by Jamie Knight
“Today was fine until Olivia asked me if you could be her ‘new mommy’.”
I looked at Scarlett to gauge her reaction. She seemed surprised. She stayed in her seated position for a few seconds. I could see her trying to decide what to do.
“Well?” I needed an explanation from her. This kind of shit wasn’t okay, and if she had anything to do with it, I wasn’t sure if I wanted her in the house any longer.
“I don’t know why Livvy would say that.” She was shaking her head and had gotten up from the bed. Her arms were crossed over her chest, clearly uncomfortable.
“Really? You have zero idea why she would say something like that out of the blue?”
“I don’t know! I’ve never said anything like that to her. I would never do that. I mean, she’s asked me questions about Kylie, and I do my best to answer them. She’s a curious little girl.”
I was shocked. Olivia had never asked me about her mother since her death.
“She asks you about Kylie?”
“Yeah?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I felt my voice getting louder, but I couldn’t help it. I was mad. It felt like Scarlett was hiding things from me.
“I thought you knew!” Scarlett was shouting back at me.
“How would I know what she tells you?”
“Because I thought she was asking you the same questions, and you hate talking to me. It’s so obvious that you avoid me. It’s hard to… broach certain topics with you!”
“Scarlett, you have —”
“I’m sorry!”
We both stopped and turned to the door.
Olivia’s little voice carried over from down the hall. She must have heard us fighting and wandered over. “I don’t remember Mommy, and I like Auntie Scarlett. I was sad when she left. Please don’t be angry.”
My daughter’s words hit me hard. She didn’t remember her mother. I’d never thought about how little time Kylie got to spend with our daughter. Scarlett had spent more time with Olivia — she had been coming around ever since she was born.
“I need to get out of here,” I mumbled.
I turned to leave, and Scarlett grabbed onto my arm. “Noah, wait!”
“I can’t.”
I stormed out, needing some time away from all of this. I knew Olivia needed some comforting, but I was so angry, I didn’t think I’d be of any help. Scarlett would take care of her. I needed to get my head back on right. My brain felt like it was on fire, and I just needed to douse it.
Chapter Eleven - Noah
In all my infinite wisdom, I decided the best place to calm down was a bar. I went to a random local one and walked in to find Darren already there. I hadn’t wanted to talk to anyone, just to drink and forget how shitty my life was, but Darren saw me before I could leave and waved me over. He was my friend, and I did like him, so I walked over to sit with him. I could still drink a couple Scotches, and Darren could probably distract me with whatever was on his mind. Yeah, it would be fine.
“Noah, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” He smiled as I took a seat on the chair across from him.
“I hadn’t planned on being here tonight, so it’s a surprise for both of us.”
“O-kay,” Darren nodded. He gave me a weird look but didn’t say anything more. “Do you want anything to drink? I was about to head to the bar.”
I told Darren which Scotch I wanted, and he left to get our drinks. I leaned into my seat, rubbing my eyes. Was this a good idea? Who knew, but I was already here, and I didn’t feel like moving.
It was six or something drinks later. I had stopped counting after a three, and some of them had been doubles, so it could have been any number.
“You good?” Darren was looking at me, amusement coloring his face.
“I’m amazing. I’ve got a dead wife, a daughter who doesn’t remember her mother. I barely leave the house, and I know everybody’s side-eyeing me, but they don’t know what to say. Not that I blame them. I haven’t made myself super easy to approach.”
He frowned and took a sip of his beer. “You’ve been through something traumatic. It takes time to grieve. Don’t beat yourself up because you feel like it’s been a while.”
“It’s not just that.” I brought myself forward, holding my head in my hands. “I don’t know what I’m doing with Scarlett. I never should have let her stay. It’s fucking everything up even more.”
“What do you mean? Did something happen with her?”
“Too much. I asked her to leave for a reason, but she came back. Not that I’m surprised. She was always a little stubborn.”
Kylie had told me stories of how Scarlett used to dig in her heels when they were kids. She could be flexible, but when she really wanted something, there was no convincing her otherwise. I’d seen it in action a few times. The danger with Scarlett was that she knew how to talk her way into what she wanted.
“I like that about her. She knows what she wants and goes for it. I know people who have been here for a lot longer and still have trouble making decisions with half the confidence Scarlett has,” Darren told me.
“I’m not that much older than her,” I mumbled.
Darren chuckled while taking a sip of his drink. “I never said I was talking about you.”
“But it was obvious. I’ve been stagnant for two years, avoiding all kinds of hard decisions. I pushed Scarlett away when I felt like things were getting too… and then she comes back, and I fucking arrange for her to have another baby like that will fix all my problems.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Darren looked extremely shocked.
It was weird, or at the very least, not a thing people just casually mentioned doing. Having the little sister of their dead wife have their child to give their daughter someone to play with. And then making the condition that she has to leave once the baby was born.
And that’s exactly how I explained it to Darren.
