Trent walks me to my car, and man, I want to kiss him so badly. I need to refrain because we’re in public and the first kiss was a mistake
“Thanks for letting me come with you. I told you, I can help pay the bill.”
He shakes his head. “No. Don’t worry about it, Scarlett.”
“I do, but I’ll figure some other way to pay you back. Maybe I’ll send you a special autographed ball or something.”
Trent laughs. “You don’t need to do that. You should pretend there’s not even a bill in the first place.”
“Fine.” I give up on trying to give him money. “If this is how you want to play it, then fine. I guess I should go. I’ll see you around or something.” I’m suddenly nervous. I don’t know when I’ll see him again. If ever.
“Yeah, me too. I’ll be in touch about when we can get together again.”
“Together?” I stop. What? “There’s no need for us to be together. If needed, I can meet with the lawyer without bothering you.”
“That’s not what I meant, Scarlett.” He gives me the look. The look that says I should already know what he means.
“Trent.” I do know what he’s talking about. I sigh because we’re going to have the same argument. “We cannot be together. We cannot kiss or date or hang out or anything else related to being together. Why are you pushing this? You should be pushing me away.”
“Did you not make the comment about how people pushed you away because of the actions of your family? You were upset over it, yet it’s all you want me to do.”
I know the feeling all too well. People have pushed me away for as long as I can remember. No one wanted to hang out with me because my family were criminals and did nothing but drugs. Hell, I’d probably do the same thing if I were in their shoes.
“Do you want the truth? Do you want me to spill my feelings to you right now, in the middle of parking lot? Because trust me, you may not want to hear it, and I can’t un-say it.” Maybe I can stall him long enough that he won’t ask me to really tell him how I feel about him or our situation.
He looks me right in the eyes; his voice is firm. “I want you to do what you want, not what you think you should do, and not what other people think you should do. You told me yes the other day. Have you completely changed your mind?”
I debate with myself for about two seconds. I’m an adult, and I need to tell him the truth. He needs to be mature enough to hear it and then process what he wants to do.
“I haven’t changed my mind, Trent. I like you. I’ve told you; but this is beyond the scope of anything I’ve ever done. People have pushed me away because of my family. Did it feel good? Hell no, it didn’t, but you have a beautiful daughter to think of. Someday she may ask you about me, and what are you going to say? You’re going to tell her I’m the sister of the man who killed her mother. We’ve had this conversation more than I can count, because it’s the only conversation that matters. But...damn...I still want to have dinner with you because I’m selfish like that.” I’m becoming frustrated as I battle my feelings and spout them off to Trent.
“Then have dinner with me. It’s as simple as that, Scarlett,” he says matter-of-factly.
Simple? He thinks this is simple. Has he already forgotten the reports, the stories, my brother, his wife? No, he hasn’t, because he’s not that way. He’s thought this through. He has to have; why else would he still be standing here telling me we’re going to go on a date? I want this. He wants this. Why am I fighting it so much?
“We can’t go out like a normal couple. However, I’m not the world’s worst cook, so we can have dinner at my place, whenever you’re free.” My heart is thumping hard against my chest.
Trent smiles. “Good. I’ll let you know, okay? I need to get home.”
“Okay.” We’re going on a date.
“A dinner date? At your house?” Macy asks suspiciously.
“Please. I don’t need a lecture because I’ve already given myself all the ones you can think of.”
Macy sighs. “Okay. You’re both mature enough to understand this situation, and if he agreed, then I have nothing else to say on the matter. However, I would go with pants unless you’re hoping for sex.”
I pull pair of black pants from my closet and pink blouse. I’m not too keen on pink, but it isn’t low-cut and looks nice.
“I’ve got it. Thank for the help; I’ll call you tomorrow.” I end the call before she can say anything else.
I race downstairs to check on the food. Everything looks okay, so I know I have time to get in the shower. I run back up to my bathroom and jump into the shower. While I am in there, I realize I should shave. I know nothing is going to happen, but I want to try to feel sexy.
