Page 80 of A Beginner's Guide to Forever
I fidget nervously. The last time I was here was on Christmas Day, when I poured my heart out to her about how it could never work between me and the man standing beside me.
I knock twice and then let myself in. We find Will in the kitchen washing bottles. He presses a kiss to my cheek, and I introduce him to Hart.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Hart says, extending his hand.
“Likewise. Scar’s in the den. And there are drinks in the fridge. Make yourself at home.”
Scarlet waves us over to where she’s seated in a plush armchair with the baby in her arms.
“Hi, lady.” She smiles. “And you must be Hart. Come sit down.”
We join her, settling in on the sofa across from her.
The moment Hart seems to realize that Scarlet isn’t just holding Cullen, she’s nursing him, he stands suddenly.
“Oh. Sorry. I’ll wait in the other room.”
Scarlet chuckles at his obvious discomfort, which is admittedly adorable. “It’s just a boob. I’m good if you are.”
And it’s not like you can really see anything; Scarlet has covered Cullen with a swaddling blanket that’s draped across her shoulder. But we can hear him noisily sucking away.
At this, a lopsided smirk lifts Hart’s mouth, and he sits back down beside me. “I’m good.”
Scarlet grins like she’s amused by him.
“It’s good to finally meet you,” Hart says. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
She laughs. “I bet you have. Here’s the deal. You believe half of what you hear about me, and I’ll believe half of what I hear about you.”
Hart chuckles. “Deal.”
I roll my eyes. “It was a beautiful service,” I say to Scarlet.
She strokes Cullen’s chubby cheek. “It really was. I’m glad you could come.” She studies us, sitting on the sofa side by side—the way he holds my hand, the comfortable way my knee brushes his. I know she’s wondering if we’re back together. I am, too, to be honest.
Once he’s finished nursing, Scarlet secures her top and hands me the baby. “Will you burp him?”
“Of course.” I accept the pudgy bundle and settle him on my shoulder with a burp cloth. I’m thumping his back with my palm when I feel Hart studying me with a crease in his forehead. I wonder what he’s thinking, why he’s really here. And if I should give in to what my heart is telling me or what my head is this time.
I’m also unsure if I’m prepared to face the gauntlet of public scrutiny again. Though just like his father predicted, my entire affair with Hart was soon forgotten. Or at least overshadowed with other, more pressing news. That’s not to say it couldn’t flare up again.
Cullen lets out a big wet burp, and we both smile.
“Impressive for such a small thing.” Hart grins.
I turn him over and cradle him in my arms. “There you go, buddy.” His eyes blink open, and his lips part in a gummy smile. I coo at him and stroke his soft cheek, the downy smattering of fine hair on his head.
“Less?” Scarlet calls from the kitchen. “Give me a hand in here for a minute?”
I consider my options. “I can put him in his chair ...,” I say to Hart, glancing over at the baby swing in the corner, “or you can hold him.”
His eyes widen with a look of uncertainty, and I wonder if he’s ever held a baby. “I can hold him,” he says quietly.
Transferring the baby to Hart’s big unsure hands is tricky, answering my question about his experience level in an instant. His expression fills with wonder like he’s never held something so fragile. Once he’s settled, I join Scarlet in the kitchen.
“What did you need?” I ask.
“Hmm?” She waves me off. “Oh, nothing. I just wanted to gossip.”
