Scarred for Love (MFM)

Chapter 3

Nervous jitters wracked through my body as I approached the apartment building that Derek and Scar recently moved into.

Why am I so nervous? It's just a casual date...with your brother's wife. No biggie. Not like if I bombed it, she would reconsider the situation. I sarcastically said in my head.

I can't f**k this up. With a final breath, I buzzed their apartment number and waited for a reply.

A second later, a low buzz sounded and I opened the door quickly, making my way over to the elevator.

After going up to the eleventh floor, I walked out of the elevator and over to their door. Apartment number 1111. An angel number means new beginnings, also an indicator that you're on the right path.

I knock lightly on the door and it opens instantly with Scarlett standing in the opening with her hands at her ear, putting in an elegant dangly earring. She was dressed in a robe and her hair wrapped with pink curling rod things.

"Hey! I'm just about finished" she smiles while stepping back and motioning me to come in.

"I apologize for being early" I told her as I read the clock on the stove. It was 6:45pm.

"Oh, it's fine, Declan" she waved her hand dismissively. "It's better to be early than late."

"Very true"

"Do you want a drink while you wait for me to finish? We have water and beer in the fridge", she offered.

I shook my head. "I'm okay, thank you."

"Okay, I'll be back in a jiffy. Sit down, make yourself at home" she scurried back into the master bedroom.

My eyes surveyed the living area. I've only been here once before to help move furniture inside.

The living room had a modern yet cozy vibe to it with some plants in the corners of the room, pictures on he walls and then there was Derek's entertainment stand. It made me laugh to see it taking up the whole wall with a huge TV and every game system neatly organized under it.

I sat on the plush grey sectional and scrolled through my phone as I waited for Scar to come out of her bedroom.

A few minutes later, she emerged from the room wearing a black one-strap cocktail dress that had a slit going up her left thigh. Her brown hair laid beautifully curled on her shoulders and her jewelry topped it all off.

"You look stunning" I told her as I stood, reaching for her hand.

"Why thank you, you look as handsome as ever" She rested her hand in mine, making a little twirl with a cute smile on her face. When she faced me again, I placed a kiss on the top of her hand.

"Shall we go?" I asked her. She nodded and said she needed to grab her clutch quickly. I patiently waited by the door for her. She came back and sat on the bench by the door, grabbing her heels. I bent down and offered to put them on for her.

"Quite the gentleman" she commented, and pointed her foot to slip into the first shoe.

"Anything for a pretty lady like yourself" I replied charismatically.

"Oooh and a charmer" she fanned herself.

"I learned it from my pops" I grinned and extended my elbow out. She immediately wrapped her arms around it.

"You don't have to try so hard, you know" she softly says with concern in her eyes as she shakes our arms lightly.

"I'm not....okay, maybe a little, but I don't want to screw this up" I admitted as we waited for the elevator after she locked up the apartment.

Her face softened as she looked at me. "Just be you silly" I just smiled in return and escorted her into the elevator.

I opened the door for her once we got down to my car. It took about a half hour to get to the restaurant I wanted. It was an elegant, quiet place on a lake.

We were seated at a table on the patio that had fairy lights hanging from the pergola and small dainty centerpieces decorating the few tables. There was only one other couple on the opposite side of the patio. The night was beautiful, the moon was out and its reflection shone on the lakes' calm water.

"So how was your day?" Scarlett asked once the waitress took our drink order. We agreed on a bottle of Merlot.

"It was good, I had to talk with one of Derek's players about tutoring. And yours?" I asked as our wine was poured.

"Had a couple new cases come across my desk, one of my bigger ones is about to close though. So it evens out" she shrugged. The waitress then asked for our food order and I got the filet mignon with garlic mashed potatoes while Scar got grilled chicken with steamed zucchini and squash.

"Soooo" I awkwardly said before taking a sip of the delicious red liquid.

"Soooo" she mocked me and we both laughed. "I didn't want to outright bring it up but I might as well" she said quietly. I looked at her in question.

She cleared her throat "I know how you feel about DJ". In surprise, I choked on the wine and began to sputter. Scar panicked and got up and went around the table to pat my back.

