𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I stared at the ceiling.

The soft hum of Scarlett's breathing filled the quiet space between us. She wasn't asleep—hadn't even come close—but she lay beside me, back turned, fingers tracing mindless patterns against the sheets.

It had been hours since our last conversation. But after spending two days acting like nothing was going on, it was clear that walking on eggshells wasn't fixing anything.

I had come over tonight because neither of us could keep pretending that avoidance was the answer. Now, though, lying here in the silence, I realized that talking about it felt just as terrifying.

Still, I couldn't let another night pass like this. I turned onto my side, resting my head against my palm. "Scarlett."

She didn't move. I reached out, brushing my fingers over her hip. "Baby."

She let out a quiet sigh before rolling onto her back, eyes locked on the ceiling. "I don't know where to start."

I swallowed. "Start anywhere." She blinked a few times, then turned her head, meeting my gaze. "Do you still love me?"

I exhaled sharply, my chest aching at the way her voice cracked at the end of that sentence. "Of course I do."

Scarlett studied me for a long moment, like she was trying to make sure I wasn't lying.

"I know you do," she said finally. "But sometimes... it feels like I'm fighting for a place in your life."

My stomach twisted. "You're not." She let out a humorless laugh. "It doesn't feel that way."

I sat up, running a hand through my hair. "Scarlett, I don't want you to feel like that. Ever."

Scarlett shifted, sitting up with me, pulling her knees to her chest. "Then tell me the truth."

I looked at her. "I always tell you the truth." She hesitated. "Are you... happy?"

That question caught me off guard.

"Happy?" I repeated. She nodded, biting her lip. "I mean, really happy. Not just content or comfortable. But do you wake up in the morning and feel like this is the life you want?"

I hated that she even had to ask that.

I turned toward her fully, reaching out to take her hand. She let me, but I could tell she was still bracing herself for whatever answer was coming.

I gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. "Scar, you are the best part of my life."

Her jaw tensed. "But?"

I shook my head. "No but. Just you. You and me. That's all I want."

She blinked a few times, processing my words. Then, softer, "And Madelyn?"

I let out a slow breath. "She's going to be part of my life. That's not something I can change. But that doesn't mean I want to build a life with her. That doesn't mean I love you any less."

Scarlett held my gaze, searching for something. "I don't need you to choose between us, Y/n. I just need to know that you're choosing me every day."

I reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I am." She looked away for a second, shaking her head. "It doesn't always feel like it."

My heart clenched. "Then tell me how to fix it."

Scarlett exhaled through her nose, rubbing her temple. "I don't know if it's something you can just fix. It's something that has to change, and I don't want to keep having the same conversation every few months."

I nodded. "Neither do I."

She shifted, hugging her knees a little tighter. "I don't want to be in this relationship if it means constantly feeling like I'm waiting for you to put me first."

I grabbed her hand again, firmer this time. "Scarlett, I don't ever want you to feel like you're waiting for me. I want us to move together—not apart."

She looked at our hands, running her thumb over my knuckles. "And how do we do that?"

I swallowed. "We set boundaries. We figure out how to do this together. We make a plan."

Scarlett's lips parted slightly, like she hadn't expected me to say that. I took a deep breath, holding her hand tighter. "I want you to be part of everything with me,"

Scarlett's eyes widened. "What?"

I nodded. "I know that's not easy for you. But I don't want this to be me and her figuring things out while you're on the sidelines. I need us all to be on the same page."

She bit her lip. "Y/n—"

"I need you, Scar."

Scarlett hesitated, staring at me for a long time before finally exhaling. "Okay."

Relief flooded through me. "Yeah?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

I smiled softly, rubbing circles over her palm. "Then we take it one step at a time."

Scarlett looked at me, the tension in her shoulders finally softening. "One step at a time."

I nodded. "Together." She let out a small, breathy laugh, finally relaxing a little. "Together."

I brought her hand to my lips, pressing a soft kiss against her knuckles. "I love you, Scarlett."

She exhaled, her gaze softer now. "I love you too."

And for the first time in a long time, I finally believed that we could get through this.

I shifted beside Scarlett, still holding her hand, my fingers tracing slow circles over her skin. She had relaxed—a little—but I could still feel the tension lingering between us, like an invisible thread pulling everything just a little too tight.

I exhaled, staring down at our hands. "Can I tell you something?"

Scarlett hummed in response, her gaze flicking up to meet mine. "Always."

I hesitated. "I'm scared."

That made her sit up a little straighter. "Of what?"

I let out a quiet laugh, shaking my head. "Of everything."

Scarlett didn't say anything, just waited, her fingers tightening around mine.

I swallowed. "I don't want to screw this up. Any of it. Us. The baby. Madelyn. I feel like I'm constantly balancing on this thin line, and no matter what I do, someone is going to get hurt."

Scarlett's expression softened. "Y/n..."

