33. Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty
Steven
Head against the seat, eyes closed, a soft ding sounds over the roar of the plane’s engines. Sliding my phone from my pocket, I rub my eyes, then unlock the screen.
It’s an email from PinesAndPossibility.
I reached out a few days ago only to have my request met with silence.
My finger hovers over the message alert before finally clicking on it.
My eyes skim the first lines before the words ‘in love with someone else’ stop me cold. The phone nearly slips from my fingers as I blink hard, forcing myself to read the line again.
Muttering under my breath, ‘in love with someone else,’ I read it a third time, my thumb frozen on the screen.
“Colt,” I whisper next to my teammate’s ear. His soft snoring is the only response, so I try again, this time with a firm shake. “Colt.”
“He’s not getting up,” Declan says from the seat behind me. “He sleeps like the dead. What do you need?”
My mouth hangs open, and I hesitate. My phone is halfway extended toward Declan, but I yank it back for a split second before shoving it through the gap anyway. “What does the part about them being in love with someone else say specifically? Like what do you think it means?”
The seat has a steady bounce to it, the kind that feels like someone is kicking your seat. But it’s my heart trying to pound its way out of its cage.
Dec’s brows knit together, and he looks up at me, confused. “This email doesn’t make any sense.”
“That’s not what I asked you.” I go to rip my phone from his hand, but he pulls it back, a smug grin lining his lips.
“Patience, Bennett. Let me read it again.”
“I don’t need you to understand, Graham. I just need you to clarify the part about—”
“Being in love with someone else. Blah, blah, blah. I heard you. Give me a second.”
What feels like an eternity passes before he looks up at me again. “They definitely said ‘they’re in love with someone else, and something about it being their best friend.’”
My fist pumps in the air, and a loud, “YES!” slips out of my mouth.
Multiple eyes turn to glare at me, some of them peeking out from sleep masks.
“Bennett! Keep it down.” Coach whisper-yells.
“Sorry, Coach.” I turn back toward Declan and stick my hand, palm up, between the seats.
“What about Scarlett?” He whispers, brows drawn.
I stare at him, holding my phone up over his shoulder, just out of reach. Pushing myself up, I stretch as far as possible, but he keeps his hand just out of reach.
“Bennett!” Coach growls.
“Dec, give me my phone.” His eyes narrow, determination written all over his face. “That’s from Scarlett.”
At that, his brows shoot up, and his hand drops enough for me to grab my phone.
Turning back in my seat, a relieved woosh of air comes out, a grin on my face.
Coach whips his head toward me, giving me one final warning glare. I raise my hands in surrender, and mouth, “Sorry.” Pulling my thumb and forefinger from one end of my mouth to the other.
“You have to explain that to me.” Dec’s voice has me hitting my head on the overhead air vent.
“Graham,” Coach growls so deeply I’d fear for my life if it was directed at me.
Rubbing the top of my head, I turn to Declan. He’s still staring at me, fingers tapping the top of my seat.
“Fine,” I mouth, annoyed.
A satisfied smile pulls up his lips, and he rests his head back against the chair, looking like the cat who caught the canary.
Staring at the message, a satisfied curve lifts my lips. A buzz of energy hums through me so fast, my leg starts bouncing against the seat.
Shaking my head in disbelief, I glance at the time. It’s after midnight, and I have at least another hour in the air, then another hour before I make it home.
The time of ‘night’ dictates that I just go home and visit Scarlett tomorrow. But my head is running over all the ways that I can make tonight work.
Standing up, I immediately groan, rubbing my head with my hand. These planes are not made for tall people. Then glance around to see if anyone is watching. Scooting past Colton, I step into the aisle and make my way toward the bathroom.
Leaning against the door, I call Miles.
The sound of my foot tapping echoes in the small space.
“Hello?” Miles’ voice is gruff and slightly annoyed.
“Did you talk to Scarlett earlier?” I say as loud as I can, without yelling. The last thing I want to do is get my entire team stuck doing drills.
“Steven? Aren’t you supposed to be on the plane?”
“I am on the plane.”
“How are you—”
“It’s called a Wi-Fi call. I know you’ve heard of it.”
“Call me tomorrow.”
“No Miles! Wait!”
The line goes dead. Too bad for him, he’s not getting out of this so easily. I click Miles’ contact again.
This time the call goes to voicemail, so I call. And call. And call. And call.
“Steven.” He growls, and my mouth twitches.
“I promise I won’t call you again if you just tell me what you and Scarlett talked about.”
A heavy sigh comes through the phone right before Miles fills me in on his conversation with Scarlett, and the details that led to the email.
“What do you think I should do?” I rake my fingers through my hair, leaving my hand resting on the top of my head.
“You two are going to be the death of me!” His voice is muffled. “Tell her you love her, and leave me out of it.”
“Thanks. That’s helpful.” Sarcasm drips from my voice. “I meant, should I wait until tomorrow or go to her place as soon as I get home?”