"You good?" She asked after the coughing came down.

"Mhmm" I cleared my throat and drank some ice water. "Sorry, just caught me off guard. How...how did you know?" I questioned after she sat back in her seat.

"I'm not an i***t, Declan" she rolled her eyes "The purpose of this date wasn't solely to confront you about it but also to clarify that I've had feelings for you as well."

"Does Derek know about me?" I asked worriedly.

"No. He does not. He is the typical male, who doesn't get hints" she giggled. "Anyway, it wasn't easy to figure out if that's what you're trying to decipher."

"I've always been careful" I muttered, playing with the utensils on the table.

"You were, however, hasn't anybody ever told you that women are like fbi agents" she said, as if it was the most obvious thing. "I caught the subtle way you'd look at him back in high school and how it'd look like you'd scorn yourself afterward. Then the fact that you didn't come home during college. And then at our wedding...I knew those tears were for a different reason other than happiness", she stated.

"I was...am happy for you two" I frowned.

"I know dear" she patted my hand "Truth be told, I had a thing for you first" and I looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

"And yet even knowing I have feelings for Derek, you proceeded to date him and eventually marry him...how nice of you" I say sarcastically with a roll of my eyes. She bit her lip and cast her gaze downward.

"Yes, that is pretty shitty of me as you point it out like that" the waitress then placed our entrees in front of us. We thanked her before she left us alone again.

"Why didn't you ever approach me? Why go after Derek if you liked me first? I'm failing to understand your tactics here, Scar" I said, with frustration evident in my tone.

"I understand why you would be frustrated and confused about it. To answer the first question, it's because I knew you loved your brother. As for the second question, well DJ had admitted his feelings for me and I did like him as well, so we started dating. As you know, I'm into poly relationships, so I figured eventually I could have you both..... Maybe get you two together even because of your feelings", she added the last part quietly.

After a minute of silence, she continued "But everything had to be timed right. I had to see if DJ would accept that side of me. Which he has proven over the years that he does. Which is why we are here today" she explained as she cut her chicken into small pieces.

"Why was he uncomfortable with me?" I couldn't help but ask. She was silent a moment before she looked up at me.

"He wouldn't say exactly why other than being uncomfortable with sharing....but I got the jist that he felt an odd feeling about you there because, as you know, we eventually had lady partners that he didn't mind."

"What do you mean by odd feeling?" I questioned, taking a bite of the tender meat. Mmmm, love me a nice cut of steak.

"It could be an attraction.... I don't know but we won't know unless we find out" she wiggled her eyebrows and I had to laugh.

"I fail to understand what you mean by that because my brother is straighter than a board" I said flatly. Never once has he talked about a male.

"You may be right...." she sighed "Declan, do you think you could ever love me?" She asked with hopeful eyes.

I gave her a sad smile "I don't know... I do love you, Scar, but I don't know if I could fall in love with someone other than Derek", I told her truthfully.

"Are you willing to give this a try at least?"

I took a deep breath and thought, what the hell, if I couldn't have the man I love...then maybe I need to just let him go and possibly fall in love with her. My heart clenched at the thought of letting him go, but it's not like I really had anything to hold on to in the first place. So with that, "Yes, I would love to try this out and date you"

She cheered in her seat "Yay!"

"Curious question, how come the others never lasted?" I asked, referring to the female companions she had mentioned before.

"Oh" she frowned "They only lasted an average of a month because they tended to gravitate more toward DJ than me," she said sadly. Sadness and guilt ate at me.

"I'm sorry Scarlett. You're truly a wonderful person and they were dumb not to see that."

"I know the situation isn't ideal, since I'm not the half you really want" she muttered.

"Scar.." I said sadly and shook my head, taking her hand, "I may be in love with Derek and truthfully, I probably always will be....but I wouldn't say I'd try dating you, if I didn't mean it." I tried to reassure. A gorgeous smile filled her face.

"You don't know how much that means to me, Deck", she rubbed her thumb across mine.

