Playing in Shadow (25 page)

“I’ve missed you,” he said softly. “Can you forgive me for trying to hold on to you too tightly?”

Scarlet slipped her hand into his and squeezed. “I already have.”

“So, what’s happening now? Have you found somewhere to utilize your obvious talents?”

Scarlet smiled at the unhidden pride in his voice. “I have a follow-up interview for a job at the new portrait studio opening here in a month. I met with its boss yesterday and he’s very eager to take me on. They want to utilize all my talents so they’ll be promoting both my photography
and
my painting. It’s going to be perfect for me.” Scarlet was so thankful she’d visited the photography exhibition that had been the catalyst for her leaving Tweedy Contractors. The contacts she’d made there had led to her being offered a job all but right on her doorstep.

“And what does Bryce think about all this? Seeing as you two are apparently an item now.” He cocked his head over to where Bryce was watching a game being played.

“She wants what makes me happy.”

Her dad sighed. “Then she’s everything I could wish for you.” He looked at Scarlet. “Do I at least get some credit in bringing you two together?”

Scarlet laughed. “I guess so.”

“Does that help ease the fact I’ve been a terrible overbearing father to you since you came back home?” He sounded so disappointed in himself Scarlet couldn’t hold the grudge any longer.

“You were being my dad. You just have to realize I’m all grown up now. You can’t always hold my hand for me.”

“Guess I’ve passed that job on to Bryce.” He let out a pitiful sigh. “I have a horrible feeling I’m going to lose my best plasterer on the job as well one day.”

Scarlet smiled in Bryce’s direction. She knew her dad couldn’t miss the love she felt for Bryce shining out of her eyes. “Whatever we chose, it will be a joint decision and what’s best for us both.”

“Which leads me to something else.”

Scarlet lifted her head to fix him with a stare. “What now?”

“Alice asked me out on a date.”

He sounded so shy that Scarlet had to stifle her amusement. Instead, she found it rather endearing. “So she finally gave up waiting for you to make the first move after her being a widow for years?”

“Looks that way. I think it’s time to do something for myself.”

Scarlet’s smile grew. “Yes, it is.”

“And seeing as you won’t let me worry about you…”

“I don’t need you to.” She looked over her shoulder to where Bryce was being coached by a very earnest Kayleigh on how exactly to swing the remote. “I’ve got my own future beckoning and it looks amazing.”

“She’s healing,” he said, watching Bryce’s first foray into the world of gaming.

“She’s living again, and I’m loving being right beside her as she does.”

“You moving in with that girl yet? Settling down, making a future together?”

“I might just do that, Dad. She’d be the one I’d choose to do it all with.”

The loud crack of a baseball being hit sounded out in the room, and the cheers for a home run went up. Scarlet’s heart warmed to see Bryce enthusiastically congratulated by Kayleigh and the rest of their team. Scarlet gave her a thumbs up when Bryce’s eyes sought hers out. The happy gleam to Bryce’s face made Scarlet’s day.

“I’m going to see if I can get a hold of that baby over there.” Her father eased out of Scarlet’s hold. “Might be wanting to get some practice in, because you never know, you and Bryce might make me a grandpa one of these days.” His grin stopped Scarlet in her tracks. She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“Daaaad!”

Three Months Later

At the first sound of whimpering from the side of the bed, Trent woke up and slid out gingerly from Juliet’s spooning hold. She checked that Juliet hadn’t been disturbed then hastened to check on Harley in her Moses crib. Harley’s face had begun to crease in her distress, little arms waving with annoyance, so Trent scooped her up and carried her from the room.

“Come on, kid. Mommy needs her rest so it’s just you and me on the milk run tonight,” she whispered, padding downstairs to get the pre-prepared baby milk from the fridge. While waiting for it to warm up, Trent cradled Harley on her shoulder. Fussing, Harley wriggled in her hold.

“Hey, no head butting, Little Miss Impatient. It’s nearly ready.” Trent prepared the baby bottle and then started back upstairs. She looked inside the nursery that Harley would be sleeping in soon enough, but the rocking chair didn’t call to Trent tonight. Instead, she turned around and headed toward her game room. She sat in her chair, settled Harley, and started feeding her. She grinned at how fast Harley began sucking from the bottle. “Wow, you were a hungry girl.” She watched as Harley’s little fists batted against the bottle. Trent knew all too soon she’d be holding the bottle for herself.