Right?
Right.
After I’m done, and yes, I do feel sexy, I wrap my robe around me and twist the towel on top of my head. That’s when I smell it.
“Oh no!” I gasp and almost break a leg sprinting to the stove, where the smoke is seeping through the door. I cough and hack as I open the oven door. “Shit!” I grab a couple oven mitts and pull out the baked ziti, which is now a burnt baked ziti. I’m so mad at myself. This isn’t going as I thought it would. I shouldn’t have taken a shower yet.
“Ugh.” Now what am I going to do?
Pizza is a safe choice. I’ll do that. I grab my phone and order from my food app. I don’t know what kind he likes, so I’ll do one pepperoni and one sausage, along with breadsticks because I have to those.
I run back upstairs and dry off before putting on my clothes. I start working on my makeup when my doorbell rings. There’s still fifteen minutes before Trent is supposed to be here. Thankfully, Trent isn’t early, and I pay the deliveryman before I take the pizzas into kitchen. I finish my makeup and wait for Trent, which doesn’t take long. When I open the door, he is in a nice pair of dress pants and a polo shirt. Not overly dressy.
“Hi.” I smile.
“Hi.”
I step to the side to let him in. After I shut the door, we head toward the kitchen. “So, I’ve apparently became the worst cook in America and I had to order pizza. I know it’s not normally what people eat on a date unless you’re sixteen, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
“It’s fine. We’ve done this without it being something normal because you know, usually it takes a few dates before a guy gets invited over to the house.” He attempts a joking tone.
I laugh. “True.”
Together, we go into the kitchen and fix our plates. I grab a couple beers from the fridge instead of the wine I had planned.
“How was the road trip?” I ask once we are settled at the kitchen table.
“Stressful.” He takes a bite. “Kaelyn was on a temper tantrum craze the entire time, but I think Angie handled her well. At least, from what she said, she did. But other than that, it went well.”
“Well, in my expert opinion, it’s hard for her. She was used to your grandmother, and now she has Angie. Let’s not forget, you’re gone a lot. Have you thought about putting her in therapy? I can get you the names of some great therapists.”
“I don’t think she needs therapy, just more time to adjust. Besides, she was due for a fit of temper tantrums. It’s been a while.”
I’ve heard parents say this before, and I would argue with them about it. However, Trent is a level-headed father, and I know he wants what’s best for her. “You’re her father. You know what’s best, but if you ever change your mind, I can help you out.” I realize with being away, he might not know the latest. “The lawyer's secretary said there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. They were able to get the post off the Junior Mints website. Took them a little while, but they did it.”
“Yeah, he called to let me know. How are Joey and David?”
“Actually, David is in the process of being adopted. Joey’s father is getting out of jail soon, too. Hopefully, he cleaned up his act, and he might be able to get Joey back.”
“Oh, wow. That�
��s awesome. Is he staying nearby so he can still play on his team?”
“No. He'll be going closer to Knoxville, and Joey is a transplant from Nashville. They won’t be my kids anymore, but I’ll check up on them from time-to-time.”
“That’s nice. Do you think you’ll be doing the same thing in ten years? Or will you eventually accept a promotion when it’s offered?”
“Funny you say that, remember me telling you about the one I turned down?” He nods. “Well, the person who they gave it to ended up quitting, and they’ve offered it to me again. So, I took it. It’s a little bit better pay, and I’ll be a supervisor.”
“Congratulations! You’re excited about it, right?”
“Well, it’s a lot to get used to. I’ve never really had a desk job or normal working hours, but yes, I’m excited.”
“Eventually, we should celebrate with ice cream, unless you have some here?”
“I made brownies for dessert, which I didn’t burn. However, I have no ice cream. Maybe some other time.”