"I guess we both got something from our parents" I said to lighten the mood. My lips quirked up at her confusion "Your hope of something happening between Derek and I"

She laughed "Oh, yes! Dad had a lot of stories of incestuous relationships on his bookshelf and when I was younger, I was looking for something to read and came across it. Dad was embarrassed when I asked why he had them because he thought I'd judge him, but honestly, I find it just as hot as he does" she said with a shrug.

"It surprises me how many people are okay with it"

"Can't help who you love, Declan" she stated in a duh tone. "Love is love, if both parties are adults and consenting. Why should it matter?"

"I think it has a lot to do with the risk of reproducing that weirds people out" I countered.

"Ahhh, touché. Well, people will always have their opinions, no matter what. Nothing we can do about it but just live our lives" she shrugged, while finishing her meal.

"Did you two want dessert?" The waitress appeared out of nowhere.

"Oooh yes! We will share the chocolate lava cake" Scarlett said excitedly.

"I will put that in, more wine?" She asked, gesturing to our nearly empty glasses.

"Please" I nodded and she poured more into our glasses. Moments later, we received our dessert and we dug in into the chocolatey goodness.

"Mmm this is the best dessert", Scar moaned after taking a huge bite.

"I concur" I replied while taking a bite of my own. Scar giggled at me "What?"

"You have..." she said while circling her finger around her chin. I stuck my tongue out, licking up the drip of chocolate.

"Did I get it?" I asked her when I couldn't feel any more.

"No, it's...here let me" she went around the table and looked into my eyes before her face came close to mine.

We have never gotten this close, not even when I was part of the threesome beforehand. No kissing or faces were close to each other.

Her eyes flickered from mine to the chocolate that I missed on my chin. My eyes zeroed in on her mouth when her tongue poked out and she gently licked up the chocolate.

"Was that okay?" She asked quietly, her hooded gaze meeting mine as she pulled back a little.

I nodded, speechless. That....That was weird. However, in a good way? Like a little tingle swarming in my stomach at the light touch.

"Good" she smiled with a small giggle.

I took a drink of water to clear the lump that formed. "Is Derek okay with it?" I questioned.

"Yes, we've talked about the possibilities of eventually becoming intimate. Although, he would like to ask us to get thoroughly acquainted again with him involved before we were to go off by ourselves", she explained.

"Understandable" I nodded "He must have a small cuckold kink", I snickered.

She made a debating looking face before answering "We both do" with a shrug.

The waitress eventually made her way back to us and I took care of the bill before we exited the establishment, taking a small walk along the dock with our hands interlaced.

"Thank you again for agreeing to try this" Scarlett says softly, after minutes of strolling in silence.

"I can't pine after someone I can't have forever" I replied, looking up at the beautiful moon. I've always been captivated by the moon. I couldn't tell you why, but there is a sense of peace whenever I look up at the big ball of reflected light in the night sky. "And like I've said, I do love you, Scar.....it may be in a friendly way right now, but isn't that how great relationships start out as?"

"You speak the truth, oh wise one" she said, making me chuckle.

"Should I get you home?" I squeezed her hand lightly.

"Yeah, Duncan will be dropping DJ off soon" she said, and we walked back to my car.

We made small talk about how work was going and future plans for our next date while we drove to the apartment.

Like the perfect gentleman, I walked her to the door of the building.

"It was a good night, thank you for a lovely evening" she smiled brightly.

"Yes, I agree it was a splendid evening. I will see you next Thursday. Good night Scar", I leaned in, brushing my lips softly against her cheek.

"Night Declan", her cheeks were pink as she turned and opened the door to the building. With a small final wave, she disappeared into the elevator.

I headed back to my car with the thoughts of how tonight went. My mind honed in on one specific part. The tingle I felt when her tongue lightly swiped at my skin.

I know Scar is different from anyone I have hooked up with before. Granted, it could just be because we are great friends...more like family, even before marriage.

However, what if there was always a part of me that was unconsciously interested/attracted to her? It's not like I'm blind, I think she's drop dead gorgeous and one of the most wonderful people I know.

And what if my massive infatuation with Derek, clouded what it actually felt like to be with her when we were together that one time?

I sigh at the questions bombarding my brain. I guess.....we will just have to see how everything plays out.