For Keeps

29. Scarlett

Jealousy is not a feeling I'm use to. Sure Cooper had tons of women attempting to get his attention, he has supermodel exes, he is insanely handsome, but he put me on such a pedistol that I never felt threatened... in that way.
So now that Luke's gorgeous blonde ex girlfriend is trying to slither her way back into his life, I feel the green monster growing on my shoulder and I hate it.
It's nice that he doesn't try to hide things. If she tries to call him or text him, he tells me, but since the night she called two weeks ago, I feel uneasy. 
I fucking hate it.
Plus, she has been texting more and more. I'm positive the bitch knows it's driving me crazy.
Tonight at the movies she called twice, text multiple times until he told her he was in a movie theater. Even after, she was all "what movie?" "Who are you with?".
Bitch.

The drive home is tense. My brain is overthinking even while Luke is talking about parts of the movie he liked and laughing.
"What's wrong, beautiful?" He grabs my hand and kisses it.
"I'm just not feeling well."
"Can I get you something? Anything?" His face looks concerned.
"No. I think I just need to sleep." I say and give a small smile.
"Okay." He smiles back. "But if I can get you anything-" He is cut off by his phone ringing through the Bluetooth in his truck.
Of course it's Mandy.
He shoots me a look and I smile. "You can answer."
"Uh she is driving me crazy. I'm sorry."
I just nod.
"Hello." He answers.
"Hey you."
Hey you. My subconscious mimics as I roll my eyes and look out the window.
"What do you need, Mandy?" Luke asks with annoyance clear as day.
"I'm just bored. What are you doing?"
"Scarlett and I are going home."
"Oh. Do you live together?"
"Yes." He says.
Umm okay. I shoot him a look and he just smiles.
"Oh. So it's serious then?"
"Yes, Mandy. It is." He looks at me and smiles.
"I bet I can get you off better. Remember that time we fucked-"
"Wow Mandy. One, I don't think about you. Two, she is the best I've ever had. Three, you made this really awkward considering she is sitting next to me while you're on speaker." He frowns and mouths "I'm sorry."
"Oh. Sorry Charlotte, but it's true. Luke and I belong together. You'll see."
I'm fucking seething. I want to rip her blonde hair from her head.
"It's Scarlett, sweetie, and you can think what you want, but while you're in bed alone, thinking about my boyfriend , I'll be the one blowing his mind."
"I had him first you bit-" she starts but Luke hangs up.
"Well that was awkward." He says.
"That's an understatement." I snap.
"Scar, I'm-"
"Sorry? Yup I got it." I say as we pull up to the apartment. I hop out before he even shuts off the truck.
"Scar!" He yells after me.
I make it inside up the stairs and he is still right behind me. Damn these heels.
"Dammit Scarlett. Please wait." He steps in front of my door as I go to unlock it.
"Look we can talk tomorrow or whatever. I don't feel well." I say crossing my arms over my chest.
"Let me take care of you." He looks sad.
"I can take care of myself." I say looking down.
"Scar..." he whispers.
"Goodnight." I lean up and kiss his cheek quickly. "I love you."
I go inside my empty apartment and lock the door, which doesn't make that much of a difference since he has a key.
"I love you." I hear from the other side.
Fuck! I want to scream. I am behaving like a child, but I'm so mad I just need some time to think, even though half of me wants to follow after him.

