by Todd, E. L.
“Or he’s going to court,” Mike said.
I took out my phone and called him but it was off. That wasn’t a good sign.
Mike left the kitchen. “I’ll call my parents.”
I abandoned my cereal, no longer hungry.
Ryan looked at me. “If he’s out, we don’t have to see Janice’s parents.”
I said nothing, having nothing to say.
“So, is everything okay between you and Mike?” Janice asked.
“Yeah, I think so. He said he was sorry and I believe him.”
“Did he tell you what he did?” Ryan asked.
“No, but I’m going to make them work it out anyway. They are brothers.”
Ryan shook his head. “You of all people know that doesn’t mean anything.
“They are different situations. I know Mike and Sean used to be close. They still love each other.”
Ryan shrugged. “We’ll see.”
Mike came back to the table. “Good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” he said as he looked at me.
I felt my heart accelerate. “Bad,” I said quietly.
“Sean is being detained longer, but he isn’t necessarily being put on trial.”
I exhaled the breath I was holding. “So he could still be released?”
“Yeah.”
“That isn’t so bad.”
“Are you ready for the good news?” he said with a smile. The look made me grin. He had the same twinkle in his eye that Sean did.
“I would love to hear some good news.”
“So Penelope came to visit Sean when my parents were there.”
“I don’t like the sound of this,” I said.
“Wait, it gets better,” Mike said. “So my mom was so happy to see Penelope and she was hugging her, telling her she missed her, and all this girly stuff. Apparently, Sean just flipped out, yelled at our mom, told her the truth about Penelope, made her cry, and told her he didn’t want to see her again because he was sick of the way she was treating you. Pretty awesome, huh?”
“Bout time,” Ryan snapped.
I was speechless. “He did that?”
Mike nodded. “That’s what my dad said. Mom’s been shaken about it since it happened. She thinks she lost Sean forever.”
I didn’t know how I felt about it. I was glad Sean stood up for me and finally revealed the truth about Penelope, but I also felt horrible for the way Sean’s mom must feel. That was a heavy bomb to be dropped. She probably felt stupid now.
“Mom had it coming,” Mike said.
“She must hate me even more.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Why? This was all her fault. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But I still feel bad. I know how much she loves Sean.”
“Then she should have loved you just as much,” Ryan argued. “Don’t feel bad for her, Scar. She was a total bitch to you yesterday. I don’t give a shit how hurt she is.”
I spun my spoon in my bowl. I thought I would be happy when this day finally came, but I didn’t. Now I felt guilty, mean, and spiteful. I never wanted to hurt Sean’s mom. I just wanted her to accept me and love me like she did with Penelope.
Ryan grabbed my hand on the table. “Look at me.”
I did.
“It’s not your fault. Don’t you dare feel bad. If she wants to make it right, she will.”
“Okay,” I said quietly.
He released my hand and grabbed his spoon again.
“I really want to talk to Sean,” I said with a sigh. “I need to talk to him.”
“I don’t know how we can arrange that,” Mike said.
“How did he call you last time?” Ryan asked.
“He used Penelope’s phone.”
Mike nodded. “He must have used it because she was visiting him and she already had your number.”
I looked at Mike, silently begging him.
He sighed. “He isn’t going to want to see me.”
“Please. I need to speak to my fiancé.”
“I probably won’t even get in.”
I stared him down.
‘Fine,” he said with a sigh. “I’ll do it.”
I jumped from my seat and hugged him. “Thank you so much.”
He flinched as I embraced him. He didn’t return the affection but he didn’t push me away either. “Thank you so much.”
He patted me on the back awkwardly. “I would do anything for my sister.”
12
Sean
When the officer told me I had another visitor, I refused to go.
“Are you sure? He says it’s important.”
I knew it was my dad. “Tell him not to come back.”
“He says it’s about Scarlet.”
I jumped to my feet then walked to the bars. “Okay. I’ll go.” Perhaps it was just bait to get me to come to him, and if it was, I would just yell at him, maybe even hit him, then go back to my cell. My anger was constantly on the surface, volatile and unpredictable.
When I walked into the visitor room, I wasn’t expecting to see my brother there.
I saw down. “How is she?”
Mike leaned back in his chair and seemed indifferent like he always did. “She misses you.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“She’s safe. Nothing’s happened.”
“You fucking touch her and I’ll kill you.”
He rolled his eyes. “Seriously, you think I would pull something right now?”
“I don’t even know who you are anymore. I trust you less than anyone.” He seemed wounded by those words. “I don’t want you around her anymore. I mean it. Ryan can take care of her.”
“She seems to trust me.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“She says she forgives me for my behavior.”
“Well, I don’t. Stay the fuck away from her. I mean it.”
