For Keeps

11. Scarlett

It's Christmas morning and I get to wake up to my favorite person. Yesterday we found out that too many people were scheduled to work, and since we both have overtime we were given the day off.
It's my turn now to be a creeper this morning as I lie awake in Luke's arms. His hair is getting longer, it's laying on his forehead. He has freckles scattered on his cheeks. Not many but enough that I fight the urge to play connect the dots. His eye lashes are dark and impossibly long. His lips are pink and full, which makes me a little jealous since I hate my small top lip. I used to get lip injections but haven't in years; hence the small top lip.
He has a scar on the right side of his chin and another on the side of his neck. I wonder if they were from his last deployment. I hate the thought of him hurt, laying in his own blood, or in someone elses. It makes me hold on to him a little tighter. I fight back tears thinking about this beautiful man being broken. I hate that his girl friend broke his trust when he needed her most. I also hate that I'm hiding my own scars from him. I want so much to tell him things, but I can't find the right words. I don't want him to feel differently about me. I know I need to tell him soon, but not today. Today is supposed to be a happy day.

I start tracing the contours of his lips when he pulls me on top of him and makes a groaning noise.
"Who is displaying stalker like tendencies now?" He teases and kisses my forehead.
"I was just admiring the sexy man next to me." I smile.
"Mmm who's now below you." He says as his hands travel down to my waist.
I suck in a sharp breath. I can feel his length against my thigh and I get a little embarassed. I haven't done anything with anyone in about two years. I feel ridiculous because I know I'm blushing. I roll off him and suddenly feel insecure. I wrap my arms around my chest.
"Merry Christmas." I say. He rolls to his knees behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.
"Merry Christmas, beautiful." He kisses the top of my head. I grab his arms and hold them against me.
"What time do you go to your parents?" I ask while running my fingertips up and down his arms.
"Eleven. You can come with me."
"No it's okay. I have to Skype my parents."
"What time should I go to your parents? "
"Five but I'll come get you."
"You don't have to."
"I know. I want to."
"Fair enough." I say standing up to stretch. "I guess I will head home. Text me if you have time." I give him a kiss on the cheek as he stands from the bed.
"I always have time for you." He says smiling.
"Okay." I smile back before I head to my apartment.

Once back I make myself a cup of coffee and check my emails. One stands out from the rest or the junk mail.  It says 'Order New York Style Coffee Right To Your Door'.
To anyone else it sounds like spam... to me it's a code.

The rain outside is coming down in sheets. It's February in New York and I'm on edge. I'm walking down a crowded sidewalk, nobody is paying me any attention. I'm one fish in a sea of a million.
I round the corner and head into the familiar quaint coffee shop. It's our rendezvous point where we discuss all plans. I order a caramel mocciato and head to an open booth in the back and wait. Not two minutes later she walks in. She orders a black coffee and I have to giggle because even in street clothes, she screams cop. She smiles briefly and sits at the table closest to me.
"Is he following you today?" She asks not even glancing my way.
"Not that I know of." I say and take a sip of my drink.
"Everything is almost in place." She says as she types in her phone. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm alive." I say as I rub the tender bruise on my thigh.
"Do we need to move up the date?" She asks concern filling her hazel eyes.
"I'm okay. I'm nervous. So fucking nervous, Angie. What if it doesn't work?"
She looks around the room then to me.
"It's going to work. It has to." I take some deep breaths and shake my head.
"I hope you're right." I say and sip my coffee.
"I always am." She smirks at me. I have to smile at her as I roll my eyes.
"What if something happens? Not now necessarily, but in the future?" I ask. She scratches her head thinking. "We could have a code? Something random that wouldn't draw attention."
"Such as?"
She looks around and smiles at me as she raises her cup.
"Coffee. New York Coffee."