AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She got worked,” Brandon explained. The words came out teasing, but I had a feeling it was for Scarlet’s benefit because the look he gave me said it’d been bad.
“Surfing? She really goes with everyone?” I asked as she entered the kitchen, running her fingers through her short, relaxed, bleach-blonde hair.
It was the first time she hadn’t had it styled closely to her head since I’d woken from the accident, and it completely transformed her features. Made her look a little more innocent, even though her full lips and the seductive shape of her eyes still shouted wicked temptation.
Scarlet hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t meet my stare. She hadn’t since yesterday, not that I blamed her.
I knew I’d hurt her. That I’dbeenhurting her.
“Yeah, but we hadn’t gone since—” She choked on what she’d been saying, her dark eyes shifting around quickly as she cleared her throat and swept her hands over her bare stomach.
Movements all nervous energy and making her look incredibly insecure when nothing about Scarlet saidinsecure.
The sports bra and leggings she wore fully displayed her inviting curves and toned body. And the placement of the tattoos decorating her brown, sun-kissed skin was meant to draw eyes the way I’d just realized they had mine.
But before I could force my gaze away, I saw it...
The edge of a tattoo I’d know anywhere, curling around her hip.
Fuckinglilies.
“I probably shouldn’t have gone today either; I was too distracted,” she finally muttered as I dragged my stare from her body, only to lock onto her face.
Jesus, why am I looking at her?
I ground my jaw as I finally forced my attention away from Scarlet. Feeling so damn confused and hating that it felt like I was betraying the girl I loved because I’d gotten caught up in appreciating the beauty of a girl who was apparently my fiancée.
Absolutely going insane.
“Thing was massive, and the sets we’d been getting weren’t clean,” Brandon said in Scarlet’s defense. “We were surprised she didn’t bail.”
“Distracted,” she reminded him.
“Regardless,” he said with a patient sigh, “you good?”
“Not the first time it’s happened. Won’t be the last.” She shrugged, then looked at me before quickly glancing away. Her delicate throat worked and her head slanted as she stammered, “Do you—I’m—um...Chase, do you need anything?”
“No.”
Her head moved in quick, subtle nods as she turned. “I’ll be in the garage if you do.”
“Damn,” Brandon whispered when Scarlet stole through the kitchen and through a door that must’ve led to the garage.
I tried forcing away the lingering confusion and guilt and met his disappointed stare. “What?”
“Wasn’t sure you could be more of a dick to her than you were at the hospital. Glad to see I was wrong,” he added sarcastically.
“I didn’t ask for her to be here.”
“She didn’t ask for you to forget her.” He held up a hand to stop me from responding, tone apologetic when he said, “I shouldn’t have said that. That isn’t fair to you. But this—what you’re doing—isn’t fair to her either.”
“She wants her fiancé,” I said gravely. “I’m not him—not anymore. I know nothing of the life she had and is ready to continue with me.” I gestured to the kitchen around us. “I don’t know this house or where anything is in it. I don’t know her last name. I don’t know what she does for a living. I don’t know how I fucking met her. I don’t knowher, Brandon.”
“So ask her,” he said as if I should’ve already thought of that.
“She—” I pressed my lips into a tight line and fought the aggravated smile I could feel forming.
Because voicing the words gathered on my tongue would only cause more discomfort. More issues. But accepting that my life was with Scarlet meant fully accepting that I wasn’t actually in love with Harper.
