Illicit Affairs ~ A Chris Motionless Love Story

Chapter Twenty-Four - Haunter and Hauntee

SCARLETT'S POV
Chris didn't turn around when I opened the door. I don't think he heard it open over the sound of the rain hitting the concrete. And I didn't call after him. I stood, yet again frozen, in my doorway as the rain blew in. I knew he had to have seen me when he got in his car to drive off, but again he didn't pay any mind to it. Maybe he thought showing up was a mistake?
I slept on the couch, the door unlocked awaiting Chris to come in. He never did.

Over brunch with Hailey I kept dozing off, nearly face planting into my plate of eggs Benedict. I was exhausted, but she needed help getting stuff together for the nursery, and I wanted to help her pay for things as she would allow.

"So, twenty people have RSVPd to the baby shower, including Bryan's friends. I'm not wanting that traditional all women's baby shower. I mean, that's bullshit. Obviously, he was just as involved in this as I was. Except I'm the one carrying the child," Hailey went on. I nodded in agreement, forcing my eyes to stay open. "Scar, are you okay? You look like shit."

"I'm sorry, Hailey, I didn't sleep well last night."

"Are you still having the dream?" She asked. I nodded.

"But it got worse. He showed up at 3:00A.M. In the pouring rain." Hailey raised an eyebrow, and smirked. "But he never came in. He never said anything. He never did anything. It was almost like he had stopped by and decided it was a bad idea."

"You need another mimosa." Hailey flagged down a waiter, and he quickly catered to her every demand. "So did you call him? Or text him?"

"No, I haven't said anything to him. It's been two, nearly three, months. What would I say? 'Oh, sorry I declined your proposal but I miss your dick'?" Hailey choked on her water.

"Well, I would hope you loved more about him than what he's packing, but go off."

"I just wish we had never even started, ya know? I wish we had never gone home with each other that night." Hailey sighed heavily and gave me a soft smile.

"Scar, I said it then and I'll say it now. You have gotten yourself in quite the mess." She was right. Everyone was right. I was in a mess, and it was my fault.
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CHRIS' POV
I went to her house last night. Just to see her, just to know she was okay. I felt like I was stalking her now, but I couldn't help it. Since I saw her at the bar sitting alone at the table. I almost took that other girl to bed, but couldn't. She followed me home, and we got past the door. That was it before I told her I couldn't do it. Her gaze had caught the open velvet box on my counter. She gave me a soft smile, squeezed my bicep, and left. That was it.
When I went to Scarlett's house last night, for the millionth time in three months, she opened the door. She finally opened the door. I wondered what she was up for, but I wasn't sure I was ready to see her again. I missed her, damn it, but every time I see her eyes I remember how she looked at me, how she shot me down, how she left me shattered in that park. But, at the same time, I saw her smile, heard her laugh, felt her hands.

"Chris, you gotta come. I mean, this is my first kid!" Bryan exclaimed over the headphones as we played COD online. I sighed heavily and put my controller down, filling the empty space in my hands with my face.

"Bryan, I can't, I just can't do it." No other reason, I just couldn't.

"She asks about you, ya know?" I felt a lump in my throat bob. "How many nights have you been going to her house?" I was silent. "Christopher."

"Every night. Every fucking night. She opened the door last night, but I couldn't— fuck." My voice broke. Bryan sighed heavily.

"Look, just show up. Maybe y'all talk and rekindle, maybe y'all don't even exchange a passing glance. Just show up tomorrow. Please."
Pulling up to Bryan's house was a nightmare. Cars lined the street, but one in particular stood out from the rest; a hot pink Camero with a black convertible top. I saw a tattooed leg pop out of it, and followed it up as the woman in the black dress and black heels walked to the passenger side of the car. Scarlett. She had traded her Hellcat in.
She was yelling at someone over the phone as she balanced it between her head and shoulder, grabbing what seemed to be a cake box out of the passenger seat. As I neared to help out I could hear the conversation progress.
"I told you I needed 80 god damn cupcakes, all chocolate with pink fucking icing and baby girl decorations! Tell me why the fuck I just pulled up and I have 40 with blue icing— I will not calm down!" She looked over to me and handed me the box of cupcakes. "Hold these for a moment," she whispered to me. "Well whoever works front is obviously incompetent. It's an order for Scarlett. Not Scott—can you fucking deliver them?" I chuckled to myself. It was funny to see such a short woman be so pissed over cupcakes of all things. "Fine. I'll be there in five minutes." She hung up the phone and slid it in the front of her dress.
"Hi," she finally greeted. Then she grabbed the cupcakes, and turned to her car. Then turned back to me. "I hate to ask you this, but will you ride with me? I'll need help." I didn't even say yes, I just grabbed the wrong order and slid into her passenger seat.

"What happened to the Hellcat?" I asked her, disrupting the silence between us.

"I traded it. I needed a change." I looked over at her as her midnight black hair blew in the wind and whipped around. I couldn't see her eyes through her heart shaped sunglasses, but I wondered if they were sad. If they were glimmering with tears. Or if the sunlight bounced and dazzled in them, like a jewel.
After the Great War of Cupcakes was over, I helped her plate them. Still, silence lingered. Neither one of us knew what to say. Neither one of us knew how to move past what had happened, but it didn't stop my mind from wandering. What was she wearing under the dress? Did she miss me like I missed her? Did she want to be pulled back in by me?
Her eyes caught mine from across the room as everyone started to file out, and suddenly we were the only two around. Everyone faded out. Then, I made my way to her. Weaving through people, through residual wrapping paper and bags. Straight to her. As I stood face to face with her my breathing became heavy, as did hers. Anticipation was thrown out the window when I pulled her into me. Not a kiss, just a tight embrace. I breathed in her scent that I missed so much, then I let go. I let her fall through my fingers like sand falling in an hourglass. I let her go. But only physically. I'd truly never be free of her. She'd forever haunt me. But I wanted her to.