Scarred for Love (MFM)

Chapter 6

Thursday's rendezvous with Duncan and Derek, was fun I must say.

Duncan is your stereotypical ginger lad with light green eyes and freckles everywhere. Tall and lean frame. Very handsome, Rosalina is quite the lucky lady.

We spent Thursday at the bar shooting some pool and drinking some beers while watching some of the NFL games that were on, which the Steelers were on so the bar was pretty packed. Pennsylvania is split up of Steelers or Eagles fans. In my opinion, the Eagles fan base is pretty ruthless so I'm quite happy to be on the Steelers side.

Friday came quick. After the college football game, Scarlett, Derek and I will be heading to Coney Island for the weekend. I'm nervous but excited.

Currently, I'm sitting in my office going over today's pop quizzes when a knock sounds at the door. Just like clock work.. I push my glasses up and look up at the door. I see Scar come through with a small smile.

"I brought lunch" she holds up a brown paper bag and gently shakes it back and forth.

"Hey beautiful, Thank you" A grin appears on my face and I stand up to greet her, giving her a soft kiss on her lips. We have made lunch dates every other day since we started dating. On Wednesdays, I'd go to her office and Fridays she would come to mine. On, Monday's we would flip for it and sometimes Derek would join us.

"You're very welcome," she smiled widely. "I got your favorite Lobster Mac and chef's salad from Captain's" She set the bag down before moving the chair in front of my desk to my side, so we can sit next to each other.

"What'd you get?" I asked her as I dug into the bag, grabbing out the contents.

"Shrimp Alfredo and caesar salad, don't worry I got the buttery biscuits too" she said and I could smell the buttery goodness as I placed our food containers on the desk.

"God, you're perfect" I told her and she giggled, lightly pushing on my shoulder.

"Far from, but thank you anyway. Are you excited for this weekend?" She questioned.

"Yes, I am" I told her while taking her hand in mine and brushing my thumb across your soft skin before bringing the back of her hand up to my lips, placing a soft kiss.

"Me too, I was hoping you weren't gonna be nervous or anything...Though, I wanted to talk to you about something that might make you nervous" she said while biting her lip.

"What is it?" I asked while taking a bite of my lobster Mac. Mmmmm, delicious.

"I was hoping we could talk about you moving in?" She said slowly and unsure "The guest room would be big enough to fit your stuff...well not like your couch or dining set but we could put that in storage or whatever..but it would be nice to see you everyday at home" she rushed out.

"Uh..." I swallowed hard. I was speechless. She wants me to move in. But in the guest room? I mean, I guess they wouldn't want me in their bed all the time. But, I'd feel like a full time third wheel.

The thought dimmed my mood.

"You don't have to answer right away..you can think about it" she said hopefully.

"I...I just I don't think....I don't want to do that right now" I tell her truthfully and a frown appeared on her beautiful face.

"Well.....okay" she said in defeat. Regret burned in my chest but it's not unreasonable right? I mean if I were to move in, I'd hope that'd mean I'd get to sleep with her. Not in a room away from her. I already feel like a third wheel, even if they say it's not true and that I'm an equal, I think moving into the guest room would just amplify the feeling of intrusion.

Plus, still being in love with Derek would make it a little hard to be around him constantly so maybe a little more time to get comfortable with with idea would be helpful.

I looked over at her and saw pools of tears gathering in her eyes. My chest tightened. I don't want to make her feel this way.

"Scar" I sighed sadly "Baby, don't cry" I pushed away my food and wrapped her in my arms.

"I'm sorry" she whispered with a sniffle "I shouldn't cry because it's your decision...and I respect that, don't get me wrong....but I thought we were at that stage since it's been 7 weeks since we started dating" a tear escaped down her cheek and I wiped it away with my thumb.

"It's not a never....It's just a...just a not right now" I frowned when she nodded sadly.

"I understand" she wiped her nose

"Scar...this is shitty timing because of this but I just want you to know..." I took a second, wanting to make sure it was as genuine as I mean it "I love you" I told her as I brushed my thumb across her cheekbone.

"I know you do" she gave a small smile.

"I mean I love you anyway, but I love you, Scarlett" making sure I was clear about which love I was talking about.

