Scarred for Love (MFM)

Chapter 7

Derek's P.O.V

The car ride was tense, to say in the least.

No s**t. My inner voice commented. I scrubbed my hand up my face as I glanced in the rearview mirror.

We picked up Scarlett and our luggage before hitting the road. Now, they are both currently texting each other back and forth.

I know this because when one's phone goes off, the other fiercely texts back and vice versa.

I internally sighed.

How did I not realize he was in love with me for all these years?

'Cause you're a thick-headed man. I rolled my eyes at myself. I started to think way back to when we were kids.

Declan and I were the ultimate duo, despite the slight age difference, doing everything under the sun together. From making pillow forts to him teaching me to throw a football perfectly, since our parents weren't really sporty. I love my big brother.

It always makes me chuckle to think that I ended up being taller than him in the end. Everyone always mistakes me for being the oldest. Declan always pouts about it. Though, with the light scruffy beard in which he forgets to shave, he definitely looks older. Not in a bad way.

Off track, aren't we? I shake my head and circle back on my original thinking process.

Running through our life together only a couple of moments stick out as questioning behavior.

For example, when I started hanging out with Scarlett more than him. He gave me the silent treatment for days every time I'd hang out with her instead of him. To get back to normal, I'd have to end up promising him that I'd get him his favorite pizza from his favorite pizzeria in the next town over. Thin crust with Alfredo sauce, chicken, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and topped with a swirl of balsamic vinegarette.

Don't ask. He has some odd tastes, but honestly, it's not as bad as you may think.

A fun, exciting memory was when we went cliff jumping for the first time. We held hands and jumped together and when we surfaced we didn't let go and he just smiled goofily at me while squeezing my hand. I remember his eyes darting around my face before ducking away quickly underwater, breaking our contact.

Another incident would be when Scar and I started dating. He insisted he go to college across the country when he always talked about staying close to home while going to college so he didn't have to pay the room and board fees.

Him avoiding family holidays and just video chatting. The sadness that radiated through the screen when I talked to him.

And I definitely didn't forget about how Scarlett kissed him right after blowing me. I thought it was odd because I was his brother, but in my post-orgasmic bliss, I guess I didn't think too much of it at the time. But jeesh, how he moaned so loudly as soon as she kissed him too.

There are probably more situations that should've screamed as hints but I can't think of any because I always thought it was brotherly love.

Now, what are you going to do with this knowledge?

Honestly...I don't know. How do I feel about Declan loving me? Could I love him in that way??

I mean I thought it was hot when we first had a threesome. Seeing Scar's lips wrap around his d**k, was sexy as hell. That's what scared me too. That I could find it attractive, her giving pleasure to someone else and for me to actually be okay with it. It turned me on to hear his moans...to see his blissed out face from her.

Deep, deep, deep down, though. Though I would never admit it to anyone, I was scared that I would find him attractive. That is why I told him I didn't want to share her anymore.

Why did the thought scare me? I don't know. Considering our family, plus extended family, have all different types of relationships.

I did feel bad when Scar and I started seeing other women. I felt like a liar. Which I guess I am in the end. I'm a bad brother.

I frown.

It was easy to share with the other women. It was hot but in a different way. Like physically hot. Not emotionally. If that makes sense?

I shake my head slightly, glancing in the mirror again. A smirk crosses my face as I see their heads resting against each other, with snores softly escaping my wife's mouth.

My eyes flickered over Declan's face. His face is so peaceful as he naps. I huff a laugh when I notice his glasses are squishing to the side of his face where he is leaning against Scarlett's head, making them look crooked on him.

At the upcoming red light, I turned around in my seat and quickly but gently removed his glasses. I know that they are expensive and sleeping with them on is a sure way to ruin them.

I turned back and clasped them into the glasses holder on the passenger visor before the light turned green.

With one more glance back I assured myself that I would open up the deep thoughts of before that included Declan, to see if there could be more there. Or if it was just a fluke of my thoughts way back when.

It was my mistake to solely mention Scar's happiness. He deserves to be happy too and I can only hope that I can help with his happiness in the end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Declan's P.O.V

I was awakened by a light shake of my shoulder. I stirred and blinked my eyes a few times to get rid of the blurriness, but to no avail.

"Oh, here are your glasses. I didn't want you ruining them" Derek said in front of me, moving and handing me my glasses. I'm near-sighted, so I can see things up really close, but it's blurry far away.

I mumbled a thanks and set the glasses on my face. Derek opened his door and moved quickly to open Scarlett's door for her and then quickly ran around to my door to open it.

I got out and stretched to see that we had arrived at our hotel. It's quite beautiful even just from looking at the outside. Granted, we looked at the photos online, but we all know photos never do things justice.

After grabbing our bags, we shuffled into the lobby and to the front desk.

"Checking in for Chamberlain", Scarlett tells the receptionist.

"Okay, a King suite with a sleeper sofa for 3 adults. Will you be using the credit card on the reservation for payment?" The lady asks.

"Yes, ma'am" Scar replies with a smile.

"Perfect, here are your room keys. Enjoy your stay" the receptionists smiled back before we headed to the elevator.

We are silent on the trip up to our room. If this is how the rest of the trip is, I don't even know what the purpose of it would have been then.

"Want to order room service and just get comfy tonight?" Scar asks as soon as we step into the luxurious suite.

The front room has a sleeper sofa with the TV on the opposite wall. There is a full-sized fridge and mini kitchen with a breakfast bar and stools. There are double frosted window doors leading to the bedroom, I would assume, and another door to the bathroom.

"Uh yeah, that sounds perfect hunny" Derek responds to her question. She then looks at me for my approval of the plans as well.

"Yeah, that's fine" I quietly said, with a small smile towards her.

"Okay, Derek order food. I'm going to go shower. Declan, care to join me?" She asks and my eyes dart to Derek, who has just picked up the room phone and dialed the room service number. If he was bothered by the request, he didn't show any sign of it.

"I would love to" I replied and followed her into the bedroom. The bed is made up of a thick dark red comforter with gold accents, matching the room well. There's a sliding door to the patio along with the door that leads to the master bathroom. Peeking into the bathroom, I see it has a Jacuzzi tub and a standing shower next to it.

"I'm sorry if this is now an awkward trip" she pouts at me, while taking my hands into her small soft ones.

"It's fine, Scar" I reassure her.

"I still think you guys need to talk about it" she says, repeating what she told me in a text earlier in the car. We went back and forth about my feelings towards the kiss and how crushing it was for me. The fact he could meaninglessly do it, hurts the most. Yes, it may be something I've dreamt about for years, but I don't want him to kiss me unless it means something to him as well....unless I mean something to him.

"Eventually, my dear", I took my thumb and index finger up to her chin. "For now, let's get in the shower before the food gets here" I said, pulling her chin toward me and placing a chaste kiss on her lips.