We finish eating and there are moments of awkward silence. It’s mainly because of me. I’m not good in these situations on first dates. I know technically we’ve had what people call dates, but now it’s more official, and I’m not sure how to act.
“I’m not huge on movies or anything, but I thought maybe we could play cards or something,” I suggest after we both clean up everything.
“What are you thinking of playing? And just so you know, I’m a competitive person.”
“Hmm...how about Rummy? First to a thousand points wins.” Sadly, it’s the only card game I know how to play well.
“What’s the prize for the winner? What am I going to get when I win?”
“Prize? You want a prize?” What the hell is he thinking?
“Yes, I do. Games are always better when there’s a prize.”
“Okay, um…winner picks the next date?” My voice cracks with nervousness. Will he agree to it?
A smile spreads across his face. “Deal.” He pretends to crack his knuckles. “Let’s do this.”
I roll my eyes. “This isn’t game seven of the World Series, Trent. It’s just Rummy. And when I win, I’m going to make you go to knitting class with me.” I snicker at him.
“What if I told you I’m a secret knitting fan?”
“That did not come up on Google when I was stalking you.” I keep trying to hide my smile, but it’s not working out well.
“That’s because it’s a secret. Google wouldn’t know.”
“Maybe I should call Junior Mints? This is groundbreaking.”
Trent bellows out a laugh. “You’re going to out me? I thought you were a better person than that, Scarlett.”
“Depends if I win this game or not.”
We put on our serious faces. Both of us want to win and it’s close to the first thousand points. In the end, I prevail.
“Now, Trent, what is the score again? Because I think I won by a landslide.”
“This was going so well. I guess it was worth it to let you win, seeing how you can’t stop grinning.”
“Let? You let me win? Trent,” I shake my head in disbelief and humor. “I won fair and square and beat the pants off of you.”
“Maybe you did, or maybe I let you win. We’ll never know the truth.” He shrugs off his joke with a grin. “So, I guess you’re taking me to a knitting class then?”
“Oh my God, no.” I hold my side at the deep laughter hurting my ribs. He thought I’d been serious. “I don’t know how to knit, and I can’t imagine you doing it either.”
“Good, because I lied; I’ve never knitted in my life.” He helps me pick up all the cards, and I know it’s getting late.
“I had a great night, Trent. Thank you.”
“Me too. It’s been good to get out, even if we just stayed in.”
“I thought so too. I’m sure you need to get home and see Kaelyn.” The butterflies return as we walk to the door together. “Let me know your schedule and we can do this again, okay?”
His lips are on mine before I realize it. The softness of his lips turn me on even more than I remember from the first kiss. Thoughts of this being a bad idea fade away as I wrap my arms around his neck. His tongue slips into my mouth, and I moan. I’m not sure who is the first to pull away, but I miss him the instant his lips leave mine.
This is going somewhere.
***
WE’RE ALL IN the weight room, lifting weights. There’s a constant chatter between players and trainers as well as the rock music blaring from a stereo. Jordan, Colby, Spencer, and I are in one area working out together. So far, I’ve learned that Colby isn’t having any luck with his online dating, and the dates Jordan and Spencer have set him up on have been duds. When Jordan makes an offhanded comment about how women aren’t worth the trouble anyway, Spencer silences us with his question.
“Okay, what happened between you and your wife to leave you so bitter?”
Jordan stops his lift midway and stares at him. To me, his comments aren’t bitter. They lack the necessary grit and conviction. He’s saying what he wants to believe. However, none of us have ever asked why he and his wife separated, and he’s never said more than the fact that they were.
“Come on,” Spencer continues. “You go on and on, but never explain why. You can’t blame me for being curious.”
Jordan finishes his lift and places the weights on the floor, propping his hands on his hips. He masks his pain well. “No marriage is perfect. She needed perfect.” He picks up the dumbbells again.
“That’s it? That doesn’t tell me anything.”
