21. Scarlet

TWENTY-ONE

SCARLET

It's the insistent vibration, followed by Remington muttering, "Shit," as he fumbles with stuff on the nightstand that has me waking up, my muscles deliciously sore and cheeks already blushing as I recall what we got up to this morning. Rolling over so I'm on my stomach and slithering down to pillow my head in his lap, I hug my arms around his hips and sleepily greet, "Good morning."

Petting my hair as he gazes down at me, his eyes too alert to have just woken up himself, he asks, "How'd you sleep?"

"Mmm… so good," I blissfully sigh, nuzzling his lower abdomen as another vibration rattles from the nightstand. "Someone's popular this morning," I comment, starting to press my lips to his bare skin, wanting a chance to explore him as thoroughly as he's been learning me.

"Not me, baby girl. You."

Beginning to sit up and hooking my fingers inside his waistband to free his partially erect dick, the sheet pooling around my nude body, he stops me cold by saying, "It's your dad." Followed by, "And Roman wanting to know if I'm behaving myself—which we both know after this morning, I most definitely am not. Then again, neither are you, my sweetly depraved girl."

Letting him go with a pout, I agree, "No we most definitely are not," before reaching for my phone.

Kissing the crown of my head as he gets out of bed, he says, "I think he's missing you. Both of ‘em. I'm gonna go shower. Invite ‘em out here. We can go pick out furniture and decorate the rooms downstairs this afternoon. Or if you'd rather, we can go to Nashville."

Holding my phone as it buzzes with another text, I stare after him and ask, "You'd want them here?"

"Baby, they're your family. Where else would I want them besides in our home?"

"Our home?"

Stalking back to the bed, he rests a knee on the mattress and begins to cage me in, crowding my space until I begin to lay out for him. Once I'm on my back, looking up at him as he hovers over me, he says, "Scar, the stuff I'm doing with you… I haven't allowed myself to be that way with anyone—ever. You and me, it's Game 7 of the World Series, extra innings epic. So yeah, our house." Pressing a firm kiss to my lips, he stands back up and heads for the bathroom calling out, "But while they're here, let's put a pin in calling me Daddy. Unless of course you want me to out your kinky little butt over dinner when you say, ‘Daddy, will you pass the mashed potatoes?'"

"I hate you!"

"No, you don't. You love me and you know it."

"Yeah, I think I do," I whisper, opening my phone as it buzzes with more messages from Roman demanding I answer and my dad being as subtle as a fastball to the face over missing having us both under one roof.

The Home Team

Today 11:12 AM

Daddy

I know we just talked yesterday, but how's it going, Princess?

Do you need anything? I can transfer money if you do. Or you can use the AmEx. Don't go without just because you don't want to ask for money

Your car has at least half a tank right? Your oil's good? The service notifications aren't going off? What about your tire pressure? You know the air will shrink now that it's getting cold

Winnie still stocked on her food? I can send a delivery for you. What about her treats and toys?

Ro-Boat

Dad, you need to chill and give her a chance to respond

But now that you mention it, Squeaks, where are you? Aren't you usually back from your run by now?

Just checked the weather. It's been raining since last night, so why aren't you answering? ??

Daddy

We just miss you, Princess. Even with Reeves home it's too quiet without you. When is Remington's next check-in? We could do lunch, the boys and I could take you shopping. What do you think?

Or if you rather, Sevierville isn't too far from you and they have that outlet mall. How about we come out and take you shopping and to dinner?

Remington can come too

Ro-Boat

Like hell is Tate coming!!!

Ro-Boat

Today 11:19 AM

Ro-Boat

Reeves told me how Tate was all over you the other day on the video chat ??????

Want me to ?????? ?? him?

Seriously, is he giving you problems? Say the word, Squeaks, and I'll be there

You would tell me if he was right?

Not like last time…

Squeaks, I'm starting to worry. Please answer

Scarlet?

The Home Team

Today 11:23 AM

Ro-Boat

She's not responding. I say we just get in the truck now and drive out there. It's what, two hours? Two and a half?

Squeaks, answer us

SQUEAKS!!!

Daddy

Now who needs to chill?

Scarlet

Good morning

Ro-Boat

It's about fucking time!

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

Scarlet

Who are you? Molly Weasley?

I was asleep ??

Ro-Boat

It's after 11 there. Even we don't sleep that late

Scarlet

I do when I've been up late

Ro-Boat

What were you doing up so late that you're only just now getting up?

Daddy

Ro… I don't think you want the answer to that question

Ro-Boat

DAD

Scarlet

DAD!!!

Daddy

What? Ro's the one beating bushes for answers neither he nor I actually want. Truth or not, it'd serve him right

Ro-Boat

You're insane!

We're talking about her and TATE!!

Your CATCHER!

You know, the one that's only nine years younger than you, our FATHER!

Scarlet

Dad was 18 when he had me

Saying Remi is only nine years younger than him makes it sound WAY more scandalous than it is

Ro-Boat

Really? Remi? Again ????

