A/n: considering making this a triple update... get this chapter to 20 votes and 30 comments before 11am PST and I'll post two more chapters at 11am ๐
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The steam curled lazily around the bathroom, clinging to the mirror as Y/n hummed softly to herself. She'd just pulled on her hoodie, the damp fabric clinging to her shoulders in a way that made me want to pull it back off again.
I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on brushing my hair, though my eyes kept drifting to her reflection.
"Your shower pressure is criminally bad," I teased, running the comb through my hair.
Y/n turned to face me, leaning against the counter with a grin. "Are you complaining about my luxurious amenities?"
"Luxurious? That's a stretch," I replied, smirking.
"You're spoiled, Johansson," she said, shaking her head. "Not everyone has state-of-the-art spa bathrooms."
"Guilty as charged," I admitted, meeting her gaze in the mirror.
She crossed the space between us, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind and resting her chin on my shoulder. Her warmth seeped into me, her damp hair brushing against my neck.
"You're cute when you're flustered," she said, pressing a kiss to my jaw.
"I'm not flustered," I said, but the slight hitch in my voice betrayed me.
"Hmm, could've fooled me," she murmured, her lips trailing to my cheek. She placed another kiss just below my ear, and I couldn't suppress the soft laugh that escaped me.
"Y/n," I said, half-warning, half-laughing as I squirmed in her hold. "You're impossible and that tickles."
"And yet, here I am and yes I know it does," she said, her hands sliding to my hips, pulling me gently against her as she places more soft kisses on me.
I turned in her arms, catching her playful grin before leaning in to kiss her. It was soft and lingering, the kind of kiss that made me forget where I wasโor who I was.
My hands found their way to her shoulders, her fingers tightening slightly at my waist as we deepened the kiss. When we finally pulled apart, she rested her forehead against mine, her lips curving into a small, teasing smile.
"See? Not so serious anymore," she whispered.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't hide my smile. "You have a terrible influence on me."
"Admit itโyou love it," she said, pulling back just enough to look at me.
"Maybe," I said, my voice quieter now. "Don't let it go to your head."
"Oh, it's way too late for that," she said, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
"You know if you keep kissing me like this, we're going to end up in the bed" Y/n smirked and I shook my head, playfully rolling my eyes before leaning up to kiss her again. Our lips moved in sync before we pulled apart again.
We stood there for a moment, the playful banter fading into something softer, something unspoken. I wanted to freeze time, to stay in this bubble of warmth and closeness before reality had a chance to intrude.
. . .
She finished brushing her teeth and leaned against the counter, watching me. "What's going on in that head of yours?" she asked softly, breaking the silence.
Her tone wasn't accusing, but it carried a weight that made my chest tighten. Her eyes fully focused on me, piercing the space between us, waiting for me to say somethingโanything.
"Nothing," I said too quickly. I looked down at the floor, avoiding her gaze. "Nothing's going on. I'm just... thinking."
She took a step closer, her presence filling the room in a way that always made me feel both grounded and completely unmoored.
"Thinking about what?" she pressed, her voice careful. "Because it feels like you're pulling away." she nervously chuckled.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Y/n, it's notโ" I stopped, searching for the words that wouldn't come. "It's not that simple."
"It never is with you," she said, and though her voice was steady, I could hear the frustration beneath it.
I finally looked up at her, my heart twisting at the way her brows furrowed, her lips slightly parted like she was bracing herself for the worst. "I don't think this is a good idea," I said quietly, each word feeling like it weighed a ton.
She blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Why now? Because of what Chris said? Or is this just another excuse?"
Her words hit closer than I wanted to admit. "It's not an excuse," I snapped, my voice sharper than intended. "It's reality. This thing between us... it's just temporary, fakeโ"
"It's what?" she interrupted, her voice rising. "Not worth it? Not real? What are you trying to say, Scarlett?"
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. "I'm saying that it's complicated."
Her laugh was bitter, almost incredulous. "Complicated? That's your answer?"
"It is complicated!" I shot back, stepping away from the counter. "You know what it's like, with every move you make and everything you do being under a microscope. And then, with Chris's post, people are speculating things that Iโ."
