"Of course? You're the one who means the most to me. The whole point of us dating is to keep Ryan from getting suspicious, remember?" I cooed and reminded her.
"Jerk, always sweet talking! You men are always changeable, perhaps you this is just how you coax your oversea girlfriend!" Scarlett remarked, looking unhappy. It seemed like she was feeling jealous.
"No way, baby! How could I win her over if I spoke to her this way?" I quickly explained.
Scarlett brushed me off and concentrated on washing the dishes. No matter how much I tried to get her attention, she wasn't having it.
Once Scarlett finished washing the last dish, I scooped her up and sat her on the nearby counter, holding her close.
"Listen up," I said firmly, "You're the one who matters most to me. That's a fact no matter what. Even if I tie the knot in the future, if that's what you really want, I can make it happen. I'll make sure you have the best nights. But can you stop icing me out? I really don't like it. If you don't want me to date, I can just dump her. Your happiness is all that counts. In my book, your happiness comes before anything else."
The more I said, the softer my tone became. I wanted Scarlett to understand how serious and sincere I was.
Anyway, I wasn't going to give up on Scarlett. I was determined to win her over.
"I'm not sad. You have a girlfriend, and I just can't bear this," Scarlett said, her brows furrowed, tears welling up in her eyes.
Seeing her cry broke my heart. I gently wiped the tears from her flushed cheeks.
"Don't cry," I comforted her softly, "Whatever you're going through, talk to me. I'll help you through it."
Scarlett sobbed, "I just want to be with you, to have a real relationship and get hitched. But now I'm married, and you have a girlfriend. I can't dump Ryan, and I can't stop you from finding your love. I'm selfish, but I don't want to be like this."
Suddenly, it all made sense. She had fallen for someone she couldn't be with.
There was a huge barrier between us: Ryan.
Even though Ryan and I weren't blood-connected, we were legally brothers because we were both adopted by the same family.
"If only I had met you first," Scarlett sighed, resting her head on my shoulder, her tearful eyes fixed on the kitchen door, full of regret.
Why did she rush into marrying Ryan? Why didn't she date other guys?
"If I had met you first, maybe you wouldn't have fallen for me," I chuckled helplessly.
"Why?" Scarlett asked.
"Because back then, I was on the high school basketball team, sweating and training every day. I was always sweaty and smelly. Who would like a guy like that?" I smiled.
"Weren't there any girls who admired you on the basketball team?" Scarlett asked.
"There were," I reminisced, my mind drifting back to high school.
I had once been a big deal in school, the most good-looking, tallest, and fittest guy, leading as the basketball team captain and snagging MVP in every game, bringing home tons of awards for the school.
Girls cheered for me from the bleachers during games, and even the cheerleaders put on shows to support me.
But whenever I tried to get close to those girls, they'd back off because of my body odor.
Eventually, I stopped trying to get their attention and just focused on playing, soaking in their cheers.
Our basketball team made it to the NBA qualifiers, which happened to coincide with Ryan and Scarlett's wedding. I was too wrapped up in the games to make it to the wedding, which was why I hadn't seen Scarlett in the seven years of their marriage.
"How do you know I wouldn't have been into the school's heartthrob or someone younger than me?" Scarlett then asked.
I replied, "So what's the difference? They're just like me, sweaty and smelly."
Scarlett shook her head, her eyes firm. "They couldn't change you, but I can. I don't mind a guy with a strong scent. It's a sign of manliness."
I was somewhat surprised. "Really? You're okay with it?"
Scarlett nodded, "Yeah, I actually like it."
She cupped my face, her eyes locked on mine with sincerity. It was clear she meant it.
But it was too late now. Scarlett had been married for seven years.
I sighed slightly, "It seems like we missed our shot, but it's all good. We'll get another chance. Just know that I've always had feelings for you and will wait for you to come around. Don't be sad, alright?"
"Alright," Scarlett nodded and gave me a light, gentle kiss on the lips.
But I wanted more. I deepened the kiss, my hand moving to the back of her head.
It had been too long since I last kissed her. Her lips were all I could think about, especially at night.
My other hand unconsciously slid from her back to her thigh, feeling her smooth skin. Scarlett tilted her head back, her hands around my neck, intensifying the kiss.
I let my tongue explore her mouth, and she responded in kind, our saliva mingling and heating up.
As my fingers slipped into her shorts, brushing against her panties, I felt the wetness between her legs, which was I had been longing for.
I trembled nervously, my touch growing more intense on her.
Scarlett's body responded involuntarily, trembling in sync.