“That’s something.” He was running his hand through his hair. He didn’t seem disgusted with me or anything, just like he was processing it all. “And Scarlett wants this?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “She seems to want more, but I can’t give it to her. I mean, look at me. I’m a fucking mess. I’m barely taking care of myself. Everything I have goes into Olivia. I don’t have room for something romantic.”
“You wanna know what I think?” he asked. I nodded. “I think you’re wasting your time. Clearly, you like Scarlett, and that girl sees something in you. What you need to do is go home and open up your heart. It’ll make not just your life better but also your daughter’s. Both of you deserve to be happy.”
“Yeah, sure.” I rolled my eyes.
“Think about it, okay?”
“Okay.”
Darren looked at me for a couple seconds. “Let me drive you home. You can come back for your car in the morning.”
I probably shouldn’t be driving. I did have a few too many. “Yeah, okay.” I grabbed my stuff and headed out with Darren to his car.
I was able to sober up a little on the ride home. Darren left the car window on my side open. It also gave me time to reflect.
I thought about everything my friend said about letting myself be happy and opening up my heart. It sounded hard. I’d been closed off for so long. I could admit to myself that I liked Scarlett but giving her more room in my life and my heart scared me.
I could try, maybe.
I was having a hard time thinking, though, because all I could think about was fucking her again. I had gotten so wrapped up in her without even realizing it.
When I got into the house, I walked up the stairs and went over to Scarlett’s door. I gently pushed it open. I saw her lying on top of her covers, sleeping. She’d curled up, her book sitting open beside her. She must have come back to her room and read after getting Livvy back to sleep.
I walked into her room, closing the door behind me. Sitting on top of her bed,
I looked over her exposed legs.
“Noah?” Scarlett woke up. She rubbed her eyes before looking over at me. She looked a little sad.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“I’m sorry if I overstepped. I never want to make you feel like I’m trying to—” She stopped talking when I started running my finger up and down her leg.
“Noah?” She picked her body up a little, resting on her elbows.
“Your skin’s really soft. Do you know that?”
“Um, yeah, I guess.”
I leaned over and kissed her ankle. Scarlett squirmed a little as I got further and further up her leg, placing small kisses along the way. I stopped when I reached her shorts.
“Can I take these off?” I asked, fingering the thin fabric.
“If you want to,” she breathed.
I pulled the shorts along with her underwear down her legs. Once they were off, I tossed them aside, kissing my way back up Scarlett’s thighs, this time without stopping. I slowed down as I got closer to her pussy, nipping at the insides of her legs. She flinched with each bite.
I finally got to her pussy. I slid my middle finger inside, swirling it around her wetness.
“Fuck,” she muttered, her head falling back.
“Do you think about me when you touch yourself?”
“I —”
“I used to hear you moaning in here.” I added more fingers, holding myself over Scarlett, so I could watch her face. “Is this what you were thinking about? Is this what you wanted?”
“Mmmhmm,” she whimpered, biting down on her bottom lip.
I could see her fighting to find a release. Feeling her juices run down my fingers and onto my hand, I wanted to get down there and taste her. I took my fingers out of her and brought my face right in front of her folds. I flattened my tongue and ran it up her slit, lapping her up.
“Noah!” she gasped.
I kept going, using my fingers and tongue to fuck her. Scarlett covered her mouth with her hand to quiet her delectable moans. My dick was pressed so hard against the zipper of my jeans, I wanted to plunge into her and feel her walls wrapping around my shaft.
I flicked my tongue over Scarlett’s clit before wrapping my lips around it and sucking. Her body arched, and she started thrashing. I held her hips down as I continued my assault until I felt her coming, her juices dripping down my chin.
When she was done, her body fell back down onto the bed, her head rolling to the side. Her eyes had that sleepy look in them, but they were also inviting.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I want more.”
Scarlett reached out to me. I could see what she wanted, but I grabbed her hand instead, kissing the top of it. A glimmer of disappointment passed over her face, but she hid it quickly. I was feeling a lot closer to her, but this opening of my heart was a slow process.
“You know what I want?” My lips were curved up in a small smile. From the second I walked into Scarlett’s room, I had this image in my head.
“What?” She sat up and leaned against her headboard.
“I want to watch you ride my cock. I want to see your tits bouncing, and your body tremble. I want you to scream my name.”
Scarlett took a beat and just stared at me before nodding and pulling her shirt over her head. She was already not wearing a bra. I reached out a massaged one of her full breasts, swiping my fingers over her nipple.
“Why don’t you take a few things off?”
I stood up and quickly removed all my clothes before joining Scarlett on the bed. I plopped down next to her and held open my arms, so she could climb into my lap. I moved her long, dark hair to the side, so I could kiss her shoulders and arms, I just wanted to place my lips all over her skin.
Scarlett put her hands on either side of my face as she straddled me. I positioned my cock head so she could push her pussy down on it. She continued to hold onto my face as her walls enveloped me. Her hands went from my face, and her arms wrapped around my shoulders. She brought her pelvis up and down. I grabbed onto her hips to help us find our rhythm.
