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Scarlett was frozen in place. Even when I touched her arm to get her to move, she didn’t. She watched the whole scene play out, nothing but hurt and despair etched on her face while her chest heaved.
The car drove off and one of the guys slapped Trevor on the back, saying something that made them all laugh. Trevor turned and looked our way, almost as if he could feel the intense stare coming from Scarlett. His smile faded when he saw her. This seemed more a battle of wills than two people in love, but what did I know?
“Scarlett, let’s go into the restaurant. Come on,” I said, pulling on her arm, trying to break her stare. When her tears fell, I moved to stand between Scarlett and Trevor. I liked Trevor a lot, but right now I was pissed at him, and I didn’t want him to see that he had made Scarlett cry. Not for his sake, but for hers.
“Do not let him see you cry.”
My stern voice broke her intense stare. She let her eyes drop to mine. Another tear fell and I spun her around and guided her toward the door to the Aisling.
Once we were inside, I looked around. There were a number of people here for lunch, and I knew Scarlett was about to have a meltdown. I’d seen that look before on me own face after the whole Kylie thing. I smiled at the patrons and kept me hand on Scarlett’s wrist, practically pulling her through the restaurant as I welcomed people and told them to enjoy their lunch.
When we entered the kitchen, Eric looked up at us and smiled, but then lost his smile when his eyes landed on Scarlett. “What’s wrong?” he asked, concern in his voice.
“Nothing. Can you send two lunch specials into me office?”
He nodded and replied, “Or course, right away.”
Once we’d walked into the office, I let Scarlett go. She walked over to me sofa and sat down, her face buried in her hands, sobs making her body jerk as she let go of her emotions.
Rushing to her, I placed me hands on her knees. “Sweet, dear Scarlett, don’t cry. He’s not worth one tear if the eejit doesn’t know what he has right in front of him.”
She shook her head and cried harder. “I’m…so…stupid, Maebh.”
Her hand dropped to her lap, and she looked at me, chestnut brown eyes puffy and bloodshot from her tears.
“Why do you say that?” I asked, pushing a piece of her long, dark hair from her cheek where it was stuck from the wetness of her crying.
“I thought maybe he cared about me. He told me I meant more to him than the other girls, and I stupidly believed him. He’s never going to give up his way of life, and I’m only a midnight call when he has nothing better for the evening.”
“That’s not true. He does care about you. I think he’s confused and terrified.”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“Scarlett, have you told him how you feel?”
Her eyes filled with tears again. Her teeth dug into her lip and she nodded. “Y-yes.”
“And?”
When her chin trembled, me heart broke.
“He told me he isn’t the type of guy to settle down. That’s not him. At least he said it wasn’t him right now.”
I squared me shoulders. “Then you have your answer. I know you like him but don’t let him treat you this way. You won’t sit around and wait for him to sow his wild oats. It’s time to move on.”
Her hand came up to her mouth, and she attempted to hold back her sobs. When she had some control over her motions, she pressed her lips tightly before she dropped a bombshell.
“But I’m pregnant…with Trevor’s baby.”
Me mouth fell open, and I tried to say something, but the shock made me fall back on me arse.
Her face was once again buried in her hands, and she cried harder than she had when she first came in here. Scrambling to me feet, I sat next to her and held her tightly. Me hands ran over her soft hair as I gently rocked her.
“Shh, it’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay.”
The soft knock on the door had me calling out, “Eric?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Come in.”
Eric walked in with a tray full of food. He stopped and stared, his eyes immediately going to the crying woman in me arms.
“Maebh, there’s someone here to see you.”
I shook me head and motioned for him to set the food on the desk. “Thank you, Eric, will you set the food over there? Please tell anyone looking for me that I’m no longer here.”
“Yes, of course.”
“But if it’s Cord, let him know I’m in here with Scarlett.”
“Cord only?”
I gave him a questioning look before replying, “Cord only. Everyone else, I’m not here.”