"So what?" she challenged, crossing her arms. "Since when do you care about what other people think? Or is it just easier to use them as an excuse to avoid how you feel? Scar, you know it's the price you pay to live the life you live, unfortunately."
Her words cut deeper than I expected. "This isn't just about me," I argued. "This could ruin you, too. Your career, your lifeโ"
"Don't make this about me," she interrupted. "This isn't about protecting me, Scarlett. This is about you being too scared to admit that thisโusโmeans something. I don't understand why you're so afraid."
"It's not about being scared," I said defensively, though even I didn't believe it. Like I told Flo recently, there's a lot of things about this that terrifies me. "It's about being realistic."
She stared at me, her expression a mix of disbelief and hurt. "Realistic? Or cowardly?"
I flinched, her words hitting their mark. My walls went up, my voice colder than I intended. "I never asked you to wait for me, Y/n. If this is too much for you, then maybe we should stop."
Her face fell, and the silence that followed was deafening. "Wow," she said quietly, stepping back like I'd physically struck her. "That's cold, even for you."
I hated the look on her face, the way her eyes dimmed, the way she pulled away like she was trying to protect herself from me. But I didn't know how to fix it without admitting everything I was too afraid to say.
"Y/n," I started, my voice faltering. "I didn't mean it like that."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "You meant exactly what you said."
The weight of her words settled heavily between us. I could feel her slipping away, and I hated myself for letting it happen.
"I think you should go," she said, her tone steady but distant.
"Y/n, waitโ" I reached out, but she stepped back, shaking her head. I wanted to make things right, say sike or something.
"Just go, Scarlett," she said, her voice quieter now. "Before you say something else you can't take back."
I stared at her for a moment longer, my feet rooted in place. But the finality in her tone left no room for argument. I grabbed my bag and left, the door clicking shut behind me like a punctuation mark I didn't want to put on this conversation.
As I sat in my car, gripping the steering wheel, the weight of her wordsโand my ownโpressed down on me. I didn't know how to fix this.
All I knew was that I couldn't stop the ache in my chest, no matter how much I told myself this was for the best. I also know, the best thing I can do right now is give her space, let things breathe and cool out a little.
. . .
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The warm glow of string lights draped across the entrance of the Italian restaurant I had chosen for our second date, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her as we walked up to the door.
She was smiling at me, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, and her dressโsleek, black, and effortlessly stunningโhugged her body perfectly.
As I opened the door for her, her eyes lifted to meet mine, and her face lit up with a smile that sent a warm thrill through my chest.
"You're such a gentlewoman," she teased, her lips curving into a playful smirk.
"Well there's no better way to be," I countered, holding out my arm for her to take.
Her laugh was soft and warm. "Mmhm" she hummed.
We stepped inside, the comforting aroma of garlic and freshly baked bread filling the air. The host led us to a cozy corner table, tucked away from the bustling main floor.
The ambiance was perfectโdim lighting, a soft buzz of chatter, and the faint clinking of wine glasses in the background.
Madelyn picked up her menu, her eyes scanning the options. "What's the over-under on you ordering something basic like spaghetti?"
I smirked. "Are you doubting my culinary adventurousness already?"
"Maybe," she said, tilting her head. "Prove me wrong."
When the waiter came, I surprised her by ordering gnocchi with a truffle cream sauce. She raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Alright, Evans. You win this round."
"Glad to know I'm keeping you on your toes," I replied, leaning back in my chair.
The conversation flowed easily, like it always did with her. She told me stories about growing up in South Carolina, and I shared some of the more ridiculous antics from my childhood with Chris, Scott, and my two sisters.
She laughed so hard at one point that she had to wipe tears from her eyes.
"You're telling me you got stuck in a tree because you thought you could make a parachute out of a sheet?" she asked, shaking her head.
"I was eight, okay? It seemed logical at the time."
"You're lucky you didn't break a leg," she said, still giggling. "But I'll give you points for creativity."
The food arrived, and we fell into an easy rhythm of sharing bites and debating which dish was better.