"Oh my God, this is ridiculous," I grumble, jabbing the little video icon in the corner of my phone.

As the long tones of my phone trying to connect begin to sound, I realize I'm still naked and jump up from the bed, leaving my phone to get lost in the duvet. Spinning around several times as Remington returns wrapped in a towel, I mouth, "Help." Bending down, he snatches up a shirt and throws it to me, biting back a laugh. Sticking my tongue out at him as I get back into the bed, I tug it on and pull my hair free from the collar as Ro's and our dad's muffled voices sound out from my phone. Making sure my lap is covered so there's no chance of my panty-less state being exposed, I fish my phone out, my eyes darting away from Remington as he drops his towel, leaving his tight ass on display.

It's only as our dad eyes me quizzically for a moment before giving a single nod and Ro asks, "What are you wearing?" that I notice I have on a World Series Champion t-shirt that, with the amount of fabric I'm swimming in, is most noticeably not mine.

Rolling my eyes, I play it off and sarcastically respond, "A shirt? You should try it some time," referencing his bare, tattooed chest, the open petals from the Scarlet Carpet Rose vine creeping up his ribs just barely visible. Scrutinizing the two of them in my phone's screen, I ask, "Wait, were you two sitting next to each other while texting?"

"Oh please," our dad answers in exasperation. "As if you two don't do it all the time."

"But why his shirt?" Ro interrogates, undettered.

"Roman," I say, my patience with him nonexistent since Remi can hear every word being spoken. "What is your problem with Remington?"

"He wants?—"

"So what if he does?" I shout. "Whether or not I sleep with him is my choice. Not yours."

"But—"

"But what?"

Sighing as he scrubs his hand over his face, he answers, "I don't trust him."

"You don't trust him or you don't trust your judgment?" our dad asks. "It's an important distinction, Ro."

"God, do we really have to do this now? I mean Squeaks is still in bed, so she hasn't even had her coffee yet," my brother deflects.

Equally stubborn, Dad responds, "You brought it up."

Sitting across from me, Remington is careful to keep himself out of frame as he reaches for my hand. Lacing our fingers together, he squeezes my hand and silently sits with me as I'm unexpectedly forced to confront the root of Ro's issue with the idea of Remi and me.

Taking pity on my brother as he begins to shut down, I say, "I told him." Roman's head snaps up at the same time as Remi's, his hazel eyes briefly captivating mine before letting me go.

"About?" our dad asks, searching for clarification.

"Castor."

Pushing his chair back from the table, Roman walks out of frame, swearing, "Holy fuck," before coming back.

"How much?" dad asks, the mirror of my blues briefly flicking down to Remi's shirt.

"Enough to explain why I flipped him on his ass when he startled me post nightmare."

Plucking the phone from our dad's hands, Roman has an almost desperate hold on it as he softly asks, "You trust him? Feel safe with him?"

Meeting Remi's eyes over my phone, I answer, "With my life," calling back his own response from when we left the hospital and I asked him the same thing.

"Okay… I'll try…" he mumbles, handing the phone back. "I can't promise?—"

"All I ever want is for you to try, Ro-Boat. Nothing more."

"Love you, Squeaks."

"Love you too," I smile.

Slinging an arm around Roman's shoulders, our dad kisses his head—something seven years ago we never would have thought Roman would accept and so easily welcome—and jovially says, "And I love both of you, but my house is too quiet for this time of year with only two of my kids at home, so how ‘bout it, Princess?"

Checking to be sure, I offer, "Well, Remington only has the one guest room furnished right now but maybe if we can get the ones down stairs ready?—"

"It's the offseason, Princess; just give us a day and we're there."

"Thanksgiving," Remi mouths. "I'll cook."

"Thanksgiving? Maybe come up a day or two before?"

"We'll be there."

"I can't wait."

"Me either."

Making a duck face at the screen, Roman exaggeratedly kisses the air and says, "See you then, Squeaks. Now that I know you're not dead in a ditch, I'm off to go throw some pitches with Reeves before heading into Phoenix House, because somebody had to go become an athletic trainer and not help me run my charity."

Flipping him off, I repeat for the umpteenth time, "Hire help already!"

"Find me a woman I trust as much as you and I will! Now go have Tate do some exercise band things or whatever you're doing so he's fit enough for next season. Because as good as Knox can be, those few games before we were knocked out of the playoffs were hell. Pitchers should not have to calm down the catcher. We need our captain back."

"Your wish is my command," I mock. I'm about to ask my dad if he's going too when he holds up his finger and says, "Just a moment," watching Roman leave the room.

"Okay, he's gone."

"What's up?"

"Two things—well, maybe. First, how much did you tell Remington?"

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I answer, "All of it."

"Okay so yeah, two questions. Second, are you up to date on your birth control or do you need me to have Watson send a script to a pharmacy there in Gatlinburg?

"Oh," my dad adds, "and Remington, you can come out now," making both our eyes go wide as we stare at each other and I blab, "How the hell did you know?"

Scooting around to sit beside me, Remi waves, "Hey, Skip."