I shook my head. "No, just—let me finish."

She nodded, watching me carefully.

I ran a hand through my hair. "I've spent so much time trying to keep everyone happy, trying to make sure I don't lose you while also being there for this baby, but the truth is—I don't know what I'm doing. I've never done this before. And every time I think I have it figured out, something happens, and I realize I'm just as lost as I was in the beginning."

Scarlett let out a slow breath. "That's because you're human, Y/n. No one expects you to have all the answers."

I gave her a pointed look. "It sure as hell feels like they do."

She sighed, shifting so she was facing me completely. "I won't lie to you. This is hard. It's messy, and complicated, and sometimes it hurts. But you're not alone in this."

I blinked. "It feels like I am."

Scarlett frowned, and for a second, I regretted saying it. But it was the truth.

I exhaled. "You asked me if I was happy. And the answer is—I don't know. I know I love you. I know I want to be with you. But I also know that every time I look at this situation, all I see is everything that could go wrong."

Scarlett was quiet for a moment before she shifted closer, resting her hand on my cheek. "You need to stop carrying all of this by yourself. You don't have to prove anything to me, or Madelyn, or anyone else. You just have to show up. That's all."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "And if I fail?"

She shook her head. "Then we figure it out. Together."

I swallowed hard, pressing my forehead against hers. "I don't want to lose you."

Scarlett exhaled softly. "Then don't."

I closed my eyes for a second before nodding. "Okay."

She pulled back slightly, her thumb brushing against my jaw. "We're going to be okay, Y/n."

I wasn't sure if she believed that. Hell, I wasn't sure if I did.

But I wanted to.

And for now, that had to be enough.

.  .  .

𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

We decided to have a lazy weekend, we'd been through an emotional rollercoaster the past couple of weeks and with the kids gone, it was a much needed weekend to just relax, no work, just us.

Y/n was grinning up at me, that stupid, cocky smirk on her face—the one that made it impossible for me to stay mad at her for long.

And god, I hated how much I loved it.

I was still straddling her lap, my hands resting on her shoulders, fingers lightly brushing against the nape of her neck. She had the audacity to act like she hadn't just driven me insane all week, like she hadn't spent the last week stuck in my head, making me question everything.

Now she was here, staring at me like I was the only thing that mattered, and it was so damn unfair.

I huffed, crossing my arms. "You think you're cute, don't you?"

Y/n smirked, her hands squeezing my waist. "No, I know I'm cute."

I rolled my eyes, but my lips twitched against my will.

She noticed. Her smirk widened, and before I could react, she flipped us over so that I was pinned beneath her.

A surprised laugh escaped me. "You did not just do that—"

Y/n hovered over me, her nose brushing against mine. "What are you gonna do about it, Scar?"

I swallowed, glaring up at her. "You are so obnoxious."

She grinned. "And yet... you're obsessed with me."

I scoffed, but my fingers betrayed me, trailing up her spine, nails grazing lightly over the fabric of her shirt. "Don't flatter yourself." Y/n hummed, dipping her head lower until her lips brushed against my jaw. "Mmm. Too late."

A shiver ran down my spine, but I refused to let her win.

I smirked, letting my fingers tangle in her hair before giving a teasing little tug. Y/n inhaled sharply, her body tensing for half a second before she let out a low, pleased hum.

Oh. I bit my lip, testing the waters by tugging just a little harder.

Y/n exhaled against my skin, her lips grazing my pulse. "Scarlett."

God, I loved the way she said my name. I grinned, satisfied with myself. "Yeah?"

Y/n lifted her head, eyes darkened with something I definitely wanted to explore further. "You love messing with me, don't you?"

I smirked. "I have no idea what you're talking about." She shook her head, biting her lip. "You're so lucky I love you."

I hummed, running my fingers through her hair again—this time softer, slower. "I really am, aren't I?"

Y/n chuckled, shaking her head before leaning down and kissing me properly—slow, deep, devastating. I sighed against her lips, my fingers sliding down her arms, pulling her impossibly closer. Her hands gripped my waist, warm and steady, anchoring me in a way that only she could.

God, I had missed this.

Missed her.

I felt her smile against my lips before she pulled back slightly, her nose bumping against mine. "Are you still mad at me?"

I arched a brow. "You think one kiss is gonna fix everything?"

Y/n grinned. "Well, it's a start."

I pretended to consider. "Mmm... I don't know."

She nuzzled my neck, pressing the softest kiss just below my ear. "I can make it up to you."

I hated how easily she could undo me. I let out a breathy laugh. "You're impossible."

Y/n pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, all playful smugness replaced by something softer. "Yeah, but you love me anyway."

I exhaled, shaking my head before cupping her face. "Yeah, I really do." Y/n's smile softened, and in that moment, I knew.

No matter what happened—no matter how complicated things got—she was mine.

And I wasn't letting her go.