I teased her for picking the most Instagram-worthy ravioli I'd ever seen, and she shot back by calling my gnocchi "fancy adult mac and cheese."
After dinner, I suggested we go for a drive. She looked at me curiously but agreed, and soon we were winding through the hills of LA.
The city sparkled below us, the lights stretching out endlessly, and I could tell she was mesmerized.
"Where are we going?" she asked, leaning forward slightly to look out the window.
"You'll see," I said, grinning.
I parked at a quiet viewpoint, the kind of place that didn't attract too many people but offered an unbeatable view of the city.
As we stepped out of the car, the cool night air hit us, and Madelyn shivered slightly.
"Cold?" I asked, opening the trunk.
"A little," she admitted, rubbing her arms.
I pulled out one of my hoodiesโa soft, oversized oneโand held it out to her. "Here."
She hesitated for a moment before slipping it on, the sleeves comically long on her. She grinned, pulling the hood up over her head. "How do I look?"
"Better than I ever did in it," I said honestly.
She rolled her eyes but smiled. She sat down in the trunk space of my Jeep effortlessly, sitting on top of all the blankets I'd placed earlier today when I first came up with the idea of coming to the viewpoint, patting the space beside her.
"Come on, Evans. Don't leave me hanging."
I got in, settling in beside her. We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, staring out at the twinkling lights below.
"This is amazing," she said softly, her voice almost drowned out by the faint hum of the city.
"You're amazing," I replied without thinking.
She turned to look at me, her cheeks pink in the glow of the city lights. "You're kind of a flirt, you know that?"
"Only with you," I said, leaning closer.
She didn't pull away. Instead, she shifted slightly, using her hands to move over, settling between my legs with her back against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, resting my chin on her shoulder.
"Comfortable?" I asked, pressing a soft kiss to her jaw.
"Very," she said, her voice warm. "You're not so bad at this date thing."
"I have my moments."
We talked about everything and nothingโour favorite movies, her upcoming campaign shoots, my latest vlog. At one point, she pulled out her phone and snapped a selfie of us, her face glowing with happiness.
I kissed her cheek as she took another, and she laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
"You're going to have to send me those," I said.
"Only if you promise to send me the terrible photos you're going to take of me," she teased.
"Deal," I said, pulling out my phone to snap a candid of her looking out at the city. She caught me mid-shot, rolling her eyes but smiling anyway as I snapped a few more.
Madelyn then took a picture of the view before angling her phone down to take a picture of our interlocked fingers.
As the night went on, I couldn't help but sneak more kissesโon her cheek, her neck, the corner of her lips. Each time, she laughed softly, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm.
"You're trouble," she said, tilting her head to look at me.
"Good trouble?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I placed some kisses on her now exposed neck.
"The best kind," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
I loved that she made me forget about everything else, every other problem, every other thing going on in my life, it all disappears when I'm with her.
We stayed there for hours, way longer than we intended, talking, laughing, and stealing kisses until the city began to quiet. When I finally drove her back to her Airbnb, she refused to give back the hoodie.
"This is mine now," she declared, hugging it close.
"Fine," I said, laughing. "But only because it looks better on you."
She leaned in, her lips brushing mine in a kiss that was soft and lingering. "Thank you for tonight, I really had a great time." she said, her eyes searching mine.
"Anytime," I replied, meaning every word before we locked lips once more, this one a little longer, more passionate before she pulled away. She smiled, pecking my lips once more before we bid our goodnights and goodbyes.
As I drove home, the memory of her laughter and the warmth of her kiss stayed with me. For the first time in a long time, everything felt... right, with Madelyn.
However, as she closed her door, one person reentered my mind. I needed answers, I needed answers to help uncomplicated all the feelings going on for both of them.
I really like Madelyn, tonight further solidified that but, I can't fully allow myself to pursue her without feeling guilt for what that may do to Scarlett. I know, Scarlett is being difficult but, I still need to know what we're doing.
. . .
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The knocking at my door was firm but unhurried, like she wasn't sure if she wanted to be here but had come anyway. My chest tightened. I knew who it wasโY/n's timing was always impeccable, even when it was the last thing I thought I wanted.