“Isn’t it better to have two guys to protect her instead of one?”
“Not when the second one is trying to sleep with her.”
He sighed. “I’m not. I won’t pull that shit ever again. I love Scarlet like my own family. I’ll protect her with my life.”
“I can’t believe anything you say. Your word means less than nothing. You don’t care about anyone but yourself, let alone my fiancé. You hate me so there’s no reason why you would risk your neck for her unless it would benefit you in some way.”
“Sean, I don’t hate you.”
“What game are you playing?”
“None.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me.”
“I’m sorry about the way I acted before. I promise that I’ll never do that again. We have a truce. I give you my word.”
I wasn’t sure if I could believe him. It was too good to be true. “What’s with the sudden change?”
“You might be put in jail, Sean. In times of crisis, families ban together. Mom and Dad are being idiots, but I still have your back.”
“If that’s the only reason why you’re helping me, I don’t want your aid.”
“Sean, don’t be an ass.”
“Seriously, get away from Scarlet.”
“I want to be brothers again. I mean it.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I miss having a brother.”
“We lived in the same city for years and you blatantly ignored me whenever I saw you. When I said hi to you at the gym, you fucking walked away.”
“I know I was a fucking asshole. I get it. I said I was sorry. I’m sorry that I came onto Scarlet, I’m sorry that I was being such an asshole to you, I’m sorry that I hit you, I’m sorry for everything, Sean. I mean it. I want my brother back.”
“You’ve finally forgiven me for sleeping with Jessica?”
“I’ll let it go if you forgive me for the Scarlet incident.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
He averted his gaze, seeming disappointed.
“But for now, I want you to stay away from Scarlet.”
“No.”
“What did you fucking say to me?” I said as I stood up.
“I said no,” he said as he rose from the chair. “Someone could be making a move against her and Janice. It’s probably just a paranoid thought, but what if it isn’t? She’s my family. She’s going to be my sister and I love her to death. I want to protect her and I will. If I were stuck in your situation, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that you would do the same for me.”
I stared at him for a long time, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. “Are you ever alone with her?”
He said nothing for a long time, pondering his answer. “How can I be when Ryan is always there? Scarlet sleeps with him.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, glad that I could always rely on her brother to take care of her.
“She’s an amazing woman and person. I don’t just love her because she’s family. I love her because I want to love her.”
“You better not fall in love with my girl,” I snapped.
He laughed. “No, I definitely don’t think of her like that. She’s like my sister.”
That made me feel better.
Mike sat down. “Now take a seat.”
I sat across from him.
“So, think about it. I really hope we can work this out. We’ve already lost so much time.”
I nodded. “I said I would consider it, but I can’t promise anything.”
“That’s all I ask for.” He pulled out his phone and slid it across the table. “Your fiancé sent me here so she could speak to you.”
I grabbed it as soon as I saw it and called Scarlet. She answered before the first ring was even done.
“Sean?”
“Babe,” I said with a smile. I loved hearing her voice. It made all my stress evaporate. “I miss you so fucking much.”
“I miss you too,” she said with shaky voice. “What the hell is going on?”
I sighed. “I don’t even know. I don’t understand law or the justice system. It doesn’t make any sense to me even though I graduated with a master’s degree from Harvard. All I know is that I’ll have to stay a little while longer.”
“How can they do that?”
“They got a judge to sign off on it.”
“So you aren’t being taken to court?”
“Not yet.”
“I guess that’s good news.”
“Yeah.”
“Mike told me what happened with your mom.”
I stared at the table as the episode played in my mind. “I just snapped.”
“What happened?”
“My mom kept making shady remarks about you, putting the blame of the situation on you. Then when she told you came to the house and barged in, she made it sound like you were an animal with no manners. I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t want to say something I would regret. But when Penelope came and my mom treated her like she was a daughter, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I was sick of it. I told her I didn’t want to see her anymore.”
“Sean, I appreciate you standing up for me and telling her the truth.”
“I should have done it sooner. I’m sorry, babe.”
“It’s okay. But I don’t think you should just cut her out of your life.”
“No. She made me choose between you and her. I chose you.”
“There’s no reason to choose, Sean. Talk to her.”
“No. If she wants to apologize to me, she can. If not, then that’s it.”
“Sean, I don’t want it to be this way. I want your mom to accept me and love me. The last thing I want is for you to lose your family over it.”
“You are my family.”
“I know, but I want our family to grow.”
I sighed. “I can’t do it, Scar. I just can’t let someone talk to you that way and be so disrespectful toward you. You are the number one person in my life. I won’t put up with it. It doesn’t matter if it’s my own mother.”
“I don’t want it to be this way.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.”
