For Keeps

8. Luke

I dream about Scarlett. Every part of me longs for her. I spend my morning thinking about her. The way she closes her eyes as she laughs, the way she crinkles her nose when she is thinking, I love that her top lip is smaller than her bottom lip, and the way she looks down and her cheeks flush when she gets embarrassed.
I eat breakfast and shower with her on my mind. I wonder if it's too early to text her. It's almost eleven. Before I can decide my step dad walks in the living room.
"Mom said you are moving out tomorrow. Do you need any help with anything? You know you don't have to move out, Lucas. You're mom and I love having you here." Mark's gray eyes are kind as he talks to me. He is a good guy in general but he is amazing to my mom. My real Dad isn't a bad guy, but he could have wrote a book on how not to treat your wife. I smile back at Mark. "It's okay. I've been on my own for almost ten years. I'm used to it. Besides..." I lean in, "it gets me closer to the girl." I smile.
"Well it that case you have to go." He pats me on the shoulder. "Let me know what you need."
"Thanks." I say.
"Want to help me clean the garage?" He asks with a huge grin.
"Oh so you were buttering me up so I would help with the garage, huh?" I tease.
"Of course." He laughs.

The next couple hours are spent cleaning out the garage. We stop for a late lunch, my mom made us sandwiches. While they are talking about the upcoming Christmas party I grab out my phone and see I have a text from Scarlett.

Scar- Hey. How's your day? :)

Me- Okay. I am helping my step dad clean the garage. Sorry it took a while to text back.

Scar- No problem. :)

Me- What are you up to?

Scar- Reading mostly. I am putting off a trip to the grocery store.

Me-Are you nuts? ! Wal mart on a Sunday???

Scar- I'm not proud of this moment. I'm hangry ! I need food.

Me-Sheesh I guess. Lol

Scar-Want to come? I mean when you're done? If you're not busy.

Me-Heck yes. I would brave the Wal mart for you.

Scar- Yay. :) want me to pick you up?

Me- Are you sure?

Scar-Obviously. I asked ;)

Me-Okay. I live up on Skyline drive. When do you want to go?

Scar-Whenever you want.

Me-Okay I'll text you in a bit. We are almost done with the garage.

Scar- Sounds good. See you soon.

The next hour I beast mode so I can see Scarlett sooner. I text her the address and take a quick shower. When I get out I hear a knock at the door. My mom answers.
"Oh hi! You must be Scarlett! We have heard so much about you. I'm Diana."
"Hello. It's so nice to meet you."
"Luke should be out soon, come on in."
I rush down the hall and bump into Mark.
"Uh oh. It will be official now that she has met mom." he whispers
I smile.
"Hey." I say as I come into view." Scarlett is wearing jeans and has a black Columbia jacket on. Her hair is down in loose waves. She looks perfect.
"Hey." She says.
Mark comes in and introduces himself.
"Ready to go?" I ask grabbing my jacket.
"Sure." She says and smiles. "It was so nice to meet you both." She says to my my mom and Mark.
"You'll be here for Christmas still? Right?" My mom asks.
"Yes of course. Thank you."
"Good! It was lovely meeting you Scarlett." We head out into the cold together and I can't help but grab her hand.
"They love you." I smile.
"I hope so." She says.
Wal mart goes as well as it could. Scarlett eats pretty healthy so I can't help but try and throw some junk in the cart to see her reaction. She asks if I like certain things, which makes me happy since she must be thinking of me being around more. After the store she drops me back off.
"Thanks for coming. I know it wasn't much fun." She says.
"It was time with you. Nothing can be more fun than that." I smile. "So I'll text you?"
"You better."
I kiss her on her forehead and exit the car. "See you tomorrow, gorgeous. "
"Okay." She says with a smile and I see her cheeks flush.
The rest of the night we text. She tells me little things about growing up and her parents. Her parents tried for years to have more children, but it just wasn't in their cards. Scarlett was their miracle child.
After we say our goodnights, I think of my sister, Lexie, and can't imagine life without her. I make a mental note to talk to her more.

