AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Tucker—”
“You were right, we should’ve talked about this in Nashville because I see now that what I want and what you want are two totally different things. I want laughter and memories, Scarlett. And you want bright lights and screaming fans. Do you even want kids?”
“Don’t throw that on me.”
“Do you even want me?”
“Of course, I want you.”
“Good, because I know that I sure as hell want you. You’re it for me, Scarlett. When are you coming home?”
“I don’t know. Tomorrow is a travel day because I have a concert on Monday, and then I fly to Austin and then Denver for interviews that had to be rescheduled and—”
“See, this is what I don’t want. I can’t live my life wondering where you’re at each night, and when you’re coming home.”
“What do you want me to do, Tucker? This is my job.”
“I know it is, and I thought I could do this. I thought I could share you with your fans. But, damn it, Scarlett, I don’t know if I can.”
“What do you want from me? Tell me what you want me to do.”
“I want you to choose me.”
Scarlett blows out a hard breath. “Are you giving me an ultimatum?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m doing. I just know that I can’t live like this. I love you more than I will ever love another woman besides Chloe, but I want more out of this. I want more for my life. I want more for us. I want to make a family with you and protect you and love you. I want you all of my days, Scarlett, not just some of them.”
“I can’t do this with you right now, Tucker. Not like this, not over the phone.”
“Then, when? When can I see you face-to-face so that we can talk about this?”
“I don’t know,” she yells. “Look, I’ve got to go before I say something I’ll regret. Goodnight, Tucker.”
“Goodbye, Scarlett.”
20
~Scarlett~
Goodbye, Scarlett.
Two words, repeating in my head over and over again. For a week now. He didn’t say goodnight.
He said goodbye.
And I haven’t talked to him since.
We haven’t made up, we haven’t said, “we’re just frustrated, but it’s going to be okay.”
Nada.
Instead, I’ve spent the past week finishing up the tour and the media circus that surrounds it. I’ve done countless interviews and have been on television. I’ve crammed it all into a week so I can take the time I need now to figure out my shitshow of a life.
I landed in Charleston this morning, and I’m driving to New Hope. I gave my dad a heads-up because I’ll be staying with him. I don’t think I’m welcome at Tucker’s right now.
I’m not even sure that Tucker and I are still a thing.
It doesn’t feel like it.
It’s mid-afternoon when I pull into town, and I immediately feel a sense of deja vu. Has it really been less than two months since the day that Tucker pulled me over on my way into town for the first time? So much has changed since then.
I hadn’t been here in a dozen years, and now I can’t imagine spending more than a few weeks away.
There’s no sign of Tucker as I drive through town and to my dad’s place. Tucker shouldn’t be home from work yet, which is perfect for me. I’m not ready to see him. And still, I want to see him so badly that it hurts.
Life is complicated.
I glance at Lexi’s car parked at the curb and square my shoulders.
This will either be fine or a nightmare.
With my suitcase in tow, I climb the steps to the front door and knock. Dad pulls open the door then me into his arms, giving me a big hug. I’m not ashamed to admit that it makes me want to sob like a baby. There’s nothing as good as my dad soothing away something that hurts.
“Hi,” I say into his chest and then sniffle loudly.
“Hi, sugar,” he says and kisses my head. “Come on in, I’ll make you some tea.”
“Okay.”
I stop when I see Lexi sitting on the couch, watching me with pursed lips.
“You know what, Lexi? I don’t have it in me to listen to your nastiness today. So, if you want to lecture me for fucking up a good thing or abandoning everyone or how I’m just generally the spawn of Satan himself, just save it, okay?”
“I’m not Satan,” Dad says from the kitchen, making me grin.
“I wasn’t going to say any of those things,” my sister says, shaking her head. “I was just going to ask how you’re doing. Because you look like shit.”
“That’s appropriate.” I sigh and drop into the chair opposite her. “Because I feel like shit.”
“I think you need to talk it out,” Dad says as he walks in with a steaming mug of tea. He sets it on the table near my elbow and sits in his favorite chair next to mine. “What’s going on? Tucker hasn’t said much. He just scowls whenever we mention your name.”