At that, she brightened "You do?" She gasped in a whisper.

"Yes, through the last few weeks, you managed to capture my heart and make me fall in love with you Scar" I smiled at her. It is true, I have fallen in love with her. I never thought it'd happen but it did.

She gave a squeak and glumped me in a quick flash.

"I love you too, Declan!" She said happily while squeezing me tightly in her arms. I laughed, wrapping my arms around her and swaying us lightly and awkwardly, considering our position.

After a moment, she sat back in her chair and we resumed eating our lunch together in a better mood. When we finished, she excused herself with a kiss to my lips saying that her and Derek would pick me up after the game to head to Coney Island.

Skip to a few hours later. I am packing my weekend bag.

"I think that's everything" I said to myself as I zipped up my duffle bag. I made a checklist of what I needed for the weekend and even though I crossed off everything as I put it in the bag, I still get paranoid that I'll forget something.

I jumped when a sudden, frantic knock at my door sounded. I quickly made my way to the door, peeking through the peephole, to find Derek waiting on the other side. I was surprised to see him so early.

"Hey, you're early" I say as I open up the door.

"We need to talk"

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

Derek's P.O.V

When I came home from the football game, Scar had told me about her lunch date with Declan. I was happy to hear that he loves her but I was unhappy that he made her sad about not moving in.

I'm pretty sure he's just getting in his head again. He's notorious for always thinking negatively. So, I'm taking it upon myself to let Scar finish packing her stuff while I grab and talk with Declan.

I got to his apartment on the other side of town and rushed up the stairs to his door. I started knocking as soon as I reached it.

"Hey, you're early" he says as he opens the door.

"We need to talk" I say immediately. His eyes widened.

"Ohkay, come in" he gestures to me to come into his apartment. It's a simple apartment, he doesn't have much decor. Only a family picture up in his living room by his TV. Why he keeps it plain? I have no idea. Declan has always been quite simple with decor. His childhood room was the same way. Just had the necessities.

"Uh, so what's up?" He asks unsure, his fingers fiddling in front of him as we stand just inside the door. One of his nervous ticks, that and pushing up his glasses.

"I thought we were making progress" I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Why don't you want to move in?" I questioned outright to get to the point. His mouth opens to say something but then it closes. A few different expressions run across his face.

"Because I'm just not ready for that yet" he finally says with a shrug.

"Bullshit, Declan. If you love her like you say you do. Why would moving in to see her everyday be an issue?" I fire at him. It really doesn't make sense in my mind, granted he just told her he loved her but they've known each other their whole lives.

"Maybe the fact we just started dating a couple months ago" he retorts.

"Some people move in not even a month after dating" I quirk an eyebrow.

"Well, I'm not 'some people' " he replies sassily.

"There has to be something else" I state, hardening my gaze at him. His eyebrows scrunched together before he sighs.

"I'll feel even more like the third wheel..." he admitted.

"What do you mean?"

"Being in the guest room would make me feel even more third wheelish, like oh I can date but not sleep in the same bed" he exasperated.

"Declan, you would be sleeping in our bed" I stated, confused on how he thought he wouldn't be. He c****d his head in thought with the same confusion.

"But...but Scarlett said my stuff would fit in the guest room?"

"Yeah, like all your stuff. Not you. You should've just asked what she meant by that if that's the issue" I told him flatly. My, my I love my brother to death but goddammit he can be a bit stubborn with things.

"Well it's not just that...it's just not what I want-" He added quietly.

"What the hell do you mean by that? What is the problem?!" I asked, getting slightly agitated, while stepping toward him and he backed against the door.

"It's just that you a-" he started but I cut him off as soon as he said I was part of the problem.

"Whoa, I'm the problem?!" I asked incredulously "What? You want Scar all to yourself?" I glowered at him as I leaned down, my hand on the wall beside his head. His body tensed with a shudder. "I'm sorry that's not how this arrangement works, Declan" I growled. She is my wife after all.

"That-That's not what I meant" he said sounding frustrated, fiddling with his fingers.

"Then what!?" I exasperated.

"Goddammit Derek!" He groaned, sounding tortured and defeated "I love you too!"

I paused.

"What do you mean?" I ask confused. His head thumped back against the door as he stared up at the ceiling.

