Chapter 17
“Just be yourself,” she told Scarlet for the millionth time that day.
“Are you sure this is okay to wear?” Scarlet looked down at herself and grimaced. “You look so fancy and I look...”
“Perfect.” Reece finished putting in her earrings then walked to her girlfriend. “Seriously. They’re going to like you better than they like me. They don’t know what to do with my fanciness.” She chuckled and held out a necklace.
Scarlet scrunched her nose.
“Stop it,” she scolded. “You look hot in this shirt and dark jeans but the necklace will dress it up a little. It’s better than wearing a skirt, isn’t it?”
Scarlet rolled her eyes but turned so Reece could fasten the silver drop necklace. It was at Scarlet’s insistence they were doing this, she really shouldn’t be complaining, though Reece knew it was just nerves. She couldn’t blame her. Meeting your significant other’s family for the first time was a nerve-wracking event in any circumstance, but for bisexuals dating someone of the same gender...it was even worse.
Reece had met Scarlet’s mom months ago. The youngish, hippie-type woman had known Scarlet liked girls too since she was a teenager. Coming out of the closet was no big deal in their relationship. Things were more complicated for Reece. Her dad had seen boyfriends come and go so switching to girls probably seemed flaky. Being bi barely made sense to her and she was living it – asking her poor father to embrace it just felt wrong. But hiding felt more wrong.
When Scarlet turned back around, Reece was struck with the sudden urge to kiss her silly. She’d gotten her hair cut again, which exaggerated her pixie-like facial features. Reece had already applied lip-gloss on Scarlet’s plump lips and now they shone under the vanity lights.
“You’re so pretty,” Reece whispered. Smiling, she tucked a piece of Scarlet’s hair behind her ear. “I have no idea how you can’t see it.”
“You’re sweet to pretend everyone doesn’t just stare at you.”
Reece rolled her eyes.
“It’s true. Even Malachi said...” She dropped her gaze to the ground. It’d only been a few weeks since they’d seen him last so the pain was still fresh.
To distract them both, Reece leaned in and kissed her pouty lips. Catching her off guard gave Reece the upper hand. She pushed Scarlet up against the wall behind her and tilted her mouth over hers to envelop it completely.
Scarlet growled and Reece’s turn on top came to a quick end. A hand tangled in her hair and she gasped as Scarlet pulled her head back and took over the kiss. Not willing to give in so soon, Reece nipped at her lips.
With a painful tug on her hair, Scarlet yanked her away. “Are you trying to top me, little girl?” Her eyes flared and her lips pursed as she waited for an answer.
Jeez, she looked like a real Domme. Hair still tight in Scarlet’s fist, Reece couldn’t get away. “Um... I’m sorry.”
Her eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch.
“Scarlet,” she rushed to add. “I’m sorry, Scarlet.”
Narrowing her eyes, she let go of Reece’s head and put her hands on her hips. “Who’s in charge here, kitten?”
Reece was learning Scarlet didn’t mind some bratting here and there. Was this a time Scarlet could take it? More important, could Reece’s ass take it if she laid a smackdown? She took a look at Scarlet’s fierce expression then ran her gaze down her freshly washed clothing and grown-up shoes. No. She wouldn’t brat today and risk ruining her outfit.
“You’re in charge,” she answered quietly. Though she hated having to say it, she felt like her skin was bright red right down to her toes. Her underwear got just a little damp.
“And that makes you the what?” Scarlet prompted.
Ugh. She sighed heavily. Malachi had turned her into a monster! She dug a toe into the carpet and thought through ways to get out of this.
Scarlet took a step closer. “You’re the what, Reece?”
Reece toyed with her lip then glanced at her girlfriend. She knew what she wanted her to say. That she was the bitch. Bratty ideas came and went then finally a finger pressed under her chin. Scarlet tilted Reece’s head and glared at her. Her patience was clearly dwindling.
Reece dropped to her knees then flung her arms around Scarlet’s waist. “I love you, Scarlet,” she gushed.
