Lover's Roulette (16 page)

“Yeah, we should,” I said.

“I can go and you two can stay here,” he offered.

“No,” I said quickly. “You’ll never follow the list.”

“I can follow a list,” he said.

“You’ll come back with heavy cream, beer, bacon, and deodorant.”

“Which are things I need.”

“But you won’t get the things I asked for in addition to that.”

He rolled his eyes. “I forgot one time.”

“I don’t think we should risk it.”

His mother walked away. “I can whip up something with what you have.” She walked into the kitchen and looked in the refrigerator. “I can work with this.”

“Diane,
don’t worry about it. You’re our guest. We’ll take care of it. I just didn’t have a chance to prepare for your visit.”

“Nonsense. I don’t mind helping.” She started taking out tomatoes and onions, then pulled out some frozen chicken.

I sighed, knowing she was as stubborn as Sean was.

“Mom, please le
t Scarlet take care of it. You’re our guest.”

She stopped and looked at him. “I just want to lend a hand.”

“Mom, you’re being rude. Knock it off.”

She sighed then sat down at the dining table. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he said as he patted her on the shoulder.

It was such a relief that Sean
defended me every single time. I was starting to feel like we were really a team. “Would you like some coffee, Diane?”

“Yes, please. Cream, no sugar.”

“Coming up,” I said as I worked in the kitchen.

She sighed. “I should call your father, but my phone is piled under my clothes in my suitcase.”

Sean pulled his phone out. “You can use mine.”

She glanced at it. “I can’t figure out those weird itone things.”

“iphone?” Sean asked.

“Yeah, whatever. I’ll just call him later.”

“Okay,” he said as he placed it on the counter.

I worked in the kitchen and prepared the chicken and the vegetables. I knew how to cook and I did it well. That was one of the few things I was good at. Sean came to me and asked if I needed help every few minutes, but I just shooed him away. He talked to his mom at the kitchen table while I made the finishing touches.

His mother would cast glances at him, staring at his face when he wasn’t looking. I could see the sadness in her eyes. She was still worried she might lose her son because of her behavior. In my heart, I tried to believe that she really did just make a mistake and she would have behaved differently under other circumstances, but doubt would flood back. Sometimes I still felt like I wasn’t good enough for Sean. But he made it clear that he was marrying me with or without their consent, so it really didn’t matter what they thought. I was glad Sean was on my side. I didn’t do anything wrong.

I set the table and poured glasses of wine. Sean sat next to his mother while we ate and I sat across from both of them. Diane took a bite of her food then looked at me.

“This is wonderful, Scarlet. You’re an excellent cook.”

“Thank you.”

“Just don’t make my son and grandchildren too fat.”

Sean shook his head. “We can’t promise anything. If I didn’t go to the gym every morning, I would be obese because I devour everything my fiancé makes.”

I smiled at him, glad he used the right marital term.

“Who taught you to cook?”
Diane asked.

I shrugged. “I just picked it up.”

“Was your mother a good cook?”

I wanted to vomit at the thought of her. “No.”

“Will she be joining us tomorrow?”

“Who?”

“Your mother.”

“No.”

She stared at me for a moment, confusion on her face.

Sean intervened. “Scarlet needs help choosing a dress. She isn’t sure what she wants.”

“Oh, there will be so many there she won’t know what to choose,” she said.

I breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Sean changed the subject.

“When are we going?” she asked.

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Will it just be us two?”

“No, my brother, my friend
, Cortland, and my two girlfriends are coming.”

“Men are coming?”

“Scarlet is really close to her brother,” Sean explained.

“And he’s my ma
id of honor,” I said.

“Oh,” she said, sounding surprised. “And the other man?”

“He’s a best friend.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything.

I waited for her judgment to come, but it never did.

When everyone was finished, I took the dirty plates to the sink and started to clean up. Sean came beside me and started to help me rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher.

“I got it, babe,” I said.

“No. You cooked, so I’ll clean.”

I smiled at him then continued to scrub the food off the plate then hand it to him so he could load it in the dishwasher. I was grateful that I was marrying a man that didn’t mind doing some housework. Even though he worked all day, he still helped me around the house and didn’t expect me to do everything. He grew up with a maid so I was surprised he learned how to clean at all. His thoughtfulness made me love him even more.

“Sean, your phone is so confusing,” his mother said, squinting her eyes as she looked at the screen.

“Just look up ‘Dad’.”

She touched the phone with her finger then flinched.

“I’ll be there in a second,” Sean said as he continued to load the dishes.

Diane gasped then covered her mouth. “Oh my god.”

The sound of club music played loud from the phone. The sound of Cortland shouting and Mike clapping was audible. I dropped a plate in the sink when I realized what she was watching. Sean abandoned the dishes, almost tripped over himself, then grabbed the phone from his mother and turned it off as quickly as possible. The sound disappeared.