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" he said with a humorless laugh, still looking up at the ceiling. "I'm in love with you....I have been in love with you for years" he ended his confession in a whisper.

I took a step back and looked at him with wide eyes. I didn't know what to say.

"I didn't know" I ended up saying quietly.

"I know....It was meant to be that way" he replied, moving his head down to look at me. I could see the tears threatening to spill from his chocolate brown eyes.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Would it have mattered?" He rolled his eyes. Good point, I wouldn't have known what to do with that information then even if he did.

"So, you want Scar and me?" I ask.

"Ha!...In a perfect world, yes, Derek I want both of you" he clarified.

Before I could really think about what I would say or do next, instinctively I grabbed the back of his neck and pressed his lips to mine.

Hmm, his lips are soft. After a split second, he gasped and pushed me away quickly.

"Why would you do that?!" He yelled, betrayal type anger on his face.

"Isn't that what you want?" I ask confused. If it makes him happy and wants to move in, why not. His bottom lip trembled and he turned his head away.

"Get out, Derek" he whispers. I could see a tear streak down his cheek. It pained me deeply in my heart to see my brother cry.

Shit.

Okay, maybe that wasn't the best way to go about this situation. I just want Scarlett to be happy. And both Declan and I make her happy. And she was just so sad when he declined moving in. I had to come and figure out why from him.

Ugh, big dummy always acting on impulse.

"Wait, uh...what about the trip?" I asked sheepishly.

He let out a sigh, squeezing his eyes shut. "Just....just go wait in the car." He scrubbed his hands under his glasses to wipe away the tears. "I'll be out in a minute" he quietly said before shuffling away from me to his bedroom.

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

"Oh my goodness, Derek James Chamberlain, what were you thinking!?" Scar yelled in my ear. It was weird to hear my full name. No one calls me Derek besides my brother.

After Declan went into his bedroom, I snuck out the front door quietly and called Scarlett once I got outside to explain the situation.

"Clearly, I wasn't..." I mumbled.

"Damn right you weren't. That boy has been in love with you since we were kids. You can't just kiss him with no feelings involved, that's definitely not how you get him to move in either!" Jeesh, she sounded like my mother scolding me.

"I just thought that if he got what he wanted then he'd have no issues with feeling like a third wheel anymore and would move in sooner" I replied innocently. Truthfully, I do want to make him happy as well. But I get now that the impulsive decision to kiss him was not the best way to do that.

"DJ.." She sighed loudly "Yes, I would love him to move in right away but I don't think he just wants a few meaningless kisses from you for that to happen. Emphasis on the meaningless"

When she said 'meaningless', it made me feel weird...like defensive.

"Wait, how did you even know that?" I asked once I replayed what she said about Declan being in love with me since we were kids.

"Because I'm a woman and I know everything" she said in a duh tone and I snorted. "He told me when I confronted him about it. I had my suspicions throughout the years but he confirmed it on our first date"

"Why didn't you tell me? We tell eachother everything" I frowned.

"Because it wasn't my place to tell, my love" Which she was right, but I'm her husband and he's her boyfriend. We are all combined. Ehhh.

"Okay, good point. Well what do I do now?"

"Apologize for starters" she simply stated.

"And then?" I asked hopefully.

"And then pray he doesn't hate you for the rest of his life" she drawled.

"Shit..." I said worried that I just burned my relationship with my brother.

"I'm kidding, he couldn't hate you. But that was really dumb to do, DJ. I mean, I'm glad he didn't kiss you back under false hope. That would've just hurt him worse" she said and then I saw blond hair coming from the apartment building.

"Don't tell him I told you...I want to talk to him about this more..eventually" I added quietly.

"He will know you talked to me, but I won't bring it up first though so no promises, if he does first"

"Alright, well he's coming now so we will pick you up shortly. I love you"

"I love you too" she said before hanging up the phone.

"I-"

"Just...Don't" he stated and simply opened up the rear doors of my car, threw his duffle bag in before sliding in after it.

I let out a breath before opening up the driver's door and hopping in. I glanced in the rear view to see his head leaned against the window as he stared outside.

I mentally facepalmed and frowned.

Really stupid mistake, Derek.