She said nothing.
“We aren’t getting married there, obviously. We can have whatever wedding you want. I’m sorry I was such an ass about it before. You were right the whole time.”
“I want your family to be there.”
“You do?”
“Yes, Sean.”
“No.”
She sighed. “I guess you just need time to cool off.”
“I’m not going to apologize for anything. She pushed me to the edge, so it’s her fault that I jumped over the ledge.”
“Sean, I love you.”
Her word made me feel calm immediately. “I love you too. I miss you so much. I dream about you.”
“I dream about you too.”
“What do you dream about?”
“Being with you.”
“Me too.”
She sighed. “I can’t wait until I see you again.”
“I know.”
We sat on the phone for a while, just listening to each other breath. My brother still sat across from me, looking indifferent to our conversation.
“How’s my brother treating you?”
“Good.”
“Has he done anything?”
“He’s been nothing but a gentleman, Sean.”
“I still don’t want you to be alone around him.”
“I trust him.”
“But you made a promise to me.”
“Ryan is always there.”
“I still don’t trust him.”
“You should. I know he’s sorry about everything and really wants to work it out with you. Give him a chance.”
“I said I would think about it. I’m not sure if I want you to be around him anymore.”
“Well, I’m not leaving.”
“What?”
“I trust him so you should trust him too.”
“No offense, but I fucked up like a million times in this relationship but you continue to trust me.”
“And that was the best decision I ever made. You screwed up a few times but I know I can’t trust you completely now.”
I said nothing.
“Come on, Sean. Give Mike a chance. You’re family.”
“Some wounds run too deep.”
“I’m not asking you to try and act like nothing happened or get back the relationship you had. Just spend time with him and take it one step at a time. If he hurts you again, then end the relationship. But if he doesn’t, then you get your brother back. It’s worth the risk. Please do this for me.”
I sighed. “I hate it when you pull that card.”
“I don’t care. Do it for me.”
I looked at my brother. “You really think it’s a good idea?”
“Mike is my brother and I love him. I really want you to love him too.”
“He’s lucky that you are so persuasive.”
“I didn’t even need to sleep with you this time.”
“No, you still owe me that.”
She chuckled. “I’ll gladly oblige.”
“Babe?”
“Hmm?”
“As soon as I’m out of here, I want to get married.”
“I do too.”
“I don’t want to wait around. I feel like we keep getting pulled apart. I want to tie the knot and get my happily ever after with you.”
“I know.”
“I hate saying goodbye.”
“It’s not goodbye, Sean.”
I felt the tears bubble under my eyes. “Baby, I miss you so much. You have no idea.”
“This will be over soon.”
“And what if it’s not? What if I do go to trial and I do have to spend a year in jail?”
“It will hold no sway over our relationship. Our love in unconditional and timeless. Don’t ever worry about that.”
“And you want to marry a criminal?”
“Actually, I think
it’s sexy.”
I chuckled. I was on the verge of tears but she made me laugh. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
“You will.”
13
Scarlet
I was able to hold back my tears until we hung up. As soon as I dropped the phone, I walked into Mike’s bedroom and let myself have a good cry. I tried to act like everything was okay even though I had never been more scared in my life. My chest heaved with the sobs that rocked my body. I sat at the foot off the bed and pulled my legs to my chest, my forehead pressed to my knees.
A moment later the door opened and Ryan sat beside me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him, letting me lean against him. He didn’t say anything, and I knew it was because there was nothing that he could say. The situation we were in was frightening. The love of my life could have everything taken away from him. I didn’t know if I could survive if Sean was locked up.
When I finally stopped crying, Ryan kissed me on the forehead. “It’ll be okay, Scar.”
“I hope so.”
“We’ll figure it out. You aren’t alone in this.”
“I know,” I said as I sniffed.
“If they don’t have enough evidence to run a case against him, they probably never will.”
“But they have enough suspicion to keep him.”
“Suspicion won’t keep him locked up forever. I think Sean is going to be okay.”
“I wish that made me feel better.”
He fell silent.
I heard the front door open and close and I knew Mike was home. Ryan and I didn’t move, just holding each other. When Mike came into the bedroom he stared at us for a long time before he sat on my other side, holding my hand in his.
“Thank you doing that,” I whispered.
“Thank you for convincing Sean to give our relationship another chance.”
“Of course.”
We sat together in the dark and said nothing for a long time. Having my family there was enough to chase away the pain for a moment. Janice came into the room and moved next to Ryan. We all sat on the hardwood floor, leaning against the bed.
“Are we going to see Janice’s family?” I asked.
“We don’t have to,” Janice said. “Don’t worry about it.”
“No, let’s go.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yeah. I want to meet your family.”