I was so mortified I didn’t even turn around.

“Mom, I can explain.”

“Was that Scarlet?” she asked immediately. “Who was that other woman?”

“Yes,” he said hesitantly. “But it’s not how it looks.”

“It looked
like Scarlet was kissing some other girl. What’s going on? Is your fiancé a lesbian?”

I closed my eyes and tried to still my beating heart.

“No, of course not! It was a dare.”

I didn’t think that was much better than saying I was drunk.

“A dare?” his mother asked. “So she did that for fun?”

“No,” he said, his hands sliding through his hair.

“Is she twelve? I don’t even know what to say,” Diane said. “Not at all.”

“She was drunk and it just happened.”

“How drunk was she?”

“Mom, drop it.”

“Should I be worried about the wedding? Are you still getting married?”

“Yes, of course. It was just a crazy night. That’s all.”

“She doesn’t like—women?”

“No,” I said, finally turning around. “I don’t. It just got out of hand.”

Diane wouldn’t look at me, continuing to stare at Sean. “I—I’m gonna call your father in my bedroom.” She rose from the chair then walked away. When I heard her bedroom door shut, my heart slowed down slightly.

Sean turned around and looked at me. “Scarlet—”

“You told me you deleted it!”

“No, I said I would. I just forgot.”

I shook my head, feeling steam blow from my ears. “I could slap you right now.”

He gave me a sympathetic look. “Babe, I didn’t know that was going to happen. You know I never would have shown anyone.”

I stood in front of him then stared him down. “This never would have happened if you kept your word to me.”

“Scarlet, I just forgot. I swear.”

“I trusted you.”

“I did
n’t show her on purpose!”

“This is the worst thing that could have possibly happened.” I walked past him then moved to the front door. Sean followed close behind me. When I reached the front door, I grabbed the doorknob but I didn’t turn it. I wanted to storm off
but I knew I couldn’t. I promised I wouldn’t.

When I looked Sean, he looked scared.

I walked past him. “You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.” I walked into my bedroom and slammed the door. He didn’t follow me.

15

Sean

I hate myself. I really do. I’m destined for failure with Scarlet. I never thought my mom would open my phone, somehow find the video, and play it. Why couldn’t it have been the other video we made when we were just having sex? That would have been preferable to Scarlet kissing another girl. My mom was old-fashioned and traditional. I kept making Scarlet look worse and worse.

My mom stayed in her room the rest of the night, and so did Scarlet. I lay on the couch with a thin blanket and called her but it went straight to voi
cemail. I knew she turned off her phone. She didn’t want to talk to me. I hated sleeping on the couch, but not because it was uncomfortable. Without Scarlet next to me I couldn’t sleep. I wondered if she was still awake because she felt the same way.

I stared at the ceiling for a long time before I became too frustrated lying there. I walked down the hall then stopped at our bedroom door. When I tried the door it was locked. It wouldn’t budge. I went into the bathroom and found a bobbypin then stuck it into the lock. My brother and I used to break into each other’s room and steal each other’s stuff. I would sell his old cds and movies online, and he would take my watches and pawn them.

I got the door open then crept inside. It was dark inside the room. I could see her form on the bed, tucked under the covers. She was lying on her side. I shut the door then moved to the bed.

I took off my clothes then lay next to her.

“This isn’t the couch,” she whispered.

“I can’t sleep without you, babe.”

“Not my problem.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“You realize that my mother-in-law will never like me or respect me as long as I live? That I will be forever known as a whore and a slut? That our children will hear the rumors when they get older and they’ll be embarrassed and ashamed of me?” Her voice croaked like she was trying not to cry.

The sound broke my heart. I hated myself even more. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close to my chest. “That’s not going to happen.”

“Yes, it is.”

“No, it isn’t. My mom still likes you. She’s just shocked.”

“I give up. I’m tired of trying to get her to like me.”

“She does like you. And I could care less if she doesn’t. I made it clear that you’re my priority. If she wants to keep me in her life, she knows she has to respect you and accept you.”

“I still don’t want her to hate me. She’s going to tell everyone she knows. Everyone at the wedding is going to be whispering behind my back, saying you’re making a mistake marrying me.”

“No, they won’t. My mom won’t say anything. Believe me, she would want that to stay a secret. And no one thinks I’m making a mistake. You’re the one making a mistake. And we don’t have to get married there if you don’t want to. It’s up to you.”

She didn’t say anything, tightening the blankets around her. She didn’t turn around and look at me. She lied there like I hadn’t said anything.

I kissed her neck. “I’m sorry. I never would have shown it to her on purpose.”

“You told me you would delete it.”

“I forgot. But I won’t make that mistake twice.” I grabbed my phone and placed it in front of her. “It’s gone.”

She turned it on and scrolled through it.

