Golden Stars / Scarlett Johansson

Chapter 25: The Poolside Dilemma

The air was filled with the sound of splashing water and laughter. Everyone was already in their swimsuits, except for Y/N, who lingered by the poolside, nervous about joining them. Scarlett approached her, looking as effortlessly beautiful as ever, despite the casualness of her outfit: a pair of bikini bottoms and a white tank top that clung slightly to her form. 

Scarlett smiled warmly as she came closer. "I can take Rose now so you can go change, Y/N," she said softly.

Y/N's face flushed at the sight of Scarlett's exposed midriff and the hint of her bikini underneath the white tank top. She swallowed, trying to steady herself, but nodded, letting Scarlett take Rose from her arms. She quickly handed over the little girl, ignoring her rising nerves.

Calie, noticing Y/N's hesitation, gave her a reassuring nod and an encouraging smile. Y/N forced a smile back, but inside she was still worried about her scar. The thought of revealing it made her heart race, her mind flashing back to her father's harsh words.

Y/N made her way to the bathroom, where she changed into a pair of shorts and a bikini top. Standing in front of the mirror, her eyes traced the jagged scar that ran across chest, and she couldn't help but hear her father's voice echoing in her head. She closed her eyes, a tight knot forming in her chest as tears threatened to spill over.

She took a shaky breath, steadying herself. "Not today," she whispered to herself, slipping a tank top over her bikini before heading back to the others.

When she returned, Scarlett was sitting on the pool's steps, gently holding Rose, who was splashing happily with her tiny hands. Chris and Calie were swimming and laughing in the deeper end of the pool, their playful banter filling the air. Y/N blushed slightly as she sat on the step next to Scarlett, still feeling the heat of embarrassment from earlier.

She could feel Scarlett's gaze on her, curious and probing. Y/N tried to ignore it, instead focusing her attention on Rose, who giggled at the water droplets falling around her.

"You know," Scarlett started with a gentle smile, "you don't have to cover up so much. We're just relaxing."

Y/N opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Calie swam over to them, already anticipating the conversation. "Oh, Scarlett, Y/N's always preferred this kind of look. She's more comfortable that way."

Y/N shot Calie a grateful look, appreciating the smooth save. Scarlett gave Y/N a knowing smile but didn't push further. The three women shared a brief moment of understanding before Chris suddenly appeared, grinning mischievously as he swam up.

Without warning, Chris grabbed Y/N by the leg and tugged her toward the center of the pool. "Come on, Y/N, you're not getting out of this!"

Y/N let out a surprised yelp as she was pulled into the deeper water, splashing wildly. "Chris!" she shouted, but the laughter in her voice betrayed any annoyance she tried to feign. Once she surfaced, everyone was laughing, including Y/N. She narrowed her eyes playfully at Chris before deciding it was payback time.

"You're going down!" she declared before diving toward Chris, determined to dunk him under the water.

The next few minutes were filled with playful chaos as Y/N, Chris, and Calie splashed around, trying to outdo each other. Y/N was laughing more than she had in a long time, the weight of her earlier worries momentarily forgotten.

After about 15 minutes, Y/N swam back over to the shallow end, where Scarlett was still sitting with Rose on her lap. Y/N smiled warmly at the little girl and said, "Why don't you go play, Scarlett? I'll sit with Rose for a bit."

Scarlett hesitated for a moment, clearly torn between wanting to join the fun and her natural protectiveness over her daughter. She looked at Y/N, and though they'd only known each other for a couple of weeks, she trusted her. Y/N had a gentle soul, and Scarlett could see how much care she had for Rose.

"You sure?" Scarlett asked, glancing between Y/N and her daughter.

Y/N nodded. "Of course. Go have some fun, I've got her."

Scarlett smiled appreciatively and handed Rose over to Y/N. The little girl settled comfortably in Y/N's lap, happily babbling as she played with the water. Scarlett stood up, but Y/N's eyes widened as Scarlett casually reached for the hem of her tank top.

In one swift motion, Scarlett peeled off the wet shirt, revealing her burgundy bikini. The fabric clung perfectly to her curves, showing off her toned body in a way that made Y/N's heart race. Y/N's mouth fell open, her eyes involuntarily widening at the sight. She tried to look away, but she couldn't help but stare, momentarily forgetting herself.

Scarlett, completely aware of Y/N's reaction, caught her gaze and raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. She bit her lip to stifle a laugh, but the playful smirk on her face betrayed her. She didn't say anything, just let Y/N's red cheeks speak for themselves. 

It was Rose who snapped Y/N back to reality, letting out a loud giggle and splashing water onto her shirt. Scarlett looked down at her daughter and chuckled, shaking her head. "Caught you staring, huh?" she teased, glancing back at Y/N.

Y/N, flustered, quickly shook her head. "I—I wasn't—" She tried to find the words but failed miserably, the heat in her cheeks making it impossible to deny.

Scarlett's eyebrow arched higher, clearly not convinced. "Sure, Y/N," she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm as she stepped into the water. 

As Scarlett waded deeper into the pool, Y/N couldn't help but watch her go, her eyes following every movement. The sight of Scarlett in the water made her heart pound in her chest, and for a moment, she felt completely out of her depth.

Scarlett, feeling Y/N's gaze on her, smirked to herself. Her heart skipped a beat knowing Y/N was watching her, but she didn't turn around, allowing the tension to hang in the air as she swam toward Chris and Calie.

Y/N let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. She glanced down at Rose, who was now splashing her hands in the water again, completely unaware of the moment between her mom and Y/N.

Y/N couldn't help but smile softly, brushing a wet strand of hair out of Rose's face. As she sat there with the little girl on her lap, she realized how much things had changed in such a short time. And while she didn't fully understand what was happening between her and Scarlett, she knew one thing for sure: her life would never be the same again.