I pace my living room for a few minutes before I decide I need to blow off some steam.
I throw on some leggings, a t-shirt, grab my head phones and head out the front door down to the gym.
The place is empty as I hop on the treadmill, turn an Eminem song on blast, and push myself as hard as I can.
About 10 minutes in, I watch the gym door open and in walks Luke. He is wearing a black sweatshirt with some black and white Nike shorts, and while he looks sexy as hell, I'm annoyed at his presence.
He stops dead in his tracks when he sees me. His mouth moves but I can't hear him so I press pause on the treadmill and pull off my headphones.
"Are you following me?" I say as he says:
"I thought you were sick."
We both just stand there a minute looking at each other.
He breaks the silence. "Why did you lie?"
"I didn't." I sigh. "I mean I'm not sick, but I also don't feel good. I just needed some space." I wipe the sweat off my forehead.
"Space? What the fuck did I do?" He asks.
"Are you kidding me?" I laugh angrily. "You allow your ex to blow up your phone! I don't want to know what you talk about, but now that I know how badly she wants you, I'm fucking furious!" I say louder than I mean to.
"I don't 'allow' her. I just- I mean I have told her I'm with you and that I'm happy... with you."
"Well if you want her in your life..." I look up at his green eyes, "then I can't be a part of it."
His eyes go wide before he clenches his jaw.
"You want to break up?" He almost whispers.
"No. But I refuse to be your second pick."
"Scar, I want you. I don't want her."
"Then it wouldn't be so hard for you to let her go." I say as a few tears roll down my cheeks.
I walk out of the gym before he can say anything.

I was almost hoping he would follow, but I make it to my apartment and he is nowhere to be seen. I get in the shower and let the tears flow with the water.
I feel so worthless.
As I wash my body I look at my scarred arms I briefly want to open the tender flesh and watch the crimson blood trickle down the drain. I push the feeling down and get out of the shower.
I quickly get ready and retreat to my cold lonely bed.
I keep crying. I don't know how long I cry, but long enough that I wonder how I have any tears left.
A sound catches my attention and my eyes travel to the doorway opening of my bedroom where Luke enters.
"I'm so sorry." He rushes to me and wraps me in his arms.
"No I'm sorry." I say in between sobs. He wipes my tears and kisses my cheeks.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I should have changed my number or something. I promise you that I don't want her. I love you so much, Scarlett."
"For keeps." I give him a small smile.
"For keeps." He says pulling me close.
"I feel stupid." I say against his neck.
"Please don't. Being with you has shown me that I didn't ever love her. She was a... distraction. Fuck, thinking about her and I is comical. She is a bitch. She basically jumps from soldier to soldier trying to get an Army girlfriend status. Her and I never really bonded. She wouldn't even play video games with me. " he laughs, "she was the kind of girl that would walk past a mirror and always look at herself." He shakes his head. "That's not me. I don't know how I stood her as long as I did."
I nod.
"You and me, babe. We make sense."
I smile against his neck.
"So what now?" I whisper.
"I'll change my number in the morning. Then maybe when we get married, we will send her an invite for shits and giggles." He laughs.
My eyes go wide and I think I forget how to breathe. "Married?" I squeak.
"Yes ma'am. One day." He laughs. "Sooner rather than later I'm hoping."
"Oh you think so?" I laugh.
"Scarlett Miller. I like the sound of it."
"Say it again." I say.
"Scarlett..." he kisses me, "Miller."
"Mmmm." I mumble as he molds his mouth to mine.
"I couldn't live without this. Kissing you. Holding you. Loving. Every. Inch. Of. You." He says in between kisses. He moves on top of me and pulls my shirt up over my head. I pull him back down to me and open my legs as he moves between them. He pulls back and slides my panties down my legs and throws them who knows where before moving back on top of me. I pull his shirt over his head then I slide my hands down his back and tug at his shorts.
"Seems like you are over dressed, Mr Miller."
"We better fix that, future Mrs Miller." He smiles and takes off his shorts then returns between my legs which I wrap around his waist.
I pull his mouth back down to mine as I feel him close down there. One small movement and he will be where I want him. He must think the same thing I am because he breaks the kiss.
"Condom?"
"I am on birth control.." I blush. "I mean if you're okay without one."
"Fuck." He runs his hand through his hair. "I love you." He says before crashing his lips back to mine.
Seconds later he thrusts into me and I gasp.
"You okay?" He pauses.
"Yes. Don't stop." I manage to get out.
"Yes ma'am." He grins at me.

The next half hour we burn away all the stress that's been building between us.
For the first time since Mandy tried to get back into Luke's life, I fall asleep peacefully in Luke's arms, not worrying about her tearing us apart.