Page 28 of Everything I Want

"Oh Scarlett. I can't take this tonight," I say, shaking my head and handing it back to her.

"I want you to take it, Mom. It will match your outfit perfectly, and you can have a little bit of Dad to give you the courage you need. He would want you to be happy and loved. And Scott loves you. Whether he has said it or not, we all see it. So let yourself be loved." She walks around me and I pull up my hair for her to clasp the necklace.

I turn to give her a hug. "Thank you so much, sweet girl."

"Why are you always making Mom cry?" Addy has her arms crossed in the doorway.

"Ugh. Way to ruin a moment, Adelaide." Scarlett rolls her eyes at me after giving her sister a look of,really?

"Listen, it's not my fault! You're always making Mom cry before a big event!"

"One time, Adelaide. She cried one time and it wasn't my fault!" Scarlett argues.

"Girls, stop. Scarlett didn't make me cry in a bad way. They're happy tears. Now go let me get dressed!" I say as I shoo them out of the room.

I park my car on the road outside of Scott's house. I sit there taking in the amount of cars and let my nerves get the best of me.

I start my car again. Maybe I can't do this.

A knock on my window startles me, causing me to jump. I look to my left and see Scott with his hands in his pockets. Rolling down my window I look at him sheepishly. I've been caught trying to run.

"Lorelei, are you coming in?" He asks with a knowing smile.

"I was going to," I say.

"Is that why you started your car back up?" He grins. "I was told by your girls, very emphatically, to not let you back out and leave early. I was promised that you looksmoking hot."

Gosh, what is wrong with those girls?

"I'm so sorry, Scott. I'm just nervous." I shut off my car for a second time.

"I figured you were." He opens my door, "That's why I came to rescue you." He holds his hand out to me.

Once I step out of the car, he holds me at arm's length and looks me up and down. "I can confirm, you are definitely smoking hot." He says grinning ear to ear.

My cheeks flame and I swat at his chest. We turn our heads as we hear a commotion in the front yard.

"We aren't looking, but Grandma wants to know where you ran off to. I figured you'd rather us than her. Especially if you're kissing Lorelei!" Keith yells out with his hand over his eyes. Jason is next to him doing the same. Apparently the commotion was them walking into decorations on the deck.

"Boys, you can move your hands before you fall and get hurt. I'm not kissing her," Scott replies.

"Oh. Well. I mean, that's a mistake Pops. You always kiss your girl when she shows up and looks beautiful!" Both boys walk over to me pulling me into a hug and kissing me on the cheek.

They loop their arms through mine and lead me inside. These boys sure know how to break the ice. I am laughing as they walk me through the front door, and introduce me to Scott's mom.

"Grams, this here is the beautiful Lorelei Harper. The one who's stolen Dad's heart," Jason winks at me. I suck in a sharp breath.

"Oh boys, will you leave this poor woman alone? I'm sure she's nervous enough coming into this house full of strangers. She doesn't need you two knuckleheads making a show of it." She swats at the boys and rushes them out of Scott's kitchen, while simultaneously pulling me in.

"What did those two do now, Mom?" Scott walks into the kitchen, coming to my side and wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Oh you know, the usual, causing a scene and acting like they're casanovas." She rolls her eyes. For an older lady she sure has a lot of spunk. I bet she'd give Mabel a run for her money. The thought brings a smile to my face.

Before long Scott's mom is giving directions to anyone who dares enter the kitchen. The nerves have subsided some as I meet more people. Everyone is so kind.

As the party winds down, only Keith and Jason are left. We are sitting at the kitchen table playing card games, munching on some snacks.

"So boys, what is your plan for tomorrow?" I ask them.

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