The long defeated sigh said Scarlet was giving in today. Gently, she stroked Reece’s hair. “I love you too, brat.”
Reece nudged Scarlet’s t-shirt up then kissed her belly. “You smell good,” she murmured against her soft skin.
“Let’s go or we’ll be la – ack! Reece!”
Reece blew a raspberry on her belly and Scarlet scrambled to put her shirt down. She giggled and looked up at Scarlet’s scowling face.
“You’re so weird,” Scarlet said, laughing. Then she grabbed Reece’s hand and pulled her up. “Ready to go?”
She chewed her bottom lip for a moment. Nervous flutters took off in her belly. She wasn’t afraid of her family rejecting them – they weren’t the type. She was more afraid they’d just ignore Scarlet. Or that Scarlet wouldn’t like them for some reason.
“Do we have to do this?” she asked.
Scarlet nodded. “Yes. And I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to be the one reassuring me.” She exaggerated a glare. “Get your purse. I won’t make a good impression being late.”
After grabbing her purse from the bed, they headed out to Reece’s car. She drove since she knew the area better. The twenty-minute drive was silent except for the sound of the Top 40 hits radio station. Reece sang along softly, making Scarlet shake her head.
As she made the familiar turns, getting closer to the house she’d grown up in, it occurred to her she’d never told Scarlet much about it. Feeling embarrassed about her upbringing and where her father still lived, made her feel like the shittiest daughter ever. It wasn’t her dad’s fault he’d been handed a crappy hand of cards.
It wasn’t like Scarlet to judge a person by where they lived or grew up or what kind of family they came from anyway. Still, as they pulled up to the small shack across from the fishing port, she gave Scarlet an apologetic smile.
Scarlet looked a little surprised at their surroundings but covered it quickly. “Is this where you grew up?”
“We didn’t have a car for a while so...” She shrugged, a little self conscious. “This is where he worked.”
“Ah.” Scarlet nodded. “He just walked to work. Well that’s efficient. Better for the environment too.”
Reece laughed. Leave it to Scarlet to find something good in the situation. She parked on the street just behind her brother’s car, since there was no driveway. The small house looked the same as it always had – lonely and about to fall apart, though she could see signs of where her dad had tried to fix it up. Patches on the roof. A new front door – the last time she was there, the old one had been falling off the hinges. As they walked up the front path, she spotted an overgrown garden to the right. She chuckled to herself. Years ago that’d been his attempt at a motherly influence. It hadn’t been funny then but now she had to laugh at his idea of what mothers do. Gardening? If that was it, she’d make a crappy mom because she had no intention of digging in the dirt as a pastime with her kids.
At the door, she grasped Scarlet’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “Talk about tools and other...manly stuff and they’ll love you,” she whispered.
Scarlet chuckled. “They’ll approve of your girlfriend if she’s butch?”
Reece shrugged. “It’s worth a shot.”
The door opened and her brother stood on the other side of the screen. She hadn’t seen him since Christmas. Shame filled her. She was a sucky family member.
“Hey, Reece’s Pieces!”
She scowled at the nickname. If he started delivering noogies and tried to lock her in the closet, she was going to kick him in the balls.
“Shut up, Max.”
He laughed and opened the door for them. When she walked through, he pulled her into a big bear hug. After he stepped back, she looked him over. He was still sporting a shaggy beard and long brown hair. Why hadn’t Lisa cleaned him up yet?
“Seriously, Max?” She arched a brow at his ensemble. “Flannel even in the summer?”
“We can’t all be fancy designers like you, Paris Hilton.”
“Paris Hilton?” She shook her head and sighed. “Get a better grasp on what I do before you try to insult me about it.”
Ignoring her, he looked at Scarlet then stuck out his hand. “Hi. You must be Reece’s...”
“Girlfriend,” Reece finished for him. “You can say it.”
He gave Reece a look. “Well I didn’t know what you people are calling it nowadays. Life partner or whatever.”
