Scarlett Bound

Chapter 14

“Have you seen the views on the video you posted? It was a hit!” Rye exclaims as he rushed into my office.

I’ve just come up from a fun day in the lab. We came up with a lot of ideas for the new hairline. We’ll be able to start off right where we left off and also start-up on a few new ideas. We are going to create a deep conditioner, hydration mask, leave-in conditioner, curling style cream, and a protein treatment. It’s a lot but I want to cover all the hair products that curly hair girls use the most often. When I was going through my transition from straightening my hair all the time to wearing it naturally those were the products I used the most and continued to use after.

We didn't make much progress on creating the new products but we did make a lot of progress with making a plan and coming up with ideas. I’ve ordered all the ingredients I think we’ll need to make all of the new products. It’ll probably take a lot of different mixtures of each one in order to find the perfect one as well as trials but it’ll all be worth it. My goal is to create kick-ass curl popping products. 

“I have! It did better than I thought it would. They are going to love it when Devin gets to do my makeup. Even if it’s not an actual tutorial I think they’ll enjoy the funny factor. The posts that Devin and I made have also gotten a lot of love.”

“What posts? You have to show me.” Rye rushes over to my side to get a view of my computer screen. I close the tab I was looking at and open up my i********: page. First I show him the post that I made on my page. It's a picture of Devin sitting in my makeup chair while I finish adding the highlight to the tip of his nose.

The other photo is posted on Devin’s page. It's of him still wearing the full face of makeup I gave him while drinking a beer. He tagged me in the photo which sent me a notification. I was confused about what he would have tagged me in so I checked it out right then. When I saw the photo I immediately started laughing out of nowhere. I scared poor Oreo but no one else was around to look at me like I was crazy. 

“I want this made into a poster, framed, and put into my living room,” Rye says when I show him Devin’s picture. Laughing, I admire my handiwork. The look I chose to go with for Devin was inspired by the sunset. Light and dark reds along with gold shimmer shadow to give it a little pop. I thought it would compliment his skin and his personality perfectly. Some of my favorite memories are of seeing Devin at the beach, wading on his surfboard, while the sunset behind him. The final look came out better than I could have imagined.

“People have been going insane in the comments. In my video and on both posts. Apparently, our fans ship the two of us together and think we look good together.” I open up the comments and the two of us read them to each other. As we go through them we laugh at how ridiculous some of these are. 

“Wow, some of these girls are jealous. Better keep an eye out for any crazy ladies coming after you.” He holds his hands up like cat claws and hisses at me.

“Don’t worry your pretty head off. Devin and I are not together so there is nothing to worry about.” I close the tab with the open picture of Devin on it and shut off my computer. Rearranging pictures, I clean up the last of the items on my desk.

“Yet,” Rye whispers in my ear. I move to smack him but he dashes out of the way in the knick of time. 

“Don’t tell me that you’re on Susie’s side now. I am not going to get back together with him.” Groaning, I get up to go grab my bag. 

Tonight I have plans to go to a family dinner at mom and dad's place. Apparently mom has some good news she wants to share with all of us. I grab my bag and follow Rye out of my office. 

“I’m just saying that it seems likely. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other when he comes to visit you here. You too are always looking for excuses to get close or touch each other.” I open my mouth to start arguing but he places a finger on my lips to shoosh me. “Trust me I'd use any excuse in the world to touch him too but it’s the looks you two exchange that gives it all away. All I’m saying is if it happens then it happens. As long as you’re both happy then no biggie.” He says with a shrug then turns to his desk.

“No biggie? Oh, that’s a load of shit.” I say with an eye roll. “If the two of us somehow end up getting back together it will definitely be a big deal.”

“It’s only a big deal if you make it one. Like I said, if you are both happy then it’s not a problem. The two of you aren’t together anyway so this is all theoretical. Now get your butt out of here. We both should have been out of here a couple of hours ago and you’ll be late for dinner if you don't leave soon.”

He waves me toward the elevators and after saying goodbye I get on one. As I walk to my car the sun reflects off the nude leather of my Louboutin’s. Even though I knew I would be spending the day in the lab wearing a white coat I made sure that when the coat came off again I’d look fantastic. To go with my nude shoes I wore a dark blue off the shoulder pencil dress that stops at the knee. 

I blast the air conditioning as high as I can as soon as I get in the car. I love this dress but it attracts heat within seconds. If I have to spend a lot of time outside I can't wear this dress or I'll turn into a puddle of sweat.

The ride to my parent's house doesn’t take too long. I stayed late enough at work that most of the traffic has already passed. On the way there I pass the trampoline place and smile to myself. I finally checked that off my list of things to do. 

I pull into a spot in front of the house where I see both my brother's cars parked in front of the garage. One gigantic black truck and another yellow Porsche. I think Jackson’s car looks like a banana but he thinks it attracts the ladies. I don’t see how that little car is supposed to bring in the ladies. Honestly, it seems like it would repel them but apparently since I don't have a p***s I don't know how to reel in the hot babes.

“You guys still aren’t locking your door,” I yell as I enter the house and follow the smell of delicious food to the kitchen.

“I’ve got five strapping men in this house to protect me. There’s no need to lock up with all that muscle around.” She waves the ladle she's using to stir the pot at me as she speaks. 

