me with liking surprises.” I pause. “I don’t think I can go.”
“Call them now so I can finalize my plans.”
“What plans do you have? And you never answered my question about where?”
“Scarlett.” He’s looking at me with a bored, irritated face. Good. I’m not so happy about this situation either.
“I’m going to finish my breakfast first and then I’ll talk with them, Mr. Bossy.” I take a bite of my breakfast.
“I’ve never had to argue with someone to come on a paid trip before,” he says to his potatoes and eggs.
My head snaps over to look at him. “So, you do this often? Have girls come with you?”
“Do you really want to know the answer to that?” He squints his eyes at me.
“Yeah. You take them somewhere and then drop them once you get back?”
I doubt I’m going to like the answer he gives me, but I can’t help myself. I’ve never done the casual dating thing and this is why. I’m acting like the jealous girlfriend right now when I’m not a girlfriend.
“Nothing has ever lasted long, Scarlett.” He turns on his barstool, legs spread open and takes my waist in his hands. “I don’t plan on dropping you once we get back. If it helps, I’ve never taken anyone where I plan to take you, besides my family and close friends.”
“How many people have you slept with, per say?” I twiddle my fingers.
“I get tested frequently. I haven’t been with anyone, since I met you. You’re hard to forget.”
“There was no answer there, Matt.”
“You want my body count?” His eyebrows raise, crinkling his forehead.
“Yes.”
“I’ve slept with quite a few women, forty-three.
” He strokes my back with his fingers. “I’m not really a relationship kind of guy.
It’s just easier to pick up someone and not have any strings.
I’m having a hard time leaving you alone, though.
” He kisses my forehead. “I promise I’ve always used protection.
I can show you a recent STD check if you want. Have you been tested?”
“Yes. I got on birth control and got tested at the same time a few months ago. I haven’t had sex with anyone since then. You make me get so lost in the moment.” I smirk.
He nods. “How many people have you slept with?”
“Four.”
He smiles.
I lean back and look at him, still in his arms. “Why does that make you happy?”
“They all sucked, right?”
“Considering one of them was a high school boyfriend where we didn’t know what we were doing, yeah, it wasn’t the greatest.”
“Glad I could help.”
I smack him on the arm with a giggle. “Shut up! I’m changing your name to Mr. Conceited.”
He pulls me to him and kisses my neck. “You feel better?”
A smile creeps up. “Yes. I’ll talk to my partners today.”
He’s taking me somewhere different than other girls he’s dated. He’s made an effort to date me in the first place. I can continue dating him, see where it goes.
I go to the sink to start washing dishes.
I’m not sure continuing to date Matt is good for my heart, but I can’t listen to my head and the warnings it’s predicting.
I’m jumping in heart-first, because losing Matt doesn’t seem to be what my heart wants either.
I busy myself with cleaning, focusing on the dishes, then the counters, then the laundry, then vacuuming.
Matt works on his phone answering e-mails and taking some calls. After a couple hours of cleaning, he approaches me like I’m a wild animal who’s going to bolt. His hands grab my hips and he turns me so I’m facing him.
“You, okay? Not having second thoughts, are you?” He lifts my chin up towards him, keeping eye contact. Flecks of green in his hazel eyes stand out against his black T-shirt.
“No, of course not.” Can he tell I’m lying? I need to take the focus off me. “You need to cancel your appointments at the gym with me, still.” I point at his chest.
“Just did.” He winks. “You sure you’re okay?”
I nod with my best smile in place.
“Good, because I need you right now. You’re all mine.” He lowers his head to kiss me.
If only that were true.