Talking to Dawn had been next on his agenda. They needed to talk about their situation, they needed to figure out how to do this. Even if he didn’t plan on Dawn being the mother of his child she still was, that wouldn’t magically change. He was getting ready for dinner with her at a quiet restaurant downtown when his doorbell rang loudly.
The desk downstairs didn’t call to let him know he had visitors, it meant that his family was here to see him. They were allowed to walk through without any questions asked. He considered changing that now.
Opening the front door he was pushed aside by Noah who was followed by Michael. His cousin threw him an apologizing look. He told on him to his brother. He wasn’t looking forward to this conversation and he honestly didn’t have the time.
He didn’t want to keep a pregnant woman waiting.
Closing the door he followed after his brother and cousin, watching his brother pace his living room with determined steps and an angry look in his eyes.
Noah would scold him.
“When were you going to tell us?” Noah asked, his tone still calm, that tone definitely not matching the look in his eyes.
He took a seat on the couch, getting comfortable for this conversation, “I was going tell you after I had a talk with Dawn about our situation.”
Noah folded his arms across his chest looking even menacing than before. This was the guy he grew up with, then he changed the game after he chased after Kim and became a father of three. Once in a while, his scary side popped up. He knew not to cross Noah when he was like this. It wouldn’t end well.
“Your situation?” Noah asked, looking scarier than ever, “You’re going to have a child with some random woman but yes, let’s be casual about this. You have everything under control, right?”
He knew this was a trap. Whatever he was going to say would set off Noah so he kept quiet instead. Just staring back at his brother and hoping Noah would keep ranting until he was less angry with him.
“And what about Scarlett?” Noah continued, “Have you talked to her yet?”
“I’ve informed Scarlett about the situation.”
Noah’s glare made him feel small, “Informed her?” Noah asked still calm but at this point, he knew his brother was silently yelling at him, his eyes said it all, “Lucian, you need to discuss your future with her. Are you going to keep seeing each other, are you going to break things off? These are things you need to know.”
“I’d do that after my talk with Dawn.”
“Then you shouldn’t have told her anything yet.” Noah raised his voice now, “That woman is probably confused and hurt right now. Just breaking the news to her isn’t enough. Not when you’ve planned a whole future in your head.”
“I didn’t want her to find out from someone else. You know this could leak out any second now.”
Noah nodded, letting out a tired sigh. He had been sighing like that for a while now.
His brother stopped pacing, his eyes trailing to Michael who had been awfully quiet during Noah’s interrogation. Michael was a smart man, he also knew to let Noah have his moment and not to interfere with it.
“You found nothing on her?” Noah asked, looking quite skeptical about this whole ordeal.
Michael glanced from him to Noah, “Nothing. She’s clean. She hasn’t been seeing anyone besides Lucian. I think the girl was smitten with him. Then he chose Scarlett and ended things with her. She had been quiet after that but for the obvious reasons.”
Noah pointed at him, “Why did she wait this long to tell you about the child?”
“She said she didn’t want to ruin my relationship with Scarlett.”
Noah didn’t look like he bought it but he nodded anyway, “Ask her again when you meet up with her.” He then looked at Michael, “We’re leaving. Go meet up with the woman and get things done, Lucian. Floating in this grey area is not doing anyone any favors.”
“Yes, sir.” He mumbled.
It was so quiet yet Noah still heard him and his brother did not appreciate it. Noah threw him another glare before he left the apartment together with Michael. The good thing about this whole surprise visit was that he didn’t have to pay Noah a visit at his house. He wouldn’t have been able to be serious about it when the girls were running around, demanding his attention.
They appreciated it when Scarlett wasn’t there so they had his attention. It meant that whenever he did show up alone he never had serious conversations with either Noah or Kim.
His brother’s rage saved him that trip.
***
Eating out with Dawn had been a good plan. She seemed to be in a good mood as she ate the delicious food they ordered, her smile bright and wide. That was good considering the conversation they were about to have would drain them both emotionally.
Or so he thought.
“Have you given it any thought?” He asked her cautiously.
She looked up, meeting his curious gaze, “I want to raise this baby, give them everything they need. I can see you being part of their life.” She looked panicked as she said those words, “No, pressure. If you don’t want to be then that’s okay too.”
He didn’t want her to stress over something like that. He didn’t think anything of it.
“I’d like to be a part of their life. What about your job though? I imagine it will be difficult to combine it. I could pay for daycare of that makes things easier. Of course, I’ll also support you in any other way I can financially.”
She smiled, “Daycare would be enough.”
“If it’s not, you’ll let me know?” He asked.