“Do not fling dinner onto my dress. This is one of my favorites.” I whine as I move back a few feet. I don't want to be anywhere near her in case she starts flinging that thing again. “Wait, five? What other guy is here? Did Emmett come home?” The thought of my big brother being home brings a huge smile to my face. It’s been almost a year since he was able to get leave and come visit us. When he decided he wanted to join the army I was scared shitless. That’s how our dad lost his life. 

Mom was proud of him when he made the decision and once he got mom's blessing nothing could change his mind. It’s not that I’m against the military. I was just afraid that if my brother left he would never come home again. I think that's pretty understandable thinking from young girls whose father died serving. My brother thought I was being irrational but I couldn't imagine living in a world without my big brother. None of us could.

Given the little frown on my mom's face, I can tell I guessed wrong. My shoulders drop in disappointment. I miss him like crazy. It’s not like I would ever tell him that to his face but if mom knows it’s alright. She already knows everything about all of us. Well, almost everything. If I’ve managed to keep one secret from her then I’m sure my brothers have been able to keep one or two as well.

“It may not be Emmett but it is his best friend.” My mom says with a grin. That smile. I don't trust that smile at all because there is only one person she could be talking about. William, Emmett, and Jackson all have the same best friend. The best friend that until recently I hated with every fiber of my being.

“Mom, please tell me it isn't who I think it is.”

“Heyy! What's wrong? I thought you two were all buddy-buddy now. You’ve been hanging out together and he has even stopped by Mixed a few times.” I glare at her accusingly.

“How do you know that he’s visited me at work?”

“Well, I do follow your youtube and i********: account. I even have notifications set up for when you post. I always try my best to get the first like. Then there's also the fact that Devin told Will and Jackson about some business negotiation you two set up. He said that he had to stop by a few times to go over everything and have it finalized. Of course, the boys told me about it once they found out.”

“Of course,” I say and roll my eyes up to the high heavens. Lord help me. These guys gossip worse than a bunch of teenagers at a slumber party.

“You can’t be surprised that all of us were curious about what was going on. You couldn't stand being within five miles of him, refused to talk to him all of sudden, and if he was ever brought up in conversation you would leave the room. Then you two are suddenly hanging out. Only the two of you. So yes, I did invite him to family dinner because this surprise is for him too. Now go say hi to your father. He misses you.”

Throwing my hand up in the air, I trudge out of the kitchen into the living room where my dad is posted up with a beer in one hand and some car show playing on the tv. When he sees me come in he pauses the show and immediately gets up. His ginormous frame blocks out the view of the rest of the room as he engulfs me in a hug.

“I missed you too, pops.” I hold onto him tightly. Being there only daughter did have its perks. For example, my pops spoiled me rotten. Anything I could ever want or need he would get me in a heartbeat. He might not be my biological father but he raised me and Emmett as if we were his own and mom raised Will and Jackson as if they were her own. We turned into one big happy family. Then a few years later they had Gabriel. 

“How’s my little girl doing?” 

“I’ve been great. Doing better than ever before.” He smiles down at me and I can see the pride as well as the joy my words have brought to him. For quite some time I was struggling with life in general but things are finally looking up. I’m working to change things to make my life better. I know that it’ll take some time but I’m already working on it.

“You look much happier. Keep up with whatever it is you’re doing. The boys are all goofing around in the backyard. They were going to toss the football around last I heard if you want to join them.” He looks down at my dress then back up with me and scratches at the short dark curls cut close to his head. “Or not since you’re all dressed up. It might ruin your clothes although that might not be such a bad thing.” He mumbles the last part under his breath but I still hear him. If looks could kill the glare he’s throwing at my dress would light it on fire. 

I give him a kiss on the cheek and walk over to the sliding back door. The curtains are held back letting in the sunlight from outside. “I know you hate it when I get all dressed up but I’m not little any more pop.”

“You’ll always be my little girl and if I could I’d make you wear a potato sack then wrap you in layers of bubble wrap.” He grumbles then sips his beer. Chuckling, I head outback. This argument is one we have every time he sees me in a pair of tall heels or all dressed up. If I didn't walk away we would be there all night.

I walk on the faded concrete patio past the outdoor couch and table set. My parents lucked out when they bought this house. It has a huge backyard which was great when we were all growing up. Most homes around here have these tiny little yards that barely fit a table set.

Leaning against the side of the house I watch as they toss around the ball. They’re so into it that they haven't noticed I've shown up. Jackson has abandoned his s**t which is not a sight I care to see but Devin has also discarded his upper clothing. They must have been playing for a while. 

A thin sheen of sweat has built up across his golden skin making him glisten in the afternoon sun. Some of his long curls are plastered across his forehead and the side of his face. He’s holding the ball close to his chest and trying his best to dodge Will. He fakes left then quickly darks right tricking Will and getting around him. When he makes it to the makeshift endzone. He tosses the ball behind him and starts doing his touchdown dance.

Laughing, I start clapping and cheering for him. Not only because he made it past all three of my brothers but also for the great show he gave me. Watching him work was a sight to behold. 

That dazzling smile of his lands on me and grows impossibly wider. We stare at one another. Him taking in my long legs in my heels and the curves on display in my dress. While I watch his strong chest rise up and down from his ragged breathing. His defined strong abs flex which each exhale. Then our silent moment is brought to an end when the football smacks him in the head.