A Twist of Fate ↠ Scott Hoying

21. Some News

My stomach tightened as I pulled up to Scott's house on Christmas Eve. I forced myself to be calm. You've already met his family. Scott said they all like you.

I took a deep breath and walked to the door, my presents in tow. One more reason to be nervous.

It only took about two seconds after I rang the doorbell for Scott to open the door, smiling wide. 

"Merry Christmas, Scar!" he pulled me into a tight hug and kissed the top of my head before taking the presents from my hands and ushering me into the living room.

I was relieved to see only a few people scattered throughout the living room and kitchen. I recognized Scott's parents, sitting on the small couch and talking to Austin. His sister was there too with her new husband and Mitch was in the kitchen looking at the food like he wanted to eat it but also wanted to wait for the other guests.

"Kirstie and Jeremy are coming a little later. We're just waiting on a few cousins," Scott said, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist, settling his chin on my shoulder.

I flushed. How did he still have that effect on me?

Austin looked over and grinned, getting up from his position on the floor and running over to us, to wrap his arms around my legs.

"Scarlett, you're here! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Austin! Are you excited?"

He nodded enthusiastically before running back over to his grandparents.

They smiled at me, then, politely saying, "Hello, Scarlett. It's great to see you again!"

"Yeah, you too!" I said, happily. I couldn't help the swell of pride that I felt. It really did seem like I was slowly becoming part of his family. I hoped the same would happen at my house tomorrow.

I mingled a little more after that Scott's sister, Lauren told me all about her wedding, which had been fairly recent. She leaned in closer, telling me that, though he wouldn't admit it, Scott cried when she walked down the aisle. She then told me all kinds of funny/embarrassing stories from their childhoods. 

"He seriously did that?" I asked, unable to control my laughter.

"Yes! I could never make that up!"

Then Scott came over with narrowed eyes, "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing," Lauren and I said in unison before laughing again.

Scott smiled but he still seemed slightly nervous about what Lauren might have told me.

Kirstie and Jeremy came in a few minutes later. 

"Hi everyone!" Kirstie said, beaming. "We have some news..."

Everyone stopped talking and looked to see what they were about to say.

Kirstie held up her left hand to reveal a ring on her finger. "We're engaged!!"

There was a chorus of yells througout the house but mostly it was "CONGRATULATIONS!!"  

"Maybe you'll be next," Mitch elbowed me. 

I laughed, "Woah, let's not jump too far ahead!"

A little while later, I was hiding out in the corner, just taking everything in. Mitch came and sat by me. 

"Overwhelmed yet?"

I laughed. By now, the cousins that Scott had mentioned had all piled in and most of them were playing with Austin.

"Just a little. Not too bad," I said, honestly.

"Good. There's nothing to worry about. Scott's planning on keeping you around for a while."

I felt my breath hitch. "What?"

"Look, Scarlett. I'm sure you can already tell, but I just wanted to let you know. I've been Scott's best friend for as long as I can remember, and I don't think I've ever seen him like this."

"Like.. what?"

He smiled at me and took a sip of his drink before responding. "He's fallen hard."

***

After most of the food was gone and the presents had been torn into, the wrapping paper and gift bags littered all over the floor, I sat with Scott, his arm wrapped around my shoulders, surveying everything. Austin was on the floor playing with is new RC truck, two of his cousins were next to him, playing with similar toys. Scott and I had decided that we would give each other our presents later, so we could watch all of the kids open their gifts. That was always the best part of Christmas gifts.

I hadn't meant for it to happen, but I ended up being the last one to leave. 

"I told you that they all loved you," Scott whispered.

It was sometime in the AM and we were sprawled out on his couch, both basically half asleep.

"I love them back," I responded. 

In that moment, it occurred to me that we hadn't said it. We never said it to each other.  

"Scarlett."

"Hmm?"

There was a pause. Then he said, "I love you."

I felt my heart lurch into my throat. I couldn't stop a huge smile from appearing on my face. "I love you, too."

A/N: I just wanted to point out that I know Kirstie and Jeremy aren't actually engaged, but I ship them really hard so I put it in :) <<< OKAY YOU GUYS I wrote this a couple weeks before Jeremy proposed I think I predicted the future.