Chapter 26

**SCARLET**

‘Did I do something wrong? Talk to me.’
Luke sent another text after I ignored his three calls. My tears welled again. I knew he fucked countless women in his life when he was still Jax. It didn’t matter to me because I knew, but it was different with Luke. I couldn’t picture him touching another woman.
My phone vibrated again for the gazillionth time, and I was debating whether to answer or not. However, it would be bad if I didn’t answer him. He was holding information about me. I picked up the call.
“Hello,” my voice didn’t sound like mine.
“You left. Your things are gone. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
It was a mistake to agree with his proposition. It should never happen again. One night was enough.
“I’m sorry, I left without telling you. I just realized that I don’t want this kind of setup. Thank you for last night.” I sniffed. “You… you don’t have to break your one night, no repeats rule,” I faked a cheer.
“What? Listen to me, how many times do I have to tell you that—”
I hung up.
I couldn’t listen to him anymore. It hurt to hear his voice.
“Scar!” Katherine’s face appeared in front of me, and swiftly, I stood up and hugged her.
I started to cry hard.
“Oh my God, what happened to you?” She squeezed me against her, and I buried my face in her shoulder and sobbed.
“Let’s get you home, S,” Nate suggested, stepping next to me and gently rubbing my back.
I moved away from Katherine. “I’m so glad to see you, Kath.”
“You don’t look fine, you know?” She let out a faint smile. “But we’re here for you. Come on.”
“I’ll wait for you girls in the car.” Nate picked up my suitcase and waltzed out of the coffee shop.
Katherine cupped my cheeks. “This is insane. We’ve only been away from each other for a week, and you’re crying like this.”
I sniffed. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened to you?”
I nodded. “Yes. You know I tell you everything, right?”
“Good. Now, let’s get you out of here.”
The three of us went home to our apartment. I slumped on the couch and curled into one piece. I sighed in relief as I felt its familiarity. This was my home. I’d been trying not to cry, but I couldn’t help it. It felt like a fucking habit at this point.
Katherine’s shoulders fell, and she sat next to me. Nate stood next to her like a statue, looking just as concerned.
“I’m starting to get scared of this,” she said. “I’ve seen you like this before, and I don’t like it. Is this about your stepbrother, that turned out to be our thesis mentor?”
“I’m in love with him, Kath,” I confessed.
“Have you slept with him?” she asked. “I mean, I’m sorry. I just want to understand what’s happening. You came from Atmark this morning; you flew here with your stepbrother last night. Now, tell us, have you slept with him?” Katherine asked. Her words caught my attention.
“Yeah.” I lowered my head in embarrassment.
Nate shook his head in disbelief.
She slapped me on the arm.
“Aw!”
“How could you do that?”
“Look at me. Look at us.” She lifted my chin. “Have you not learned your lesson?”
“I know, and it’s hard to resist someone you love, right? Kath, this is the only time I remember I loved someone—I mean, for real.”
“So that’s it?” Nate finally reacted. “You let him—No, you asked us to pick you up because you realized it’s wrong?”
“Yes, because clearly, he would never feel the same.” He was going to meet another woman he could screw tonight.
“These things always happen to you. Didn’t you realize that? When are you going to use your head? How many times are we going to save your ass?” he ranted. Katherine’s words might be sharp, but Nate always hits deep down my flesh and bones.
“Nate, don’t.” Katherine shook her head.
“I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry if I’m not like Katherine. This is the way I am!” I retaliated.
“Whatever, Scar.” He ran his fingers on his scalp. “You should have come with me last night when I asked you. I’m out of this.”
“Nate, please don’t.” Katherine grabbed his arm. “She needs us. Don’t leave.”
“I’ll call you. See you tomorrow.” He kissed Katherine’s lips and left anyway.
Katherine glared after her boyfriend, but she remained beside me. She rolled her eyes.
“Don’t mind him.”
“Aren’t you going to follow him?”
She smiled. “You need me more.”
“But he was right, Kath. You just fought a few days ago and only recently made up.”
“And we’re okay because of you. Nate’s just being Nate. He’s overprotective of me, his family, or his friends… you.”
“But he’s right.” I shrugged. “I’m so useless. There’s no hope for me anymore.”
“Don’t say that.” She pulled me into a tight hug. “You are worth it. You are because you’re my best friend.”
I couldn’t help but smile. I hugged her back. “What should I do, Kath?”
“What you did is right. Leaving his ass alone to taste his own medicine.” She released me. “Wait, is he good?”
“What?”
“Is he good? I mean in bed.”
“It was sweet,” I whispered. “He was sweet.”
“That’s good then; before you let all of this go, you have something good you can keep in your heart and memory. Nate might be right, but he’s wrong with one thing.”
“What is it?”
“That you slept with the guy you love. You always wanted this guy. It’s just too bad he’s your stepbrother. I’m glad you’re opening up to me now.”
“Of course. Because we tell each other everything.”
“Right, and you still have us. Me and Nate. We are not going to leave you.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Just don’t let this happen again.”
“Hmm.”
Honestly, I didn’t know if I could promise that. I may hate Luke for now, but my feelings for him wouldn’t change, which scared me. I was deeply and madly in love with my stepbrother.

***
I felt a little more relaxed the following days because of Katherine. Nate came to talk to me and apologized, saying he was a bit harsh, but I didn’t blame him. He was right about everything. Now that the weekend was over, we all had to return to our usual lives.
“Where’s Nate?” I asked, as I still hadn’t spied on him in the lecture room. It wasn’t like him to be late.
“He texted me this morning. He had a slight fever. Maybe we could stop by his apartment later.”
“No problem with me,” I agreed. “Ugh! I just hate Mondays! I want to lie down the entire day watching shows on Netflix.”
She giggled. “And you forgot ice cream! It’s the best feeling, but I’d rather cuddle with Nate and watch a movie.”
“Good for you.” I twitched my mouth.
“Then why don’t you just accept my feelings and date me? Later on, we could cuddle.” The boyish smile of a cute guy appeared at my side.
“Anthony!”
He tossed his bag at the space next to me and hopped in the seat.
Anthony Evers was a transfer student from BU, and he’d been messing with me since last year. I didn’t give him attention as I told him I was not interested.
But I couldn’t deny that he was easy on the eyes. He was well built, tall, had sharp features, and had a sweet smile. For some reason, I felt like talking to him now.
“It’s not Valentine’s Day yet if you’re going to give me chocolates,” I joked, raising an eyebrow. Katherine snorted a laugh.
“So, have you seen it?” he asked.
“Seen what?”
“The thing I put in your locker?”
I scowled. “Don’t ever leave anything in my locker. That’s creepy.”
“I’ve seen it.” Katherine shrugged.
“What?”
“The chocolates. I grabbed one.”
“The one you were eating earlier?”
“Yeah, I thought it was yours.”
I sighed. “Seriously, Anthony. Don’t ever do that again, okay?”
“Then what do you want, exactly?” Anthony grinned charmingly at me.
I couldn’t answer, but Katherine nudged my side with her elbow. I rolled my eyes.
“Fine. But just this once.”
“Yes!” He lifted his arms in victory, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Let’s have dinner after our classes.”
“But with Katherine,” I added.
“No problem. I’m picking the place. You’ll love it, I promise.” He gave me a piece of paper with handwritten numbers on it. “Text me, and I’ll tell you where.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Thanks.” To my complete surprise, he kissed my cheek. I didn’t even get a chance to react because he stood up and moved to the front.