Chapter 38
2031words
As I finally began to drift off to sleep after tossing and turning for what felt like an eternity. My phone started buzzing. I groan, blindly reaching for the thing. Finally, I grab it. Not bothering to check the name, I press accept and push it to my ear.
“Hello,” I grumbled, my voice thick with sleep.
“Oh, sorry, honey, did I wake you?” My mum apologised, her voice seeming brightener than it had only a few hours ago when she had refused to leave Storm in the hospital after visiting hours.
“No, is Storm okay?” I question, sitting up.
“Yes. It’s why I’m calling you; actually, she woke up about an hour ago. The Doctors have checked her over, and it looks like, thankfully, she hasn’t done any major damage to her organs; her brain activity is also normal. However, they are going to keep her here at least another 48 hours for observation,” She explained.
“That’s really great news. What about her mental health?” I considered.
“Well, because of the nature of her accident, the doctors are insisting she needs to take a psych test,” Mum answers, sounding a little unsure.
“Mum, this will be a good thing. Storm’s been depressed for weeks now, and this suicide attempt is a cry for help. She needs this, and whatever the outcome, we need to be there to support her,” I convince.
“I know,” She sighs. “Your right. It’s just a lot to deal with.” She sniffles.
“Have you been able to get a hold of dad?” I asked, clenching my jaw.
“No....his secretary sends her best wishes, she told me your father’s been in back to back meetings. But she will relay the message,” Mum remarks bitterly.
“Too fucking busy to care that his own daughter is in the hospital!” I fume, slapping my hand down on the bedside table.
“Loki! This is not the time to be complaining about his fathering,” She warned.
“Why are you defending him?”
“Because I love your father, and I trust him. He will come when he can,” She dismisses. “I got to go, Storms probably wondering where I am. I’ll see you first thing?”
“Yeah...Tell Storm I love her, will you,” I request.
“Of course I will. Get some sleep. I love you,” She says before hanging up. I sighed. Pushing thoughts of my father to the back of my mind, it was not my place to argue his priorities. If he wasn’t going to bother to show up, then I needed to be the man of the house. As I had done for the past five years, thanks to his increased workload and ‘business trips’, I just hoped for his sake he didn’t get caught. However, If he hurt mum or Storm, he’d have me to deal with.
I checked the time; it was past two in the morning. I knew I should probably wait till morning to update Scarlett, but I loaded up her number anyway. I remembered that she was a heavy sleeper, so it was unlikely to wake her if she wasn’t already.
Me to Scarlett
Hey princess. Storm is awake, no major problems, but won’t be home anytime soon. Psych test tomorrow; fingers crossed they can get her the help she needs. Xxx
I click send, putting my phone back on the bedside table and laying back in bed. Letting my eyes close once more, hopefully, I would finally get some sleep. The coach would kick my arse if I was tried, and there was no way mum was letting me back out of this game. It was the first game of the season and ageist the best team in our league. I had to bring my A-game if I wanted a football scholarship to get into college. My phone buzzed.
Scarlett
Thanks for the update. Are you still at the hospital? I’ve not gotten any sleep :/ I really don’t want to be alone right now... every time I close my eyes, I see her. Xxx
Me to Scarlett
I know, I see her too. No, I’m in my room. Come over if you want? Xxx
I click send, holding my phone to wait for her response. But she didn’t reply straight away, several minutes—still nothing. I thought she wasn’t going to answer me. I sigh, locking the screen. I was really hoping she was going to come over. Not even because I wanted to bang her; in all honestly, I wasn’t even in the mood, and I missed her. I unlocked my phone and clicked dial. After several rings, she finally picked up.
“Hello”, She whispered through the speaker.
“Hey baby girl, you coming over?” I coax. I could almost feel her hesitating through the phone, but before she could talk herself out of it, I quickly add “I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself. We can just talk for a little bit, then sleep... please.”
“Fine, but you need to swear to me, Loki. No games, I’m serious,” She huffs, moving about.
“Whatever you want, baby,” I agree, a smile tugging at my lips.
“And stop calling me baby!” She demands. I laugh.
“Would you prefer Doll, Sexy, sugar-”
“No, none of them,” She protests. “Can’t you just use my name like a normal person?” I hear the faint click of her front door opening and close behind her.
“Where’s the fun in that?” I shrug, climbing out of bed.
“Just hurry up and come let me in; it’s freezing out here,” She grumbles, teeth chattering. I open my bedroom door and start down the hall. Not bothering to cover up. I was only wearing tight black boxers, But I didn’t care, she’d seen it all before anyway, and I wasn’t ashamed of my body.
“I’m coming,” I declare, pressed end on the call as I start down the steps. I open the front door, flashing Scarlett my best pantie dropping smile. Letting my eyes travel from her long luscious legs, past her cotton sleep shorts and baggy pullover hoodie until I meet her eyes.