“I know this milk isn’t as attractively packaged as when your mommy feeds you, but tonight you’ve got me.” Trent leaned back in her chair and watched her daughter feeding. “You know, if we could just curb the anti-social hours you insist on keeping, you’d be pretty darn perfect.”

Trent marveled at just how much Harley had grown in nearly three months. Her hair was growing in but was still the pale blond that Trent adored so much in Juliet. It was also kind of wild and spiky which Trent secretly got a huge kick out of too. Harley smiled now and chuckled and made some very curious noises. She also followed her parents’ voices, and that warmed Trent’s heart like nothing else did.

“Harley, I always figured I’d be alone. I never figured I’d be lucky enough to find someone as wonderful as your mommy to love me. You’re going to adore your mommy. She’s awesome. She’s rocket scientist smart so you’ll never get away with anything, and she’s so pretty she makes my heart ache every time I see her. If you grow up half as beautiful as she is then you’re going to be locked in your room to keep all the pervy boys or girls away from you.” Trent smiled as big blue eyes stared up at her. “You think I’m joking, right? Your mommy doesn’t call me Mama Bear for nothing, little cub. No one is going to ever hurt my little girl.” Trent nuzzled the fine hair that covered Harley’s head. Harley hiccupped. “Try not to guzzle so much, Harley Q. There’s still plenty to go if your belly isn’t full yet.” Trent lost herself in the unwavering gaze staring up at her.

“One day, everything in this room will be yours. Of course, while you’re still small and prone to sticky fingers and dribbling, we’re going to have to set up some kind of ground rules. We’ll work on it until you’re able to appreciate how awesome this room is. Of course if, God forbid, you’re not destined to be a gamer then that’s okay and I promise to stand by whatever alternative non-gaming lifestyle choice you make. You might be into gardening like your mommy, and that’s cool too. Just don’t track dirt into the house. But if you follow nurture over nature and get hooked on Angry Birds, then this room, my darling girl, every console, every game, every collector’s edition will be all yours.”

“Just when I think I can’t possibly love you any more than I do.”

Trent looked up to where Juliet lounged against the doorframe, smiling at her lovingly. She looked beautiful in her sleep-tousled state.

“Why?” Trent asked, following her every movement as Juliet came over to kneel beside the chair. She kissed Trent, then ran a finger over Harley’s onesie-covered toes. Harley kicked and pressed her foot back into Juliet’s grasp. They’d found she liked her feet held and rubbed.

“For opening your heart to both of us and letting us share your life. Both inside and outside of this marvelous room.”

Trent rested her cheek against Juliet’s hair. “You’re the only one who understands how important this room is to me. Maybe, one day, Harley will too.”

“You’re wonderful.” Juliet’s eyes shone up at her.

Trent basked in that look. “You’re supposed to be asleep. That’s why I got the kid out of our room employing stealth mode.”

“I missed you. You know I can’t sleep without you beside me.”

They both watched as Harley’s mouth grew slack around the nipple of the bottle as she’d drank her fill and was slipping back to sleep. Trent eased her up and began rubbing her back gently.

“Burp it out, Harley, otherwise you’ll be cranky all night.”

Harley burped and released milky bubbles that Juliet hurried to mop up. With a contented smile on her face, Harley’s eyes began to droop again.

“Mama, looks like this baby is ready to go back to her crib. I want you back in our bed too,” Juliet said.

Trent eased up out of her chair and Harley nestled on her shoulder, a hand clutching at Trent’s T-shirt. Trent helped Juliet up and wrapped her free arm around her waist.

“You going to tuck me in too?” Trent said back in their room. She handed Harley over to Juliet and watched her settle the baby back in her crib. A light green Yoshi toy sat nearby, already Harley’s favorite toy. Once she was satisfied Harley was asleep, Juliet turned around.

“I’m going to undress you first and then tuck you in.”

Trent swallowed hard at the desire that burned in Juliet’s eyes. “You’re supposed to be resting. I know you’re working from home now, but when Harley keeps you awake at all hours you still need your sleep.”

Juliet ignored her and tugged at Trent’s T-shirt. “When did you put this on?”

“Just after you fell asleep. If I don’t wear something when feeding Harley she gets grabby at the one pair of breasts in the house that can’t feed her.”