Our bodies slammed together, meeting in ultimate bliss. Her pussy clamped down on me. We moved together, shaking the bed as we violently fucked. Scarlett’s nails dug into my back, and I felt her body start to tremble. Her pussy tightened around me, and my body buckled.
I came inside her, releasing a stream of cum. I roared as Scarlett took everything I could give and then a little bit more. We both collapsed when we were done — me on the headboard and Scarlett onto my chest. She traced random shapes on my skin as we both caught our breath.
“That was nice,” Scarlett whispered, her breath skirting over me.
“It was,” I agreed.
She looked up at me, and I could see the hope in her eyes. I could feel that I wasn’t as closed off, but I needed a little more time to myself.
“I had a long day, so I should get back to my room.”
“Oh.” Scarlett picked up her head and looked at me. I could see her working through what I just said. I did feel kind of bad, but I wasn’t ready just yet to jump into anything. “Yeah, of course.”
She got off of me, so I could get up and pick up my clothes. I put my boxers on and stood by the door. Scarlett and I looked at one another. There were still a lot of things unsaid between the two of us, but it looked like we were getting somewhere better.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I end up phrasing it like a question. Even though I was still being distant, I was beginning to realize Scarlett had a lot more power over my feelings than I had thought.
“Yeah, of course, you’ll see me tomorrow.”
“Perfect.”
I left her in her room to go to mine and give myself time to think.
Chapter Twelve - Noah
I woke up the next morning with a clearer mind than I expected. After getting back to my room last night, I thought about everything Darren had said, like my growing feelings towards Scarlett and just how my life was in general. I finally admitted to myself that when Scarlett was with Olivia and me, everything felt better. The only reason I was doubtful was due to the weird rules I was making up. Rules like wondering if I had to wait a certain amount of time to move on, or not letting myself move on. I couldn’t live in the past forever.
Because I was in such a good mood, I decided to make pancakes. No one else was awake yet, so I went to the kitchen and started pouring and measuring and mixing. When I got the first flapjack on the pan, Olivia and Scarlett walked in.
“Good morning, sleepyheads.”
“Are those pancakes!” Livvy came to stand right next to my leg, trying to get a look at what I was doing on the counter.
“Yeah, I thought we could have some pancakes for breakfast. Do you guys want pancakes?”
“Yay!” She pumped her fists up, smiling. I looked over at Scarlett, and she nodded.
“Pancakes sound nice.”
“Great. You two relax, and I’ll get you some food.”
“Okay!”
Livvy went to sit down at the table, and Scarlett joined her. The two of them chatted while I cooked. I could see Scarlett looking over at me every so often. I knew we would need to talk, but I wanted to enjoy the extra spring in my step that I woke up with. It was nice to wake up happy for a change. I was going to let myself sit in it for a little bit.
We were all sitting and eating the pancakes I had made. Olivia was lost in the sticky sweetness of her over syruped plate, but Scarlett was obviously lost in her own mind. I could tell she wanted to bring up last night, but it was impossible to do so. I didn’t want her freaking out all day, so I did what I could to assuage her fears.
“Do you guys want to go for a hike? All together?”
Olivia agreed immediately, but Scarlett seemed wary. “A hike?” she asked.
“Yeah, I think we could all use some fresh air, and it would be nice to spend some time together. If you want to, we could ev
en head over to the lake.”
“Can we do the paddle boats?” my little angel asked.
“Of course, sweetie.” I ruffled Olivia’s hair a little, and she giggled.
“The paddle boats are the funnest. You will like them, Auntie Scarlett.”
“I’m sure I will,” Scarlett smiled.
She kept that smile when she looked at me. There was still a lot unsaid between the two of us, but we were beginning to get somewhere warmer with one another.
***
Olivia, Scarlett, and I were on our hike, making our way to the lake. We were almost there. The walk up had been enjoyable. Olivia was a bit of a firecracker, taking off through the woods. I’d never seen her like this before, but it was nice. It was clear that she was happy
“We’re here!”
Olivia ran over to the small dock where the paddle boats were located. Scarlett and I gave each other a quick look before racing after her. I got there first and scooped up my little bundle, holding her close to my chest.
“And where do you think you’re going?”
“I want to get out in the boat!” She was wiggling in my arms, trying to get back on the ground.
“We will. We will! You have to put on your water shoes and floaties. We have to be safe before anything else.”
She suddenly went limp in my hands. It was so surprising, I almost dropped her. “Okay, Daddy…” She sounded so disappointed, it was hilarious to me, but I kept my laughter zipped up. It was time to take care of my little drama queen. I walked over to the table where Scarlett had put down our bags. She saw Olivia in my arms, and a secret smile grew on her lips. Scarlett took out everything Olivia needed for a boat ride. We helped her get dressed and placed her on top of the table.
“Now sit for a few seconds. Scarlett and I have to get ready.”
Olivia nodded. We put on our water shoes and flotation devices. The three of us packed into one of the paddle boats, Livvy between Scarlett and me.