Scarlett looks up and laughs. “That was one time. I really wanted the Taco Guy, and he wasn’t open.” The whine coming from her makes me laugh into my spoon full of soup.
“And I loved you anyway.” Her cheeks blush as she smiles.
Scarlett and I talk about everything as we indulge in hot chocolate and warm soup. The night was perfect, we were both at ease, and I knew it was only going to get better. After our soup is gone, I nod at Mrs. Jean. When she comes to grab our plates, she gives Scarlett another note before making her way to the back.
Note 3. I promise to dance with you through life.
Just then, Mrs. Jean starts the music. Scarlett looks up, wondering where the music is coming from, when I stand, reaching out my hand. “May I have this dance?” Placing her hand in mine, she nods, and we walk together.
Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her into me. I put my lips to her ear. “Promise me something, baby?” She looks up into my eyes, questioning what I could be asking. “Promise me, if there ever comes a time when my love isn’t meeting your expectations, you'll tell me. I just want to love you in all the right ways, give you everything you deserve, and you deserve it all; I wanna give you that. Where you're scared to be loved, I am scared to fall short. One day, I will give you everything you thought you couldn’t have. I just pray to God, I am always it for you, because you're it for me, Scar.” Her eyes are watery asshe places her forehead to mine, swaying to the music above, all while falling deeper in love.
“Just promise me, you won’t stop, Spence. I believe you; I know your love is fail-proof. It’s you, I see forever with you, and I've never been excited for the future, until now.”Fuck me, I love this girl.Stealing her lips like she stole my heart, I kiss her with every fiber in my being, begging for this to last forever.
The song ends, just as dessert is being set down. Scarlett and I return to the table where I grab her chair and place it so it's touching mine, because fuck her being on the other side of the table. She laughs at my notion of needing her close and on top of me, but that will come later.
A platter is set out on our table. Two freshly baked sugar cookies, topped with white frosting, sit before us. In small glass cups, there are numerous options for decorations. “We’re decorating cookies.” I smile happily and roll up my sleeves. “I can decorate mine for you, if you want to decorate yours for me?” I kiss her cheek and get to work
We steal glances at each other’s handiwork, watching one another create the perfect sugar cookie. Scarlett is smiling the entire time she designs her masterpiece. When we’re both finished, we present each other with the final piece.
I take her cookie, which has two different sprinkles intertwined with two small hearts made from mini-M&M’s. Looking at her, she smirks. “It’s our hearts. We have both been loved by one another, completely changed by the love, forever altered by it.”
I give her my cookie, an outline of a ring traced with sprinkles, and topped with a gumdrop diamond. Her mouth drops. “Relax, gorgeous. Five-year plan. Another promise, so that you know my intentions. It’s you, baby, with my last name,making you and your brother really family.” She sits back in her seat, takes a bite, and smiles.
“Bummer, I would have said yes.”
We leave the Cafe with sore cheeks from smiling a ridiculous amount. “Get ready, baby, next up is ice skating.”
Arriving at the skating rink, we hopped out. “I’ve never done this before.” Her voice is quiet as nervousness flows through her words.
“Don’t worry, I promise I won’t let you fall.”
Getting inside, Scarlett gets her skates on while I find the walkers, because the truth is, I’ve never skated before either. I guide the walker, or rather, it guides me, before stopping proudly in front of her. Scarlett's face when she sees our new rides makes me laugh so hard. “Spencer, what is that?” I pull up my walker next, smiling sheepishly.
“Well, Scar. It is a walker to help you avoid falling. Since I’ve also never skated before, I'll be using one too.” Shaking her head, she gets to her feet before we both granny on out.
Our skates glide with the tennis balls keeping us up, as we both sway our bodies like baby giraffes trying to find our feet. Laughing with one another until we have to stop along the side, as we get passed by children and grown adults who appear to be pros. “You look beautiful as a granny.” She laughs at me as I try to chase her down, getting a little wobbly as her granny mobile slides out of her grasp. I wrap my arms around her before she falls, taking us both down, only I hit the ice, and she lands on me.
Her body shakes mine as hilarity falls from her lips, making me follow suit in her enjoyment of taking me down. “Maybe I should have promised that if you fall, I’ll take the brunt of it.”
Helping her to her feet, we grab our rides and head off the ice. Sore, tired, and needing her naked body on mine. Just as we set up our skates, my phone rings -'Dad.'
Chapter 48
Ultimate Sacrifice
Levi
Sitting at the kitchen island, I review my mother's letter, reading it over and over again until I can physically feel the fire burning me from the inside out. Let’s talk about the rage my core burns with. For starters, my mother and what she did to this family. Cheating on my father, leaving him, meeting and marrying Grant, hating my sister, and allowing us to be beaten and deprived of love.
I hate her because she hated us, and if she didn't, I got scars that contradict her notion. Reason two: she loved him. The devil, who wore the mask of a God, danced in the light, holding her with loving tenderness. Until the light went out and she was in the hands of the devil, swaying around fists and muffled screams, and yet she saved him. Then comes Grant. The man behind the scars, not only mine, but my sisters' as well. I don’t know what my path in life was supposed to be, but fuck the one we are on. It ends tonight; it ends now.
The car door slams outside, and I know it’s him. With the front door unlocking, followed by his walk toward the kitchen, I set the letter face up on the counter.
“You’re home?” His voice is rough, full of disgust and annoyance. Allowing my eyes to drift up to his, I see it, the hate that burns behind his pupils.
“I am. I found something. A letter from Sara. It’s interesting.” His eyebrows knit together, forming a long, caterpillar-like line. “Want to read it, or should I?” He rips the letter off the island, his eyes darting swiftly from one side to the other as he reads with speed. I watch as the paper begins to wrinkle under his fingertips, the veins in his neck protrude, and his nostrils flare with each word his eyes glance over.
“This is bullshit! Your mother was the mistake. All of you are!” His voice now carries throughout the hell disguised as a cheerful home.