“That’s my smart girl.” Juliet cupped Trent’s breasts in her hands. “But these are all mine.” She pushed Trent until she fell back onto their bed. “Now, let me thank you properly for doing the midnight feeds. I just need you to be quiet so as not to wake our daughter up.” She followed Trent down on the bed, shoving the T-shirt up roughly, and captured a nipple between her lips.

“Oh fuck,” Trent moaned. “I’ll try, but thank God our kid’s a heavy sleeper once her belly has been satisfied.” She shuddered under Juliet’s hungry lips.

“Well, she’s happy for the rest of the night. Let’s see if I can’t satisfy you just as much.”

*

Halloween was a big deal in the lives of Scarlet and her friends. It wasn’t enough to just have bowls of candy on hand for any trick-or-treater at the door. Instead, parties were organized and costumes were made and no one was left out. Bryce had been roped in very early on and had been told just wearing a mask wasn’t going to cut it. Scarlet’s parties were a full on cosplay experience. It boggled Bryce’s mind.

“You’re surrounded by Goths,” Scarlet had said at Bryce’s surprise. “Halloween is like every holiday rolled into one for us!”

So now Bryce was in Scarlet’s bedroom getting changed. Monica had helped her as she had with everyone’s costume. Bryce fixed her tie and checked herself over in the mirror. Not for the first time, she was surprised to see herself with brown hair. Scarlet had assured her the dye would wash out quickly and she’d soon be back to normal. Bryce smiled at her reflection.

I like this new normal.

Since she’d been forced back in a car, Bryce had started to regain some of the control she’d lost in her life. Seeing her new therapist was helping tackle the debilitating nightmares. It was a slow, painful process, but Bryce was doing it, all with Scarlet’s support.

She and Scarlet were in the stages of working out whether to just pick between their apartments or to go for something new to move in together. Scarlet’s new job was showcasing her talents, and she was already looking toward having a small exhibition of her paintings there. Bryce couldn’t have been more proud of her.

Scarlet walked into the bedroom and eyed Bryce up and down. “You look perfect.”

Bryce stared at Scarlet’s own costume. “And I can’t believe how beautiful you look blond.”

“Blond and armed with a katana, thanks to Elton.” Scarlet slid the long sword out from the scabbard fastened to her back and posed. “I dare not ask why he has one of these on hand.”

“Do not make me tempted to hang a ‘Do not disturb’ sign on our front door. Put your sword away, Babydoll.”

Scarlet did as she was told. “So, this outfit does it for you?” She wore a short,
very
short, pleated miniskirt teamed with a midriff-bearing top. The costume was complete with a sailor’s collar and flap, the perfect Japanese schoolgirl sailor outfit that the film
Sucker Punch
had put its leading character in. Thigh-high socks were complemented with the lowest heeled shoes Bryce had ever seen Scarlet in. Her hair was blond and worn in two pigtails framing her face. To Bryce, Scarlet looked beautiful, innocent, and deadly in an anime fan’s dreams come to life.

“I enjoyed the film. Had I known you had the costume in your closet I’d have asked for a private viewing ages ago.”

Scarlet chuckled and took a step toward her but was halted by the doorbell sounding. She sighed. “Our guests are here,” she said woefully. “You need to get your glasses on. We’ll role-play when everyone else has left. Who knows, I may even dance for you.” She rocked from side to side seductively.

Bryce’s groan was louder than the sound of the doorbell ringing for a second time. She obediently followed Scarlet, noticing that the short skirt was flattering from every angle. She snatched up her glasses to complete her own outfit and began greeting the newcomers.

*

There was obscure organ music playing in the background. Plastic eyeballs were floating in the punch bowl that held a dubious concoction that Bryce had avoided just on its color alone. She caught sight of Monica sweeping around her old apartment, dressed as the Evil Queen from her favorite TV show. Black leather trousers molded her thighs, a corset cinched in her waist, and a long, patterned cape swirled out behind her. Her hair was pinned up on her head and she wore a lace headdress. Her heels looked as lethal as the dramatic look she was sporting. Bryce thought she looked exactly like the woman she was portraying. And she could tell Monica was loving every minute of people’s reactions to her. Apparently, everyone loved a seductive witch tempting them with her forbidden fruit.

Elton, meanwhile, was entertaining everyone with his faux British accent as he pranced around the room as Captain Jack Sparrow. He wore the detailed pirate costume all too well, and his eyeliner was as dramatic as Monica’s was.