Scarlett 3

by Tiece

  Scarlett smiled. “That would be nice.”

  “People say that I look just like her, but then again they say I look just like my uncle. I just think that my mom’s side of the family has strong genes, because we all favor.”

  “So, your cousin looked like you, too?”

  “Yeah, people always thought that we were brothers.”

  “What’s in your bloodline? I mean, your complexion looks so tanned and your hair is so pretty. I’ve always wished I had hair like that.”

  Troy chuckled a little. “There’s nothing wrong with your hair.” He said, actually loving her ponytail pulled up in a ball in the top of her head. It gave her a really innocent and sweet look. “My bloodline is strong in Indian roots. My mom’s mom was a full blooded Indian who fell in love with a black man. She’s still living, but losing both of her daughters took a devastating toll on her. She started to go downhill fast and my uncle decided to put her in a nursing home a few years ago.”

  “That’s sad,” Scarlett stated.

  “Don’t worry though, the nursing home is owned by her baby sister.”

  “So your Great Aunt owns a nursing home?”

  “Yeah, and it’s ran by nothing but family, mostly. So, she’s in good hands. I visit her from time to time, even though she barely knows me from the Alzheimer’s that has gradually set in over the years.”

  Scarlett mustered up a smile, because she’d always wanted a tight knit family like his seemed to be. They took care of their own unlike the crack head of a mother she was raised by.

  “Enough about me,” Troy said, leaning up on his elbow so that he was able to directly stare in Scarlett’s face. “Tell me something about you and your family. Let’s start with your real name.”

  Scarlett smiled. “My real name is Scarlett Harper. That’s where the nickname, Red comes into play.”

  Troy nodded his head with a smile. “I see, and what about your family?”

  She sighed then started. “Well, I thought I’d gone through a lot growing up, but listening to the things that have happened in your life makes the details of my life and my crazy family seems very small.”

  “I still wanna know more about you.”

  “Well, I have an 18 year old brother. He’s a good kid, he really is. I think my mother’s behavior over the years have caused us both to do things that we should’ve stayed away from. He doesn’t know his dad and mine is locked up for attempted murder on my mother’s life.”

  Troy shook his head. “Damn,” he said as Scarlett continued.

  “She was a crack head trying to get her hands on his drugs and he raped her, beat her senseless, and left her for dead. Well, I became the daughter from that raping and she never liked me for it.” Troy looked in her glossy eyes, feeling bad for her. “She raised me, but mostly I raised myself. She had my brother and used drugs the entire time she was pregnant. So, no wonder he’s sometimes all over the place, but he’s learning how to handle life and things that come his way.”

  “That’s good,” Troy commented. “So, it’s just you and him?”

  “Yes, and my mom now,” she stated. “She’s back in our lives and is a recovering addict as of about a few weeks ago.”

  “So, y’all get along with each other, you and your mom?”

  “We didn’t and had just had a huge falling out, but she actually came around. I was shocked, so I guess we’ll see how things turn out.”

  “Well, you have to start somewhere. Trust me; it’s nothing like having family and sometimes you just have to learn to forgive.” He said. “My uncle is also a recovering addict.”

  “Wow, I couldn’t tell.”

  “Yep, he definitely looks better now. He’d just recently gotten his teeth fixed and now he’s eating right and staying off of the streets.”

  “I think that’s great,” Scarlett commented.

  Troy disappointedly shook his head. “My cousin, Slim, loved my uncle like a dad, because he played the father figure to both of us, but he hated him after he’d gotten on drugs. I used to tell him that he had to learn to forgive and understand the pressure that Unc was dealing with, but he didn’t wanna hear that. I understood, even though I didn’t like his decision to go that route to lessen the pain, because it only caused us more in the end. It just seemed like once he’d put my grandma in the nursing home that all the years of grief hit him at once. He’d been strong for us for years and I just wanted us to be strong for him when he needed us the most.”

  “It makes sense why he’s living here, now.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love that man and wouldn’t know what to do if I lost him. I would feel alone in this world and I never want to have that feeling.”

  “I never want you to feel like that, either.” Scarlett stated.

  Troy smiled and rubbed his hand down her flawless smooth face. “If you plan on being my girlfriend someday then I won’t ever have to be.”

  She blushed. “Your girlfriend?”

  “I haven’t had a girlfriend in years. I’ve only had women friends that I talk too, have slept with, or whatever, but not an actual girlfriend since high school and that’s been over ten years ago. I’ll be twenty-nine in two years. I’d like to be settled down by then. My mom always said to find the perfect girl, that’s perfect for me and marry her.”

  “How do you know that I’m the perfect girl?”

  “I don’t, but time will tell. I’ve not forgotten about your current situation, but I’m a very patient man. I’ll wait as long as we can continue to have moments like this.”

