Chapter 45
Brother To Jack Rabbit
Spencer
Spending the night with Scarlett is a new normal I wouldn’t change for the world. Holding her, feeling her heartbeat in sync with mine, the way her body molds into me, as she presses herself against my chest. In my arms, I know for sure she is safe; she is home.
I held her while she dozed off to sleep after Levi ran out of her room with bleeding eyes.
That was funny, not for him, but for me it was great.
I watch Scarlett sleep peacefully with her head on my shoulder, her leg draped over mine, while her hand rests on my chest. Watching her, how often does she sleep like this?
How frequently did Grant storm in here and fill her beautiful brain with fear?
My eyes take in her flawless skin, the mole on her right cheekbone, a small scattering of peppered freckles along her nose, and she has approximately twelve sunspots.
Her eyes twitch back and forth, watching her long eyelashes flutter in motion as she dreams. What does she dream of?
I don’t want to wake her, but I know my mom will be knocking on my door at home soon, given that it is half past seven.
Ever so carefully, I scoot from under Scarlett, hoping like hell I don’t wake my resting beauty queen.
“Spence?” She moans as her grip holds tighter, her leg squeezes mine into her warmth. How can I possibly get up when the sound of my name falls from her lips like that? Instead of rolling off the bed, I rolled back into her. I grab her body, pressing her small frame into mine.
“Go back to sleep, baby. You sleep so well when you're pressed up against me.” She buries her face in the crook of my neck.
“What time is it?” Her warm breath hits my neck, sending a wave of warmth throughout my body.
“After seven, I’ll need to go soon, before my mom wakes to find me gone, then the cops will be called, and it’ll become this big thing.” Scarlett chuckles into my chest because she knows it is so true.
“Okay, I’m going to get up. I have yoga at eight this morning with Maddie.
I need to get moving.” I kiss her forehead because the truth is, I don’t want to be without her, not for an hour, a day, or even a minute.
We sit up together, still intimately intertwined in one another, both lingering.
“Spence, thank you for staying last night. But, you don’t have to save me.
” Tucking her fallen hair behind her ear, I smile.
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. I know you’re strong, but I made a promise, and those mean something to me. I won’t break them, not ever.” The hand resting on the back of her neck pulls her into my lips, crashing them together.
“Promise?” I smile into our kiss.
“Forever.” She tips her head back, looking at me. I know what I’m telling her, does she?
After making out for longer than should be allowed without moving to second base, I had to go, for real this time.
Walking between our houses, sneaking to the front, I’m stopped in my tracks, the familiar voice sending chills down my spine. “Spencer, hey kid.” Grant stands in his driveway, looking out at the neighborhood with coffee in hand.
I give him a quick wave, while my brain battles between ripping his head off for laying a hand on the woman I love, or making small talk.
I opt for small talk because prison would mean I couldn’t see Scar every day, but if it came down to it, I would absolutely rip his head off for them.
“Morning. What’re you looking at?” He looks back down the road.
“Some young kids were causing mischief last night, and scared the neighbor a few houses down, just doing my due diligence and looking out for the neighborhood.” Yeah, right. Gonna teach them the same lesson you teach your kids? Dickhead.
I look down the road, wondering if he is just out here snooping.
“Glad we have a cop on the block, keeping people safe and all.” His eyes drift to mine, and I lock eyes with him, in hopes he sees through my words.
I see you fucker, I know exactly who you are.
He nods before turning to head back into his house.
“Let’s work on sharing my kids, huh, Spencer?” He walks into his home, bringing terror and leaving me on the driveway, where he had just stood, spewing good deeds and protection. Who is protecting his children from him? I am. Screw that guy.
Walking in, I see my mom in the living room, watching the news.
She brings down her bright yellow sunflower mug that says, ‘coffee helps me bloom,’ locking her eyes with mine.
“Good morning, my wonderful son, want to tell me where you’re coming from, so early in the morning?
” One thing I don’t do to my mom is lie.
One, because it’s disrespectful, and two, she would know, I don’t know how, but that woman knows everything.
I walk up and kiss her cheek before taking the seat next to her. “Good morning, my wonderful mother. I was at Scarlett’s, where I spent the night, because I was too scared to leave her alone in that house.” I look down, not wanting to see her sadness or her worry.
Placing her small hand on my knee, she gives me a loving squeeze.
“Spencer, sweetie, I love that you want to protect her and save them. Your heart is kind and so loving, but son, I just want you to be careful. You can’t be with her 24/7, and you can’t put her safety on yourself.
Levi did that, and look where that got him, honey.
” I shake my head, not accepting her answer.
“Mom. I know you’re worried about me. The difference between Levi and me is that I have support, Mom.
I have you and Dad, two great parents who love me and won’t let me fall.
Levi has no one mom, but now they have me, us.
I won’t let them down like everyone else.
I might not be able to protect them 24/7, but if I’m able to be there, that’s where I’ll be.
If you ever needed anything, I’d be there.
If Dad needed anything, I’d be there, because we are family.
Well, now we have new members, Mom, and the same rules apply; you show up.
You always show up for me, and I’m always going to show up for them.
They have spent their entire lives being loved wrong.
Ma, please let me show them how it feels when it’s done right.
” Tears fill her eyes as she nods her head, and her chin quivers.
“You are everything I hoped you would be, son, and so much more. I am so proud of you. Show them, sweetie.” Wrapping her hands around me, she squeezes tightly, and I hug her back, knowing how lucky I am to have this woman in my life.