Scarlett blinked serval times; her eyes widened, practically bursting out her skull as she took in my half-naked body. Then, finally managing to master herself enough to look pissy, she shakes her head at me and turns on her heels. Or tries to, but I quickly catch her arm and pulling her into the house. “Oh, come on, babe,” I taunt.
“Loki, you promised. Put some dam clothes on, for god sake!” She scolded, covering her eyes with her phone, only making me laugh harder. The door clicking closed behind us.
“I know what I said, but you told me to hurry,” I counter, raising a brow at her. “Come on. My clothes are upstairs.” I dare. Dropping her arm to start up the stairs without looking back. After a few seconds of hesitation, Scarlett’s light footsteps follow me to my room. Despite everything, I smile; I really did enjoy winding her up.
When we get back to my room, I chuck on a tee and some loose basketball shorts. “Better?” I ask, turning to her. She nods, not meeting my gaze. Her hands nervously tugging at the sleeves of her hoodie. I made an excuse to squeeze past to close my bedroom door, even though we were alone in the house. Forcing Scarlett to step further inside.
She takes a seat on the edge of my bed, looking entirely uncomfortable. I bite my lip to stop from smirking. It was hard not to admire her, even in an oversized hoodie and without makeup. She was still beautiful and so goddam sexy.
I cross the room, climbing back into bed. “You know we have shared a bed together before, right?” I tease, leaning back on my arms. Scarlett turns to me, eyes hard.
“Yes, but you were drunk and locked out of your house,” Scarlett reminds me.
“True”, I admit, with a half-smile. Now that I sat closer, I noticed Scarletts eyes were still red and sore from crying, and she looked exhausted, in all honesty. “But today has been really difficult on both of us, seeing Storm like that...” I swallow, unable to finish my sentence. She nods sadly, understanding everything left unsaid.
“I’m going to tell her. About us,” She blurts, averting her gaze. “It’s killing me that she doesn’t know,” she signs, a lone tear trickling down her cheek.
I felt guilty for putting Scarlett’s into this situation, her pain was my own, and it made my heart aching seeing her this way. I couldn’t help myself; I reached for her. I expected her to pull away, but she didn’t, letting me gather her into my lap. Her arms coming to rest around my neck, her head falling to my chest. She felt so small in my arms, so fragile. I kiss her hair, letting my hands stroke down her back.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea in the state that she’s in?” I consider, my voice gentle.
“No. But I don’t know what else to do. I feel so guilty; I’ve been so consumed with my own problems that I never even saw how much she was hurting. She’s my best friend, Loki.”
“Darling, you got nothing to feel guilty for,” I reassure her pulling the blanket up to cover us.
“But I kissed you. I was out with Asher when I should have been here with her last night,” She insists, but I shake my head.
“I was home, Scarlett. I didn’t check on her because I was drunk out of my mind and...” I trail off, too ashamed to admit I had been shagging Cheryl. I couldn’t hurt Scar more than she already was; she needed me as much as I needed her. Nobody else would understand.
We held each other for a long time. Her scent and heat giving me the energy to breath. I didn’t know how I had never realised before how perfect she was, small and beautiful. I felt closer to her right now, than I had ever felt to another person in my whole life. Like we were the same. I never wanted to be separated from her or be the reason for her tears. I wanted to share my life with this girl, to be her pleasure and her reason to smile.
I didn’t realise how tightly I had been holding her until Scarlett pulled back. Just enough so her green orbs could peer into mine. “We should sleep,” She breathed, her eyes sparkling in the faint light. I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
Scarlett slips out of my lap to pull off her hoodie. Her vest top rising up as she does, instantly my hands reach out to help. My skin grazing her stomach as I gently tugged it down; sparks were flying between our skin. Scar must have felt it, too, because she gasped.
“Sorry” I blurt awkwardly, pulling back. Looking everywhere but at her. Fuck, what the hell was wrong with me? I wanted to touch her and yet, I was pulling away? I was feeling all that deep shit towards her that wasn’t fucking normal and I was sharing a bed with a girl I wasn’t screwing, for the second time I might add. Not that I didn’t want to, but I wasn’t even trying. I sprawled back on the bed, lost in my own thoughts.
Scarlett flicked off the lights; her body turned away from me as she snuggled under the blankets, the covers up to her shoulders. After a few moments, I pulled off my tee and turned onto my side her, my hands curling round her hips, tugging her closer. Scarlett wriggled backwards into my warmth as if she, too, needed to be close to me.
Yet now that she was, my mind wandered to more comfortable topics, well aware of her arse pressed against my groan. Teasing me. I blow out a frustrated breath, trying to control myself. I had made Scarlett a promise; I couldn’t break that now. No matter how much I wanted to. “Goodnight”, She whispered.
“Goodnight, baby,” I reply, kissing her cheek.