Giving him a stern look, my dad reprimands, "Don't, ‘Hey, Skip,' me while in bed with my daughter, Tate. Explain yourself, now. And fair warning, if I don't like what you have to say, I'm booting your ass to the shit show coming outta Dallas. Guaranteed and No Trade doesn't mean I still can't have Boomer sell you."

"Dad—"

"Scarlet Amelia Jones, not now. This is between me and my player. I'll get to you in a minute."

"Yes, sir," I mumble, rolling my eyes.

Pulling me closer and kissing my head as he soothes his knuckles along my back, Remington answers, "With all due respect, Skipper, I don't think my relationship with Scarlet has any bearing on whether or not I'm effective on the field and if I can compartmentalize my role on the team as your player from my role as her boyfriend.

"Furthermore, I don't like the way you spoke to Scarlet just now. Regardless of how you feel about us being together, don't dismiss your daughter when she's speaking to you. Otherwise I'm going to have a problem with you ."

Propping the phone up, my dad sits back in his chair, arms crossed as he simply responds, "And what if I was to say that by following through on whatever this is with her will result in you riding the bench until you're begging to be traded."

"Then I'll quietly keep accepting my paychecks and publicly support you even while you slowly tank the team. Another possibility is I tell Donny to work somethin' out with Boomer and the front office so I can retire. Because as long as Scar's in Nashville, so am I, and nothin' you threaten me with or do is gonna change that."

"So you're serious about this? About her? Even if it means the end of your career."

"I can live without baseball, Skip. I can't say the same about losing Scarlet."

Snapping my head to the side, I look up at Remington and ask, "Really?"

Uncaring of my dad watching us, he cups my face and says, "Yeah baby, really." He leans in to give me a kiss that, despite its chaste nature, has warmth flooding my whole body, slowly consuming me with a gentle sort of arousal. The kind that is full of warm, comforting embers instead of a blazing, burning frenzy. Unable to act on it until we're alone, I opt to clue Remi in on my dad's seemingly split personality. Smiling, I nod to where I still hold the phone and murmur, "I think you passed."

"Passed?"

Looking back at the screen, I find that as suspected, my dad is wearing a shit eating grin, all sense of intimidation gone from his countenance. His posture once more relaxed as his easy going nature returns.

"Kid, you've known me for how many years now? When have I ever talked to Scarlet like that or acted as if she's incapable of making her own choices? But good on you for sticking to your guns and not hesitating when it came to picking her. I came to terms with the fact that she would end up with one of my players long ago. Realistically speaking, where was she going to meet someone if not at The Nest? And of all the players I've had as teammates or coached, there hasn't been one I have felt could be more worthy of her love than you. You're a good man, Remington. Your mama would be proud of you."

Clearing his throat, Remi says, "Thanks… that uh… excuse me," he coughs. "That means a lot to me."

With the cat out of the bag, I scoot myself into Remington's lap, his arm coming around my hip as he stoops himself to rest his chin on my shoulder.

"Okay, but how did you know?"

Laughing he asks, "Are you serious? Did you two honestly think you were keeping things secret? I'm not blind. I've been watching this slowly unfold since May—probably longer. When the two of you are in the vicinity of each other, it's like nothing and no one else exists. It's all blushing cheeks and dopey eyes. Fuck, Remington can't even bat anymore without first looking to where you are, which made roadgames hell when you went back to school in August. Not to mention, you've literally become his whole pregame ritual. He can't take the field until he's talked to you. That boy's entire world has been revolving around you for months.

"As for you, Princess, there's no other word for it. You glow when he's around. You're always happy, but with his eyes on you, you're like the fucking sun. I don't know how else to explain it, but he makes you come alive in a way I haven't seen in years.

"But aside from that, let's see," he says, lifting his fingers as he begins to tick things off. "Both sides of the bed have clearly been slept in, your lips look swollen, you have a hickey on your neck, one of your toys is sitting out on the nightstand, and that's just off the top of my head and from today alone. So again I ask, are you keeping up with your birth control and do you have enough packs to last until you return to Nashville, or should I have Watson send a script?"

"We're not even having sex!" I shout, my face flush with embarrassment. "But yes, I take it every night and still have two unopened cycles. Believe me, Dad, there are no plans for me to actually get pregnant yet."

Raising his hands up in surrender, Dad says, "You know what? I don't even wanna know. Scarlet, I love you, and I'll see you at Thanksgiving. Remington, you're as good as family at this point, so welcome to the chaos, son." Then before either of us can respond, the call ends.

Tossing my phone to the side, I groan, "What is wrong with me?" flopping forward.

"You just have sex on the brain is all, baby girl."

Hands on my back, he pushes my shirt up, pulling it over my head so I'm naked once more. Massaging my breasts and down my sides, he grips my hips and flips me over, my legs immediately falling open for him.

Reaching into the night stand, he grabs a toy at random and says, "Let's see what one of my new best friends and I can do to help you with that," playing with my body until I'm squirting for him all over again.