The next day I get to move into my apartment.  Luckily I'm off, but Scarlett isn't. I get the lease signed, and Mark and I get the heavy stuff moved in. At four o'clock Brett shows up with Hope and they help me get stuff put together. Karianne shows at five and starts taking everything in.
"Wow. You're close to Scarlett and us... but mostly Scarlett." She's right.  I'm two doors down which excites me.
"Is she closing by herself?" I ask realizing I usually close with her.
"No, they have the tech students scheduled this afternoon. She's okay." He smiles and pats my back.
I can't believe how much I worry about her.

I order pizza close to six and at about fifteen after, Scarlett arrives. Her eyes seem sad, but maybe she's just tired.
"Wow I didn't even know this place was available. I'm a horrible neighbor." She laughs.
She helps Karianne and Hope unload boxes and they start debating where things will go. The pizza arrives and we eat. Hope tells us about her day and how a little boy, Devon, stole her truck she was playing with. I love how Scarlett talks to Hope. I can see her being a mother. A great one at that.
After we eat we get back to unpacking. The girls turn on some music and start dancing and singing to a Taylor Swift song. I watch as Scarlett and Karianne take turns swinging Hope. Watching Scarlett so care free is amazing. She is laughing, smiling, and spinning. Brett and I decide to join the fun and the next forty five minutes are spent dancing around my new living room with the people who matter most.

It's getting close to eight so we decide to do more another night. Scarlett hangs back with me. We sit on the couch together each with a beer.
"That was fun. Thanks for your help." I tell her.
"It was fun." She says and takes a drink. "I like spending time with you."
"Me too." I say and move closer to her. I move a hair out of her face and brush my hand down her cheek and down to her collar bone. She closes her eyes and leans her head back slightly. I move my mouth close to her neck and whisper against her skin. "You're so beautiful. Everything about you amazes me. You're funny." I kiss her neck. "You're smart." Another kiss up her neck. "You're sexy." Another just below her chin. "I've never wanted anything as much as I want you." I kiss the corner of her mouth. She opens her eyes and looks at me. She takes a deep breath as I put my forehead against hers. I trace her bottom lip with my finger.
"Luke..." she breathes. I lower my lips to hers and just as my lips graze hers, my phone rings.
Instantly the mood changes. The ring tone is one I never thought I would hear again. I lean back, confusion taking over.
"Do you need to get that?" Scarlett says. I look up and her cheeks are red. Embarrassment clear on her beautiful face.
"No. It's nobody." I say. I lean back into her and my phone goes off again. I sigh.
"Just... one minute." I say standing.
I walk towards the kitchen and answer the phone, making sure annoyance is clear in my voice.
"What do you want Mandy?" I snap at my ex girlfriend.
"Well hello to you, too."
"I'm busy and don't have time for your bullshit." I say.
"Ouch. I thought you loved me."
"Nope. Now what do you want?"
"It's been a while. I miss-"
"Fuck you. You don't miss me so don't even say it."
Mandy and I were together for three years. After I came back from my last deployment, the one that ended my military career I find out she had been sleeping with another guy the last year of our relationship.
"But I do. I miss you so much. We were good together. Remember all the fun we had?"
"I'm happy without you. You chose Vin, remember? You cheated on me."
"I've changed, Lucas. I want to be together."
"I met someone. I'm happy."
"Well she isn't me."
"She isn't. Thank God. Bye Mandy." I say and hang up before she can say anything else. I shake my head and walk back to the living room. Scarlett is by the door, her hand resting on the doorknob.
"Where are you going?" I ask confused and she jumps.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't want to interrupt." She says looking at her feet.
"Scarlett." I say closing the distance to her. "That was my ex. I just had to tell her to fuck off. She isn't a nice person and it's been over for a while. There's nothing to interrupt. I promise." I run my hand along her arm.
"Okay. I better go though. It's getting late." Uncertainty fills those brown eyes I love so much as she looks at me. She kisses my cheek briefly then heads out the door. I stand there momentarily glued to the tan carpet. I want to run after her, but I also don't want to scare her so I retreat to my room and pretend Mandy never called. I pretend for five minutes that I kissed Scarlett.
However the urge is still so strong that it's hard to pretend.
I take a shower in hope of forgetting how fucked up the night ended. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.