Chapter 25
Five days passed in the blink of an eye, and before Scarlett knew it, she was packing to go home. She’d spent most of her time there sleeping with Limit in his room, and during the course of that time, she’d discovered more about him than she ever expected to.
Like, that he secretly loved romantic comedies.
Yeah, that one had thrown her through a loop.
Or the fact that he was a night owl.
Most nights she’d find herself too exhausted to stay awake, but Limit was always as cool as a cucumber. He’d tuck her into the safety of his arms and run his fingers through her hair until she fell asleep, and even when she’d awaken in the middle of the night to change positions, he’d still be holding her.
She made no secret about the fact that she loved that he couldn’t keep his hands off her- she liked it, a hell of a lot- and he made no secret about the fact that he wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.
As the morning of her impending departure grew closer, he grew slightly more agitated.
Limit had gone out of his way to make sure she knew that he would be here waiting for her to come back, however long it took. She secretly wished he’d offer to come back with her, too, but she would never ask him to do that.
Scarlett knew they both needed time apart to make sure they were the best versions of themselves before they made any kind of solid commitment.
It sounded dumb to her own ears when she said it out loud.
He loved her, she loved him, why wait to make it official?
Truth was, she needed time to heal after what had happened with Scott.
He was gone, and she would never have to see him again (all thanks to her new family) and that was amazing.
After he’d tried to kill her, he’d sealed his own fate.
She’d had to come to terms with that too, and knowing that she was a part of his inevitable end. It wasn’t her choice, and it wasn’t what she was used to, but this was the way things were done around here. She’d be lying through her teeth if she said that she didn’t feel a sliver of gratification at knowing that he was dead. At knowing he’d paid for what he did and tried to do to her.
“Hey, how’s it goin’ in here?”
Scarlett turned to see Ox watching her, his amber eyes so much like her own.
“It’s going well. You guys close up shop for the day?”
He nodded as he stepped into the room, his long legs eating up the tile floor.
“Rayna called from the airport, said they’re on their way back. We’ll miss them tomorrow morning by a hair, but it is what it is.”
The idea made her a little sad, but only because she’d grown to really like the couple.
“May I ask you a question?,” She murmured.
Ox nodded.
“Was it this hard for you and my mom? Being together?”
She was referring to her and Limit and Ox knew it.
He sighed before he sat down on the side of Limit’s bed.
“Yeah, it was. You and your mom are stubborn as all get out, but you’re different than her. You’re more forgiving, more…open. You were surprised at what you found here, but you stuck it out and I’m so proud of you for that. Let me ask you something?”
She nodded.
“When you think of where you want to be in five, ten years, are you alone? Or is Limit with you?”
She slowly closed her packed suitcase and set it on the ground as she thought about it.
“He’s with me. For some reason, he’s always with me.”
“Then it’s worth it. Like I told you before, you won’t find a fairytale with him. It’ll be hard and you two will have to work at it every day, but if you can consider your past and truly believe that your future would be better with him in it, then don’t let anyone or anything change your mind.”
When Ox put it like that, it made perfect sense.
He always made perfect sense.
“Is it going to be hard for you to see her again?”
Ox’s head dipped and she almost regretted asking the question.
“Harder than you can imagine. It was easier for me to move on when I thought she was out there living the life she’d always wanted, and that she was happy. But, I’m going there to say goodbye. For real this time.”
Scarlett’s eyes filled with tears, and she had to admit that they’d done that a lot lately.
“I just want you to know that if you don’t want to come with me, I will understand. Gong home to see my mama laid up in bed as sick as she is, isn’t something I really want to do. I’m mad at her for not telling me how serious this was. Sure, she never lied to me about the stage of the disease she was in, but the last couple of times I spoke to her on the phone, she told me she was getting better. She told me the chemo was finally working.”
Her voice cracked when she admitted that to him, and Ox stood to wrap his arms around her.
“You’re twenty-two years old, Scarlett. No one blames you for livin’ your life. Like I just said, Maddie is so damn stubborn. She wouldn’t have told you the truth even if she were on her death bed. She wouldn’t want you to worry.”
Just as Ox’s words left his mouth, Scarlett’s phone began to ring.
Reading Carter’s name across the screen, she hurried to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Scarlett, it’s your step-father. Do you have a moment?”
“Of course, what’s wrong?”
She heard a shuffle and then what sounded like a door slamming.
“Dr. Peterson just left. You better find a way to get here. Now.”
Scarlett’s mouth fell open as she peeked up at Ox.
“I’m leaving now.”
“Drive safe, and be careful. I’ll see you when you get here. And Scarlett?”
“Yes?,” She whispered into the phone.
“I love you.”
A heady click sounded in her ear, and she tugged her phone away to look at the blank screen.
Carter never told her he loved her, and he wouldn’t be calling her if things weren’t taking a turn for the worst.
“Ox, we have to go. Carter said mama’s doctor just left and his prognosis wasn’t good.”
She was crying again, and this time, she knew the tears wouldn’t stop.
The entire time Maddie was sick, Scarlett had practically clung to a false sense of optimism that she knew would eventually fail her.
It was officially failing her.
“Okay, you find Limit, and I’m going to put our bags in your car. Okay?”
She nodded numbly.
“Okay.”
He cupped her cheek and she could see that he too was struggling with the news. He knew that he was going back with her to see Maddie, to say goodbye, but it had just become real for the both of them.
Now, they were both going to have to say goodbye.
As Ox left her alone, Limit stepped into his room and his eyes landed on her instantly.
“Princess? What’s wrong?”
She choked on the words she wanted to say.
“I have-my mom. We’re leaving.”
His expression softened as he wrapped his arms around her and clutched her tightly against his chest.
“I’m so sorry. I know it hurts, but we’ll all be here for you.”
She whispered a thank-you against his t-shirt.
As he pressed his lips against her forehead, she ran her fingers along his scalp.
“You shaved your head again.”
He looked down at her shyly for a second.
“I thought you might like it.”
Her lower lip quivered as her tears took over.
“I love it.”
She kissed his mouth lovingly and he returned the kiss, his hands gripping her shoulders as if to anchor her against him.
“I don’t know how I’m going to say goodbye to her.”
“You’ll do the best you can. You always do the best you can, and that’s what makes you so special. Your mom doesn’t expect any grand gestures from ya, sweetheart.”
But, she wanted to give that to her.
“I know she doesn’t, she never has.”
Even though Maddie wasn’t emotional or warm like Scarlett, Scarlett knew that her mother loved her.
“I wish you could come,” She admitted.
He swept her hair out of her eyes and wiped under her eyes with his thumbs.
“I have a couple of things to take care of around here. You need this time with your mother and father.”
She knew that to be true but she couldn’t help but feel lost without him already and she hadn’t even left yet.
“Do you think you’ll still love me if I leave?,” She wondered.
Limit shook his head before he kissed her again.
“I’ll always love you.”
The words settled on her broken heart like a balm, and she appreciated that.
“I love you, too.”
The words seemed to make him happier each time she said them.
Ox stepped into the room.
“Car is packed. You ready?”
No, no, no-
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
Limit kissed her one last time and she worked to press herself closer against him.
“Call me when you get there to let me know you’re safe. I’ll be waitin’ here for ya,” He told her.
The smallest consolation he had to offer her, and she took it like the greedy woman she was.
“Okay. See you later.”
“See ya later.”
Truer words never spoken, at least not to her, so she took her father’s hand and let him lead her to her car.
The journey would be a long one, a sad one, but she knew that what Limit said was true: she would still have her new family to come home too.
Including him.