Steed pulled out his phone while I made my way over to them. When he turned it around, Trevor and I both lost it laughing. Steed had on a wig that looked like it came from the movie Frozen. He had pigtails, bright pink lipstick, purple and pink eyeshadow, ruby red cheeks, and fake, plastic diamond earrings that dangled from his ears. To top it all off, he had on a tiara.
“What in the fuck?” Trevor asked, bending over to laugh. “Please send me that picture. God, I’ll give you five hundred dollars to send me that picture.”
“Screw you, Trevor. The point I’m trying to make is, once you become a dad, you’re going to be doing shit like this.”
Glancing up, Trevor whispered, “Please let me have a boy.”
I punched him on the arm.
“Just come in, make an ornament and then Mom and Chloe will be off your back.”
“Scarlett’s tired.”
I pointed to him. “Oh no, you are not putting this on me, Trevor Parker. I think it will be fun to make the baby an ornament.”
Steed motioned to me. “See, your girlfriend wants to make one for your baby, so let’s go.”
He headed into the house and I followed. Trevor reached for my hand, pulling me to a stop.
“Steed, we’ll be right there. I want to ask Scarlett something first.”
With a nod, he headed into the house, leaving me and Trevor alone on the front porch.
“You know I love you, right?” he asked, his face serious.
“I know.”
“You know I’m not leaving you or the baby. I’m in this with you forever and always.”
Smiling, I placed my hand on the side of his cheek. His unshaven face felt good against my hand. I wanted to feel it between my legs as I called out his name. Over and over.
“I know.”
“Then marry me, Scarlett.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. Everything felt a little off, like the entire world had tilted a bit.
“What?” I softly asked.
“I don’t want people to call you my girlfriend. I want them to know you’re mine. And I’m yours.”
“Trevor, I think…I mean…this is all so sudden. You’re moving fast and I’m not sure if you’re doing it all for the right reasons.”
“Right reasons? Because loving you and wanting to make you mine isn’t the right reason?”
I shook my head. “No, because your brother just called me your girlfriend, and you think we need to be something more. That this, what we have, needs a permanent title. We don’t have to be married to be parents to our baby. Things are different now and when we get married it’s going to be because we love each other, not because I’m pregnant.”
“That’s not why…”
Placing my fingers to his mouth, I closed my eyes and shook my head. I wanted more than anything to tell him I’d marry him. I wanted to scream out yes! But I knew in my heart we needed to wait.
I opened my eyes and smiled. “I want nothing more than to be your wife.”
His eyes lit up and a huge smile moved across his face.
“But now isn’t the time to ask me.”
“When is, Scarlett? I almost lost you once, and I refuse to risk losing you again.”
Leaning up, I kissed him gently on the lips. “You’re never going to lose me, Trevor Parker.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me flush against his body.
“Promise me that, Scarlett.”
“I promise I’ll never leave you.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “And I promise I’ll never leave you. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The screen door flew up and little feet came running out.
“Uncle Trevor! Come on! I’ve got the glue gun ready to go!” Chloe declared.
With a groan only loud enough for me to hear, Trevor forced a smile and wrapped his arm around my waist.
Trevor plastered on a smile “We’re coming and so ready to do this!”
Chloe jumped while clapping. “Yay! Let’s go! Wait till you see the crown I made you, Uncle Trevor!”
Trevor tried to turn around, but I pushed him into the house.
“Come on. This is good Dad practice!” I said, trying my best to hide my laugh.
“I’m sure going to miss you, Scarlett!”
With a grin, I kissed the cheek of my co-worker and friend, Mia. We worked together at the courthouse and I had to admit, a part of me was sad I was leaving. Only a small part.
Once Harley found out I was quitting my job and going to work for Trevor, she begged me to come in and work two afternoons a week at the vet clinic. I was over the moon when she asked. Trevor thought it was a great idea, too. I was a little giddy at the idea that I would be working at a vet clinic, especially since my dream had been to go to vet school.
Of course, my parents thought it was a bad idea and that I was being reckless with the pregnancy. They reasoned that a dog could bite me, or I could get sick. When that didn’t work, they tried rabies, and when that didn’t work, my father simply told me I was stubborn like my mother. He never once compared me to him. Everything had always been “like my mother.” Like he had no bad qualities or quirks, only the females. It had bothered me when I was little, but it didn’t bother me anymore.