  She smiled. “I’d love that.” Troy leaned in and kissed Scarlett’s lips for the first time and she found herself enjoying that kiss a little too much. Her lips were sweet and tantalizing as he slipped his tongue in her mouth. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment, because it felt so right. The man that she thought was ruthless was actually the kindest man that she’d ever met. The kiss seemed to last for eternity as they both enjoyed each other’s company to the fullest.

  Troy stopped mid kiss and looked at her. “I don’t wanna have sex tonight.” He told her. Scarlett’s mind had certainly gone there, but she listened as he continued. “My uncle always told me that if I want it to last then I can’t have sex with her on the first date.”

  This made Scarlett smile. “So, you actually see something with me. Like, you can really see a future with us.”

  “I can see something with you. I don’t know how far in the future, but time will tell. All I know is that right now, I want you so bad, but I have to wait.” He disappointedly shook his head, because he wanted nothing more, at the moment, than to make mad love to her and blow her mind.

  “Are there any rules to second and third dates?” Scarlett grinned as she teased him.

  “Not any rules like that,” he said with a chuckle.

  “So, I think you need to be setting up our second date before I leave here tonight.”

  “Where are you going?” Troy asked.

  “I’m going home,” she stated.

  “I don’t think so,” he told her. “You’re in no condition to drive after the drinks you’ve had. I don’t even trust myself behind a wheel right about now.”

  Scarlett softly chuckled. “So, I’m staying the night then.”

  Troy leaned over and kissed her again. “Yes, you’re staying the night then.” He teased.

  Scarlett playfully pouted. “But no sex, though.”

  “Not tonight,” Troy said as he laughed at her playful side.

  “Okay then, not tonight.” She teased as the meaningful kissing resumed.

  Chapter 12

  Troy walked through his house smiling and rapping the lyrics to Wiz Khalifa’s, Studio Lovin. He bobbed his head feeling pretty good about his night of no sex and lots of kisses with Scarlett. It definitely took a lot to keep him grounded, but he wanted it to last and that’s the only reason why he held back.

  He opened the refrigerator, grabbing a cold Corona. It was al
ready twelve noon and he was expecting to get a call from Dmitri at any time. He popped the top and kept rapping the lyrics.

  Girl, let me take you to my studio, Give you everything you want and need. Lay you flat like a piano, If you let me stroke your keys. You gon’ be saying things you never said. Matter fact, you gon’ be playin’ melodies you never played. We ain’t in no bed, we in the lab and I’m reclining in my seat. You can just climb on top of me and ride me like this beat.

  His cell phone rang causing him to stop rapping to answer it. “Like clockwork,” he said. “What’s up, partner?”

  “Aye, what’s up, T?”

  “Nothing much, man. Just waiting to hear some news,” he said.

  “Well, since we were dealing with a younger female and we know how they operate, we didn’t want to frighten her too much just in case she didn’t have anything to do with it.” Dmitri told him.

  “Okay, so what did y’all do?”

  “Well, my man actually bugged her car and her aunt’s place when no one was there. I think it’s easier to see if we can catch some kind of information that way first. If she had something to do with it then she’ll eventually speak with someone about it and soon enough we’ll find out.”

  “That was smart thinking,” Troy stated. “Well, have y’all heard anything, yet? I mean, any leads. I’m just so ready to know who did this to my cousin since the police seem to be clueless around this bitch.”

  “I ain’t gonna lie. I listened to some of the recordings, but nothing stands out just yet. She has quite a few friends, including male friends. She must be a lil hottie?” He grinned.

  “You know I don’t mess with nothing, but some bad ass bitches.” Troy clowned with a laugh.

  “Yeah, I know.” Dmitri stated. “She has spoken with her homegirl Bree.”

  “That’s the one she brought over here to my house that night.”

  “Well, they hadn’t been talking about much, lately. It seems that she too is leaving for college soon. They haven’t said anything that has implicated her at the moment.”

  “What about any niggas?” Troy asked, figuring that Ash wouldn’t have been the one that pulled the trigger anyway if she had something to do with it.

  “She has spoken to three different niggas. One of the nigga’s was some dude name Chris. He’s just trying to fuck something, but she ain’t with it. Then another dude name Paul called. It seems that they are fucking, but he ain’t have nothing to do with Slim’s death. I can tell by their conversation.”

  “Okay, well anybody else?” Troy asked.

  “Yeah, she spoke with another dude, but she didn’t call his name. I don’t believe he’s the guy, either. Even though they didn’t talk long, he was pretty wasted, all slurring in the phone and shit. I tell you what, she made it perfectly clear that he needed to get his shit together and until then they had no more dealings.”

  Troy’s thoughts raced through his mind trying to figure it out. “Ain’t nothing going on inside her aunt’s house?”

  “Nah, man, nothing at all,” he said. “It’s bunch of bad ass lil kids running around there though, but nothing major.”