She grabbed her cup of tea and sipped it, looking at him from over the rim of her cup. The pale pink cup was bigger than her head. That was, of course, an exaggeration but he could barely see her face as she sipped her tea.
He pushed the plate filled with cookies toward her, “Have another, these are good.”
“They are.” She agreed, “I’ll let you know if I can’t make ends meet.”
He nodded, “Good.” Leaning back in his chair, he glanced at the dark liquid in his mint green mug and swirled it around. The liquid nearly sloshing out of the mug, “I want to be part of that child’s life.”
She must have heard the hesitation in his voice because she didn’t let him continue.
“Just not mine, I get it.” Her voice soft which made it hard for him to accept that, “You have that woman in your life. You two looked happy.”
They were happy then, they weren’t in a good place now. He knew that was his fault but he couldn’t change this situation. Dawn was going to have his child. Nothing was going to change. There were no promises he could make Scarlett in an attempt to save their relationship. If it was ending then he’d be sorry.
“We’re okay.” He didn’t want to elaborate on that, “Why did you wait this long?” He asked, “The pictures of me and Scarlett scare you off?” He asked, trying to make sure she didn’t change her story. Noah had been cautious when he told Dawn’s reasoning.
He needed to know too, not just to please his older brother because Noah was worried.
She glanced down at her cup, trailing her finger over the rim of the cup, “I’ve told you.” She said in that quiet voice, “I didn’t want to ruin what you have. You stopped seeing me because you were falling for her, right?” She asked, looking up to meet his gaze.
He didn’t want to lie about that, it was the truth. He did stop seeing Dawn because he became interested in the tease at the office. Scarlett who swayed her hips from side to side whenever she messed around with him. The woman who pushed him until he couldn’t see anyone else but her.
She was different, it’s why he liked her. She kept repeating that he was different but after Elliot, he figured a lot of men in her life seemed like they were angels or at least gentlemen. Scarlett got damaged along the way and needed to heal again.
Time would do that but surrounded by people who cared would be a great help too.
“I want to marry her.” He told Dawn, “It will always be Scarlett.”
Dawn didn’t look like he just ripped her heart out but her smile wasn’t exactly comforting.
“It’s great that you feel that way about someone.” She flashed him that small smile, “We’ll figure something out.” She promised.
“We will.” He agreed.
***
He walked up to his apartment, surprised to see Scarlett leaning against his door. Her small smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. He didn’t know how to talk to her. Everything he’d say would hurt her. Not talking wasn’t an option either, she obviously came over to talk.
“Let’s talk inside.” He told her, unlocking the door when she moved aside.
“I’d love some coffee.” She followed him inside and closed the door behind her.
He chuckled, “Sure, I’ll make you some coffee.”
Scarlett sat down in his living room, making herself at home. Even when things were shaky between them it still felt comfortable between them. He made her coffee and didn’t get anything himself. He just had dinner with Dawn.
If he had another coffee he wouldn’t sleep at all.
He joined Scarlett in the living room and handed her the warm mug filled with delicious smelling liquid.
She looked grateful, “I really need this.” She admitted to him, “It smells amazing.” She then smirked at him, “This is the only time I get you to make me a coffee.”
“You want me to make you coffee at the office because I will.”
She seemed intrigued, “Oh really? Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
He laughed, “Did you just use my own words against me?”
She shrugged, “I might have. Those were some effective words, Noah did show you though. He made a promise and he kept it.”
“Are you telling me I can’t keep my promises?”
It was like she was subtly attacking him, he didn’t mind though. He knew she needed to vent, there was so much going on and if they were both on edge things would explode between them.
“I mean I recall a promise being made to the girls which you never kept.”
“Okay, I was kind of busy. They get that. I take over my brother’s tasks most of the time so he can go home at a decent time. You know this.”
The smile which spread across her face was warm and inviting, it took him off guard.
“You seem heartless at times with your decisions but then I know the things you do for the people you care about without question which makes me behave like one of those people, you know.” When she noticed he didn’t know what she was talking about he continued, “You know those people who are lovesick and melt the minute the person they’re crazy about just looks in their direction.”
He shook his head, “You’re not a lovesick zombie. You are strong and independent. Something I quite admire. You think your life is falling apart yet you have it more together than I have. You are stronger than you think Miss Archer.”
She stared at him, her mouth agape, “T-Thanks.”
He placed his hand on her knee, giving it a squeeze in reassurance, “Whatever is going on in my life doesn’t change the fact how I feel about you. You are it for me.”
She sighed, glancing down at his hand which still rested on her knee, “I hate to break it to you, Mister Starr, but you have it bad for me.”
She could still joke around which was probably a good thing.
“I love you too.”