Scarlet chuckled and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You people?” Reece echoed Max. “You mean, like, the lesbian club?”
“Give your brother a break,” Scarlet said with a smile. “He’s being polite.”
“Hey, pumpkin.” Her dad walked into the living room, making it feel cramped with only four people there.
He was dressed in flannel too, and a baseball cap. Though his skin was tan and overworked, he still didn’t look a day over forty-five. She hoped she would look as good at fifty-five.
With a smile, she walked into his open arms. He kissed her cheek then set her back to look at her.
“You look good, Dad,” she said.
His thick brows furrowed as he looked over her clothing. “Hmm. So do you, pumpkin. You still doing that, uh, fashion stuff, huh?”
She sighed. “Yes. I’ll probably be doing it for a long time.”
Nodding, he turned his attention to Scarlet, who stood awkwardly in front of the door. Reece motioned for her. “This is Scarlet.” When Scarlet reached her, she pulled her up beside her, holding her hand.
“Ted.” He put his hand out to shake.
“Nice to meet you,” Scarlet said, shaking his hand and smiling.
Though she looked at ease, Reece could see small signs of her nerves. Her other hand was trembling a bit and she squeezed it tighter.
“Now where’s my beautiful nephew?” Reece asked.
Lisa came in from the kitchen, bent over while the little guy held her fingers and walked. He was cooing and wobbling and drooling but just as adorable as last time she’d seen him.
“He’s so big!” She crouched in front of him. “Hi, Josie!”
Max sighed. “How many times have I told you not to call him that? It sounds like a girl’s name.”
“How else would you shorten Josiah?” She smiled and made crazy faces at him like every completely sane grown-up did.
One smile and he wrapped her around his finger. Just like Zen. She scooped him up into her arms and kissed his chubby cheeks then blew raspberries on them. He giggled.
“I don’t even get a hello?” Lisa said, hands on her hips in mock offense.
Lifting Josiah with her, Reece rose and chuckled. “Sorry.” She gave her sister-in-law a side hug then Josiah squirmed to get to his mommy. “We need to get him together with my goddaughter, Zen.” She turned to Scarlet. “Don’t you think?”
Scarlet smiled and nodded.
Lisa stepped forward. “Hi. I’m the sister-in-law.”
“I’m the girlfriend.”
“Nice to meet you.” They smiled awkwardly at each other then Lisa leaned in and whispered, “I kissed a girl once so... I get it.” She gave an exaggerated wink. Coming from the petite brunette with baby food stains on her shirt made it hard for Reece to keep from bursting out laughing. The sentiment was sweet even if it was a little misguided.
“You’re a member of the club then,” Reece teased.
Scarlet nudged her. “Don’t be a smartass.”
“Well,” her dad said, sticking his hands in his pockets, oblivious to the exchange. “Should we eat?”
The rest of the visit went similarly. Her dad was quiet, as usual, but his face lit up when Scarlet started talking about a new type of cordless nail gun on the market. Her brother hassled her about having a girlfriend that seemed to fit in better with her family than she did. And Lisa told them in varying degrees of awkwardness, how she approved of “their ways” and didn’t think at all that they were pedophiles or man-haters. Though clumsy and imperfect, she was proud of her family’s reaction to Scarlet. It could’ve been far worse. She shuddered just thinking about how Sabrina’s family flipped out. Of course, being surprised with being bi and poly would make any devout Roman Catholic family a little twitchy. It made her wonder if things had worked out with Malachi, how her family would have taken that. Would her brother have tried to kill Mal?
Scarlet seemed comfortable enough toward the end of dinner to tease Max about his crappy job installing the new door. She even gave Josiah a hug goodbye and didn’t seem grossed out when he returned it with a big wet baby kiss.
As Reece drove them home, she had an overwhelming feeling of peace. And despite the emptiness of Malachi being gone, marrying Scarlet still felt like the right thing to do. Now, someone just had to propose.