As Green As Her Eyes

Chapter 16: The trouble with wanting

"I thought you weren't coming home until next week," I say as I usher Scarlett inside. I close the gate behind us before walking hand in hand towards the pool house.

"Change of plans," she explains. "Colin has a work thing he can't get out of and won't be able to spend time with Cosmo, so I thought it would be better for us to go home. He's flying here next month so he'll be able to bond with him then."

"And you just got back this morning?"

"Last night."

"You didn't tell me," I say. Not that I would have been able to meet up with her. I was somewhere else, after all.

"I wanted to surprise you," she says as I push the door to the pool house open.

"You succeeded."

Scarlett lets go of my hand. I watch as she looks around my place, taking in the tables, the dressers, and the full-length mirror. And then she makes her way towards my unmade bed, sitting prettily on the edge.

"Do you want to go out with me?" She asks all of a sudden.

"Huh?"

"I said, do you want to go out with me?"

"Like on a date?"

"Yes, exactly like a date."

I freeze, slightly taken aback by the seriousness of her voice.

"Um, okay? I mean, yes. Of course I'll go on a date with you. When?"

"Right now."

"Wait, what?"

Scarlett sighs. She pulls back her hood and removes her cap, allowing me to fully see her face. She looks hopeful but also a little embarrassed.

"I just... I missed you so much when I was away."

A blush creeps up my neck at her confession. "Is that why you're here at ten thirty in the morning? Because you missed me so much and couldn't wait to see me?"

Scarlett bites her lower lip, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "Yes."

My heart skips in my chest.

"I missed you more than I thought I would, (Y/N). I couldn't stop thinking about you when I was in New York. Yes, I was with family and friends, and I had a lot on my plate when it came to The Outset, but I couldn't help but feel like something was missing."

I gulp. "What was missing?"

"You," Scarlett answers, not missing a beat. Her expression is firm but tender, and my heart melts at the sight. "The weight of that realization really hit me, you know? And I realized I haven't treated you as properly as I should?"

"What? You've been the best to me, Scarlett."

"I haven't taken you out on a date though."

My heart skips again. "You didn't have to. You don't have to."

"I want to, (Y/N). Go on a date with me, please? Now? I'll do better next time, I promise, but right now, I just want to get croissants and coffee with you."

I walk towards Scarlett with my hands out. She takes them, looking up at me with beautiful, hopeful eyes.

"I'd love to get croissants and coffee with you."

Scarlett takes me somewhere I haven't been to before. It's a new place, a cute little cafe she says is owned by a producer she knows. The interior is nice — all browns and greens and potted plants on high shelves. The atmosphere is calming. Perfect for a cute brunch date.