“Little brother, I have to be up in five hours.” He grumbles, the same tone he would use with me as kids when I was annoying him. I slap my hand over my mouth. “Do whatever you want.”
“Wait until tomorrow or when I get home?” Silence. “Miles? Miles? Are you still there?”
He’s hung up on me… again.
Heading back down the aisle to my seat, I stare out the window into the dark sky.
Only another hour and forty-five minutes to decide what I’m going to do.
That was the longest two hours of my life, but here I am.
My fist hovers inches from the door, doubt holding it in place. It’s late, technically early, but definitely not the time of day for visitors.
Heading home and coming over tomorrow is the wiser choice. But I don’t choose wisely. Rapping on the door three times, I cringe as the sound echoes loudly in the stairwell.
When the door swings open and a bright-eyed Scarlett greets me, I know I made the right choice.
“Steven?” Her eyes widen, and she takes a small step back.
“Can I come in?” I walk into her living room without waiting, leaving my duffel in the hallway. “I got your email.”
“You got my what?” Her forehead pulls together, and her nose scrunches up. She’s adorable when she’s confused. But then her eyes narrow, and she grounds out, “Miles”.
My mouth curves up. Stepping closer, my one hand cups her cheek, and the other wraps around her waist. “Don’t be mad at him. He had the best of intentions.”
Her hands slide up my arms and rest on my biceps; a shy smile crawls along her lips.
“Besides, if you weren’t being so stubborn, we wouldn’t have had to get him involved at all.”
“I wasn’t being stubborn!” She nearly stomps, and my grin widens. “I was keeping a—”
My lips gently press against hers, my thumb rubbing the soft skin of her cheek. “A promise, I know. Very noble of you.”
Her gaze snaps to mine, bouncing back and forth, trying to read the meaning behind my words.
“I’m serious, Scarlett.” She dips her chin, her cheeks flushing. Tugging her face up, I look at her pointedly. “My dad knew he could trust you.”
Her eyes brighten, and her throat works, but her hands slide up to my shoulders. Her fingers play with the hair at the nape of my neck. “I just wish he had filled me in on it, so I could set him straight.”
“You were having such a tough time then; I’m sure he just wanted to protect you.”
“And he picked a person who would be my staunchest defender in all things.”
She slips her hand in my hair, tugging my head closer. Her warm breath brushes against my lips. “You think I was a good choice?”
Her lips curl up, and I place my lips on her cheek. “The best.” Moving to the other cheek, I whisper, “The fiercest.”
Her lashes brush against her face, and I press my lips against her forehead. “Utterly determined. And so completely stubborn.”
“Steven Bennett,” her head whips up. “You take that back—”
“Never,” I whisper, just before my smiling lips claim hers. Feeling her gasp against my mouth, I pull her flush against me, and kiss her as I’ve dreamed of kissing her my entire life.
Nothing held back. Laying it all on the table. The longing. The desire. The love.
Her fingers tug at my hair, pulling me closer. My arm tightens, and for a second I’m not sure where she begins and I end. But it doesn’t matter, because this woman in my arms is finally mine.
Slowly pulling away, I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, and gently press my lips to hers. “I love you, Scarlett Ava James.”
A giggle bubbles out of her, and she wraps her arms around my neck. She’s so close that her warm breath has my skin popping goosebumps. “I love you too. So much.”
A yawn takes me by surprise. “I should head home and get to bed. Morning will be here before we know it.”
“It’s already here,” she teases, but doesn’t loosen her grip. Her warm body pressed against mine.
“Scar?” I whisper against the top of her head.
“I heard you.” She squeezes tighter, and I chuckle.
“You need to let go so I can leave.”
“You let go first.” She laughs, and it’s then that I realize my arms are still wrapped tight around her waist.
I groan, my arms tightening instinctively before I make myself loosen them, palms sliding slowly down to rest on her waist.
She mirrors my movement, her hands loosening and resting on my shoulders.
For a moment we stand there, both of us wearing these silly grins, and I don’t care that it’s after three in the morning. Or that I have to be up in a few hours.
Her smile widens, just before a yawn escapes.
“Okay, sleepyhead.” I place a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m going to let you get to bed.”
Dropping my hands, I walk toward the door when she calls out. Glancing over my shoulder, hand resting on the doorknob, I meet her eyes. “Yes.”
“I’m glad that you didn’t wait until tomorrow. I mean later.”
“Me either.” I lean over and press my mouth to hers, then whisper. “Good night, girlfriend.”
“Good night, boyfriend. Meet you for coffee later?”
“Always.” I lean in one last time, cause apparently I can’t get enough of kissing her, then make myself head out the door.
Scarlett leans against the door frame, watching me as I run down the stairs. When I get to the end of the staircase, I turn toward her and smile. She gives me a little wave, just as I walk out the door.
Pushing the door open to my apartment, I drop my duffel next to the couch. An uncontrollable wave of happiness is pulsating through me, making me wonder how the heck I’m ever going to fall asleep.