I was hurt that she felt the need to check. But I also didn’t blame her. I would be ashamed if our situations were reversed.

“You didn’t delete this one,” she said quietly.

I looked at the screen. It was the sex video we made.

“Babe, I’m not going to show anyone. Don’t make me delete it.”

“I can’t trust you.”

That stung. “Please don’t say that to me. That isn’t fair. My mom found the video. I didn’t show anyone. And I’ll never repeat that mistake. I’ll never let anyone touch my phone.”

She sighed. “I know, Sean. I’m sorry I got so upset.”

“You don’t need to apologize, Scarlet. I understand why you’re mad.”

“I do trust you, Sean. You know that.”

“Thank god.”

“But I want you to delete this video too.”

I sighed, disappointed. “Can I save it on my computer?”

“How is that any different from being on your phone?”

“No one would have a chance to see it.”

“It still makes me uncomfortable.”

I was quiet for a moment. This was just a bad accident and it wouldn’t happen again. I really didn’t want to delete the video. “Okay.”

“And the pictures.”

“What pictures?”

“The ones of me sleeping.”

My heart fell. “What’s wrong with those?”

“I’m naked.”

“Your chest is covered.”

“You can still tell I’m naked.”

“So? What’s bad about that?”

“I don’t want anyone to see them.”

“No, please don’t do that to me. I love those pictures.”

“Sean, I asked you to.”

I sighed. “I’ll delete the video, but please don’t make me get rid of the pictures. I’ll do it, but please, please don’t make me. The pictures mean something to me. It’s artwork.”

She said nothing.

“Scar?”

“Promise me you want let anyone ever see them.”

“I promise, I promise,” I said quickly, feeling the stress leave my heart.

“Okay.”

I hooked my arm around her waist and kissed the back of her neck, trailing my kisses to her shoulders. My hand glided across her skin, feeling the smoothness. I was trying to calm her down, tell her I love her, but my cock sprang to life and pressed against her back like it always did when I was anywhere near her.

Against my will, my thoughts turned sexual. Now I wanted to make love to the woman I loved. I was grateful she put up with all my mistakes. Her unconditional love intensified my attraction to her.

I pressed my lips to her ear and kissed her. “I would never hurt you on purpose, babe. I’m sorry.”

“I know,” she whispered, moving against me.

I moved my hand down her ass then pressed my fingers over her clit and pussy. After I played with her for a little while, her back started to arch. I slipped two fingers inside her and felt the moisture within her. My lips kissed her neck then moved down to her tits. I pulled my fingers out then rubbed her juice on my cock, lubricating myself. I moved my fingers inside her again then pulled them out, repeating it. My dick was soaked and twitching.

I knew Scarlet was prey to my touch because she turned over and grabbed my face, kissing
me. She placed her legs over my shoulders then moved under me, wanting me to be inside her as quickly as possible.

I broke our kiss then grabbed her hips, putting my weight on my knees. Her mouth was open and her hands were on my chest. I pulled her to me, sliding inside her.

She moaned quietly, shaking as she felt me.

I loved watching her reactions to me. With precision, I thrust into her while pulling her hips, fucking her hard without moving too much. I was silent in my movements, not moving the bed or slamming the headboard into the wall. I had a lot of experience of fucking in silence from my youth when I lived with my parents. When her nails dug in
to my chest and she bit her lip, I knew she loved the way I was fucking her. I moved faster.

“Sean, I’m about to come,” she said with gasp.

I leaned down and sealed my mouth over hers, quieting her as she exploded. My tongue slipped inside her, silencing her moans and drowning them out. My cock felt the constriction of her pussy as it glided inside her. Knowing she was coming for me made me want to come. Unable to keep up my strength, I released myself inside her, moaning into her mouth.

She rocked from below, making the headboard rock slightly. I stopped moving, enjoying the feel of her pussy slide up and do
wn my cock without any effort on my part. I stared into her eyes as I came inside her, filling her. Knowing I was the only man who came inside her made every experience that much more satisfying.

When I was finished, I didn’t pull out of her. “I’m sorry about everything.”

“It’s okay,” she said as she licked my chest. “As long as you still marry me.”

“Nothing will stop me from marrying you.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” My hand gripped her lower back, holding her hips to me, and I lay down beside her, keeping myself inside her.

She wrapped her leg around my waist, her arm hooked around my neck. We took a sliver of the bed like we always did.

“Don’t make me sleep on the couch,” I whispered.

“No. You belong here with me.”

“Are you sure it’s not Monnique?”

She glared at me.

“Is that too soon?” I said with a smile.

She smiled. “I admit it is funny. Only crazy shit like that happens to me.”

“I noticed that my life turned upside down when I met you.”

“And it’s only going to get worse.”

I moved my hips, moving inside her gently. “I look forward to it.”