  Troy sat quiet for a moment. “Well, maybe it’s not her.”

  “Maybe it’s not,” Dmitri agreed. “It could always be the other scenario.”

  “Yeah, somebody could’ve followed him and shot him then took his house key. I don’t know, man. I just don’t know.”

  “Well, don’t sweat it. Somebody will start talking sooner or later. I’m still gonna listen in on this female’s calls a little longer, though.”

  “Maybe you should just leave it alone. It’s probably not her.” Troy said.

  “Are you sure about that?” Dmitri asked.

  “I don’t know what I’m sure of, anymore.” Troy said.

  “Like I said, T. Just chill out, something will come out and I do believe that it’ll be soon. Whoever killed Slim lives right there in your city and they’re not far away from you. Somebody will talk to somebody else that will talk. The truth will come to light.”

  “I’ll take your word for it, man. I just hope that it’s soon.”

  “So, is there anything new going on?” Dmitri asked.

  “Nah,” he said then thought about Scarlett. “Well, the female that I was telling you about came over last night. I like her, too. She’s different, not like the other women that I’ve fucked with.”

  “That’s what’s up,” Dmitri stated happy for his boy. “What you say her name was?”

  “I call her Red, but her name is Scarlett.” He informed him.

  “You’ve always said that if you found the one that would be it.”

  Troy grinned. “I’ve always meant it, too. I need a woman, anyway so I can leave all these college girls alone.”

  “I can agree,” Dmitri stated. “I’ve had my share of spoiling a few of them, but I’m tired myself. I think it’s about time that I settle down myself.”

  “Good luck with that,” Troy stated, already knowing that Dmitri was more serious than him when it came to the women.

  Dmitri laughed, but he’d already had his eye on someone that he’d been around for years. “Okay, you’ll see.” He said then realized he had a business meeting with Dom. “A’ight Bro, I gotta go, but I’ll holla at you in about two weeks.”

  “Alright partner,” Troy stated, and then they ended their call. He sat on the sofa, slowly bobbing his head to the music playing low in the background. His thoughts were hoping that Ash didn’t have anything to do with Slim’s death. A part of him was relieved that Dmitri hadn’t found anything to implicate her. He did just want to leave it be, but his heart wouldn’t let him. Hopefully, the police would come with some leads. At that point, he didn’t want to put a hit out on anybody, but if he got whiff of the news before the law did then whoever was involved would definitely have to join his cousin.

  His phone sounded off an incoming text distracting his thoughts.

  Hey you. Just got out of the shower and since staying up playing with you all night then I’m headed to bed for a couple more hours. Red

  Dream about me. Troy

  I already am. Red

  Troy smiled. She was indeed growing on him quickly. He sent back a happy face then laid his head back on the sofa with good thoughts about his dream girl.

  ____________________

  Scarlett lay in bed with a smile on her face. She’d enjoyed her night with Troy. It impressed her that he stuck to his word even though he’d gotten worked up quite a few times. It was hard to think that her brother was a part of something that caused Troy so much pain; for the simple fact that she’d started to really like him. Knowing about his background made those feelings stronger. She didn’t know what to do. The only thing that she was wishing was that she could just give it all back and wipe the slate clean.

  If only it were that easy, she thought just as her phone rang.

  She answered. “What the hell you doing up so early?”

  “Stephen just left to go to work. That’s my excuse, but why are you just getting home this morning? Where you been? Who were you with?” Nina nosily pondered.

  Scarlett laughed. “I believe you stay peeking out them damn blinds of yours.”

  “I just know your ass didn’t come in last night. Who were you with?”

  Scarlett continued to laugh. It was always funny when Nina interrogated her. “Well, I wasn’t with Luke,” she admitted.

  “Hush your mouth,” Nina dramatically stated. “Please tell me that you weren’t with you know who.”

  “Yes, I was with you know who.” Scarlett confessed.

  “RED!”

  “Oh hush,” Scarlett said. “I didn’t sleep with him, but I did stay the night. I’d had too much to drink and he wouldn’t let me leave.”

  “Well, isn’t he the stand up guy,” Nina stated. “I think you actually like this nigga.”

  Scarlett blushed. “I think I do, too.”

  “Girl, be careful. Plea
se be careful,” Nina said, already knowing that this could get real ugly if the truth came to light.

  “I just wanna sneak his money and drugs back in his house and hope that he lets it go.” Scarlett said.

  “It’s too early for wishful thinking,” Nina told her.

  “I know, but I have to think of something. I wish I could tell him that it was all just a big mistake, but we both know that he would never go for that shit.”

  Nina shook her head. “That definitely wouldn’t be the answer.”

  “I know,” Scarlett commented. They sat quiet for a moment as both were thinking of ways to quiet the storm before it erupted. “Look, I’m going back to bed. I’ll come down there later and we’ll talk about this shit. We gotta figure something out.”