Mom and I stand up to get started on our way. After the heart-to-heart, I feel better knowing she will see that if I’m not home, I’m with Scarlett, and that’s just how it’s going to be. Before jumping in the shower, I texted her.
Me
Hey baby, you make it to the gym?
Almost immediately, the dots dance across the bottom of the screen, and my nerves subside.
Scar
Yeah! Just about to start working on my flexibility for later. ;)
My cheeks warm at the thought of her flexible body folded beneath me, making my blood flow directly to my dick.
Me
You work on stretching your arms and legs, and I’ll stretch the rest. ;)
She reads the message, then I jump into the shower. This is usually where I jerk myself until her name falls from my lips, only now I have the girl, so I save every grunt and every last drop for her. Hopping out of the shower, I get a text from Levi.
Levi
Hey, want to hit the taco truck?
Me
Always, be out in ten
Hitting the Taco Guy for lunch is always a good plan. Levi and I put down the bed of my truck like two lovers and have a picnic in the bed listening to the sound of traffic and Spanish words being thrown around faster than we could comprehend.
“When I snuck out this morning, I ran into Grant.” Levi finishes his bite, looking over to the bridge passing through the town.
“What’d he say?”
Setting down my burrito, I look at what caught his eye. “That he was looking out for the neighborhood, some kids up to no good down the road… then he said, I should work better on sharing his kids.” Finally, his eyes drift back to mine.
“I hate him. I can’t wait to take him down, make him pay for what he’s done.
You know, I’ve always been ready to run, but my mom never wanted to.
So, I decided that the minute Scarlett graduates, we would run.
Now I've got a new plan, because we’re both finally somewhere we don’t want to run from.
” I can feel the pressure of his words, the weight they hold on him.
“You aren’t alone in this fight anymore. You don’t have to run, and if you take your sister from me, I’ll have to take action, and I'm not against kidnapping her, just so we’re clear.” Levi laughs because he knows I’m serious.
Levi folds up his taco wrapper and tosses it in the bag next to us. “Thanks, man, I really don’t know what I’d do without you. Anyway, what are you and your family doing for Christmas?”
“We usually spend the day in our pajamas baking and wrapping gifts, nothing crazy or big, just being together. You guys can come. I actually had a question of my own.” Levi looks in my direction, waiting.
“I want to take Scarlett on a real date, like you did for Maddie. She deserves a real date, but I wanted to get your permission first.” A smirk falls across his face.
“She’d like that a lot. When are you thinking?
You guys could go this weekend, coming up?
Then we only have two weeks before Christmas?
” That is actually a really good plan. Take her on a date and gather ideas for Christmas gifts before I rush to find something that screams, 'I love you, my everything. '
“Yeah, I think that is a good idea. Plus, that’s when winter vacation starts at school. Are you off work for those two weeks?” He drinks his Dr. Pepper and nods.
“Yeah, so we have two weeks to cause mischief.” He winks and laughs, knowing he means drifting in the snow, if it comes, and driving too fast, because it’s Levi, what else could he be talking about? He’s locked down with Maddie, so the days of him chasing skirts are long gone.
“Sweet, I’ll ask Scar tonight.” We jump down from the truck bed and head back home.
Arriving home, I find that my parents have gone grocery shopping, and Grant must be at work, because his car isn’t there.
Levi and I walk upstairs, where we find Scarlett sitting on her bed, still in her yoga clothes. Damn, she’s beautiful. “Hey, baby.” She looks at me as I stand in the doorway with Levi. He gives Scarlett a quick wave before heading off to his room.
I can feel the heat from my core radiating, begging me to embrace her body in mine. She’s like a drug; I am completely addicted and can’t get enough. A sense of urgency rushes through me, driving me to her like a starving man.
“How was yoga? All stretched and ready for your next workout?” I whisper into her ear as my body now lies on top of hers.
Feeling her warmth radiating from her yoga pants, it lights a fire in my core.
“You need to make a choice, Scar, because I can’t stop myself from taking you right now, exactly how I want you, naked, under me, and moaning my name.
So tell me, baby, am I taking you here, or to my house? ” She smiles into my needy kiss.
“Well, for starters, you left my door wide open, and Levi is shitting his pants right now standing in my doorway.” Spencer jumps up, taking in a big breath, before laughing like a madman.
“Seriously?! I leave you two alone for less than five minutes, and ya both about to rip each other's clothes off! With the door open! With me in earshot! How can you go from brother to jack rabbit in seconds?” He is completely flabbergasted, making Scarlett and me laugh even harder.
“To be fair, I told her she needed to decide where we were going. I was being a respectful best friend. If she had said here, I would have shut the door and made her be–” Levi cuts me off.
“Nope, do not even finish your words. I’m leaving before I dismantle my best friend.” With that, he turns and walks away. “I’m running to Maddie’s,” He hollers as he runs down the stairs.
Rolling over onto Scarlett’s bed, we lay with one another. “I want to take you on a date. A real date. Will you go on a date with me, Scarlett?”
“Yes. When?” She smiles from ear to ear before drifting her leg over mine.
“This weekend. Let's do Saturday, five sharp.” Pushing the hair behind her ear, she steals a kiss and agrees. “Perfect, now, I’m going to shut this door, so I can make you come all over me, while I fill you up, so tomorrow at school, all you think about is me, dripping down your leg.” Sliding off of her, I run to close her door.