Jordan sighs. “Tells you plenty. Tells you that when we had,” he struggles to find the right word. “When we had problems, she ran instead of staying to fix them. Hope that satisfied your curiosity, Spence, because you’re not going to bring up my wife again.” To ensure the end of the conversation, he changes the subject. “Trent, what the hell is going on with you and that girl?”
Their eyes turn to me. I clear my throat. “We had a date.”
“Seriously?” Spencer asks bewilderedly.
“Good for you,” Colby quickly says.
Jordan stays silent, once again not wanting anything to do with more conversation.
“With all the media attention you’re getting, you decide it’s a perfectly good idea to go on a date with her?” Spencer shakes his head. “Her brother—”
“Yeah, I know. But what has she done? Nothing. She’s been affected by what happened as much as I have. She played a role as much as I did. If he had a kid, would you shame them for what he did like you’re doing to her? No, you wouldn’t. She’s a good person,” I’m adamant.
He holds his hands up. “Damn, am I pissing everyone off today?”
“Yes,” Jordan answers. He chuckles, causing us to laugh.
Colby speaks to get the conversation back on track. “It’s your life, Trent. Do what you want and what you think is best for you and your daughter, and proceed with caution.”
I nod. That’s my plan.
“Hey, Trent!” I turn at the sound of Blake’s voice. He’s on the other side of the room with Felix and Hector on the treadmills. “Come here.”
I walk over, figuring now is a good time to switch up, and I step onto the treadmill. “What’s up?”
“Abigail, Sofia, and Zoey are having a girls’ day Wednesday, and if it’s okay with you, they wanted to take Kaelyn with them.”
“Really?” My surprise is hard to contain. I guess I never expected one of them to ask.
“Yeah. Sofia is bummed that Kaelyn stayed with me last time.” He grins, and I shake my head at him, a smile playing on my lips. “So, what do you say? You gotta say yes, or else you can be the one to tell Sofia.”
I laugh. “Sure. She can pick her up from the house or the nanny can drop her off. Just let me know.”
I run for a bit, but it’s hard when Hector and Tanner ‘race’ on the treadmills to see how fast they can
run on them. It’s hilarious to watch because it looks as if they are running for their lives, trying to keep up with the pace of the moving belt. Tanner is on the verge of winning when Sofia quickly ends it.
“What are y’all doing? Turn them off! Are y’all trying to injure yourselves?” They turn off the machines and open their mouths, but she continues, “And don’t think I’m about to massage those legs either. The hands of a God don’t work well with stupidity.”
We’re all trying not to laugh at her with the angry look on her face, her hands propped on her hips, and the authority in her tone. Blake has to cover his mouth with his hand, but we can’t help our laughter when Hector and Tanner mumble, “Sorry.”
“Grown men acting like kids.” She shakes her head. “And being a bad influence on young Tanner.” She holds back her smile when he scoffs.
“I’m not that young!”
Yes, he is.
“Did you need me, Sofia?” Blake asks before Tanner can go on his rant about how mature and adult-like he is.
“No, I came for Roman.” She turns until she finds him. “You were supposed to be in my office ten minutes ago.”
“Sorry, I got distracted.” That was right around the time they started their race.
She mumbles under her breath before they leave. I glance at the clock and figure I’ve been here long enough. I head for the showers. I’m excited to get home and hear about Kaelyn’s day. Angie has been amazing with keeping her busy and getting her out of the house. She found some activities and programs and asked if Kaelyn could do them.
So, my kid is almost as busy as I am now. She has swimming lessons, she goes to the library twice a week, they go to the park, and Kaelyn has started dance classes. Apparently, that’s what Angie is going to school for, which is how Kaelyn became interested in it. I’m sure Angie will be happy to hear she will have a day off this week.
When I walk in the door, both of them are lying on the couch asleep. Must have been an exhausting day. Even though I try to be quiet when I shut the door, it wakes Angie up. It’s oddly comforting to know she’s a light sleeper.
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