I hesitated before opening the door. She stood there, hands in her hoodie pockets, her expression a mix of irritation and something softer. Vulnerability, maybe. Or maybe I was just projecting.
"Can I come in?" she asked, her voice low.
I nodded, stepping aside to let her in. She moved into the living room, her presence filling the quiet space in a way that felt both comforting and overwhelming. She stopped near the couch, looking at me expectantly.
"I wasn't sure if I'd see you," I admitted, closing the door and leaning against it.
She scoffed lightly, a dry laugh that didn't reach her eyes. "That makes two of us."
There was a beat of silence, heavy and tense. She shifted her weight, glancing at the floor before meeting my eyes again. "So, are you going to explain, or...?"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Explain what?"
"Why you've been pulling away again," she said, her tone sharper now. "We hook up, you stick around just long enough to make me think this might actually mean something, and then... you retreat. Rinse and repeat."
I bristled, not entirely sure if it was her words or the way she said them that hit a nerve. "It's not that simple."
"It never is with you," she shot back, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "You say one thing, but your actions scream something else. And I'm just supposed to... what? Guess what's going on in your head?"
"I never asked you to do that," I said defensively, folding my arms over my chest. "And I don't owe you an explanation every time I take a step back."
She laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "Right. Because why would I expect clarity from you?"
"Y/nโ"
"Scarlett," she interrupted, her voice firm. "Do you even know what you're doing? Or are you just stringing me along because it's convenient?"
Her words stung, even though I knew she wasn't entirely wrong. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. The truth was, I didn't know what I was doing. Not with her. Not with any of it.
"I don't want to hurt you," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.
She let out a humorless laugh. "You're doing a great job of it."
I stepped closer, tentatively reaching for her arm. "I'm not trying to. I'm just... figuring things out."
Her eyes softened, but the hurt lingered in her expression. "You've been 'figuring things out' for a while now, Scar. And I get itโyou're scared. But at some point, you've got to decide if this... whatever this is... is something you actually want to keep doing."
I didn't know what to say. I didn't have the answers she deserved, and part of me hated myself for it.
I reached out instinctively, sliding my hands around her waist as I looked up at her. "I don't want to lose you," I admitted, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
She sighed, leaning into my touch despite herself. "You say that, but you keep pushing me away."
"I know," I said quietly. "I just... I need time."
She looked at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge if I was being honest or just trying to placate her. Finally, she nodded, though her expression remained wary.
"Time," she repeated, stepping out of my hold. "Fine. But don't think I'm just going to sit around and wait for you to figure it out."
I swallowed hard, nodding. "Fair enough."
She lingered for a moment longer, as if debating whether to say something else. Instead, she exhaled sharply and moved to grab her keys from the counter.
The thought of her leaving like this, her frustration unresolved, made my chest tighten. I couldn't let her walk out the door, not again.
"Y/n, wait," I said, my voice quieter now.
She turned, her brows raised, expectant but wary.
I closed the gap between us in two quick steps, my hand reaching for hers. "I know I'm a mess," I admitted, my voice cracking slightly. "And I don't know what this is... but I know I don't want it to stop."
Her lips parted slightly in surprise, but before she could respond, I cupped her face, my thumb brushing against her cheekbone.
My lips found hers, slow and soft at first, as if testing the waters. When she didn't pull away, I deepened the kiss, letting it convey everything I couldn't say out loud.
Her hands slid to my waist, pulling me closer as our breaths mingled. The kiss grew more intense, a mixture of passion and desperation, until we broke apart, both of us breathing heavily.
"Scar..." she started, her voice tinged with both confusion and longing.
I pressed my forehead to hers, closing my eyes as I whispered, "Just... stay tonight. Please."
Her grip on my waist tightened slightly, and after a moment, she nodded. "Okay."
Relief coursed through me as I led her to the couch, pulling her down beside me. We didn't say much after thatโjust sat together, her head on my shoulder and my hand tracing lazy circles on her back.
For now, it was enough to hold onto her, even if I didn't have all the answers.
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