Always For Keeps ( For Keeps part 2)

Thirty Six. Scarlett

Song for this chapter: Halsey- Drive

Lucas is a dad. I'm so happy for him! I wish I could have held Carter a little longer, but I'm sure in the coming weeks, I'll be able to hold him a lot more. Especially during the day so Mandy can recover. I hold on to the positive thoughts as Cooper and I head home alone.
I've been on edge lately, because I have been feeling like something bad is going to happen. Maybe it's all the whispering between the men I love, maybe it's my fucked up brain trying to create things that aren't there.
As we enter the apartment, I pull Cooper to me. I kiss him deeply as he sets me on the island, where he pulls off all my clothes. He carries my naked body to the bedroom where we make love for hours.
I put my legs up when we are all done and he smiles at me.
"You make me so happy." He says.
"Likewise." I say and pull his mouth back to mine.
"Today was pretty cool." He smiles.
"It was amazing."
"I can't wait until it's us." He says excitedly.
"Me, too." I grin.

We fall asleep in each other's arms, and I feel giddy thinking about Cooper and I finally having a baby.

The week flies by as Carter, Mandy, and Brady get home. I spend a lot of time with Mandy and Carter while our guys work.
We manage to figure out how to use the breast pump Brady bought, and she even lets me feed Carter.
He's so beautiful; the perfect mix of Mandy and Luke. I walk him and sing to him when he cries. And when Mandy cries. Postpartum depression is a bitch, and I have been trying to help as much as possible.
They both seem to calm down when I sing softly to Carter.
I even rush over in the middle of the night when I hear Mandy or Carter up.
Mandy says I'm a godsend, but I try not to be overbearing. She assures me I'm not.

One week turns into two, then three. Cater is growing so fast, and Mandy is feeling so much better.
For once, I feel like I'm actually helping. Plus, Mandy and I have been developing a friendship and I kind of love that.
I'm getting more excited for Kare, Hope, and Brett to get here. Only another week to go.

Things are absolutely perfect...

The bad thing about reaching a high, is that when you crash, you tumble down even lower and harder than you thought possible.

Mandy, Brady, and Carter went to see Brady's parents for the weekend. Cooper and Luke are working late, but assure me they are on their way home.
I finish making dinner as my cell phone rings on the island.
"Hey Starla." I say.
"Hey, have you seen the news?" She says panicked.
"No." I say as my heart races. "Which channel?" I ask as every possible outcome crosses my mind.
"Any local one." She says.
I flip the tv on and my stomach drops, along with my phone. Apparently my brain didn't think of everything.
There are pictures of Cooper with headlines.
The news casters are discussing the "breaking news".
"I don't get it, sure he's handsome, but cheating on your wife after you abuse her and send her running? Come on!"
"But his wife is back with him, that's the pathetic part!" The man laughs.
"If you're just tuning in to us, we have a breaking story on billionaire Cooper Shay, his wife Scarlett and his mistress and baby mama, model Natasha Novak."

I can't move, I can't breathe, I read the headlines over and over.
"Sources claim Cooper abused Scarlett for years before she ran off only to come back to him."
"Natasha claims her affair with Cooper began even before Scarlett left."
"Scarlett has lost two babies."
"Scarlett was actually in rehab after she tried to kill herself."
"There are countless texts from Cooper begging Natasha to have his baby."
"Natasha claims to have hundreds of pictures of her affair with Cooper."
"Maybe Scarlett is barren."
"Scarlett."
"Scarlett."
"Scarlett!"
"Scarlett!"
Strong arms grab me as grey eyes search mine.
"It's all lies. I swear to you she isn't pregnant with my baby! She wanted money or she was going to the press. I gave her money, I tried to protect you!"
I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this, but one thing stings more that the rest.
I turn to Luke who's green eyes are full something. Regret? "Did you know?" I ask calmly.
"Yes. We were trying to keep it under wraps, Scar."
"You swore to me that it was nothing!"
"I was trying to protect you!" He yells.
"I trusted you! I trusted both of you!" I scream.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Cooper grabs my arms and I don't hesitate as I slap him hard across his perfect face.
"Fuck you." I turn back to Luke. "And fuck you, too!"
I storm up the stairs where they both try to follow.
"Leave me alone!" I scream and lock the door. I push the dresser in front of it and sit on the bed.
Pathetic.
Barren.
Mistress.
Crazy.
She's lost two babies.
Cooper began the affair before Scarlett left.
Natasha.
Mandy.
Stacey.
Luke.
Cooper.
Crazy.
Crazy.
Crazy.
Crazy!
Crazy!

Everything is playing on a loop inside my head as I try and bring myself back to reality. Breathe. Breathe. In and out. I stand to my feet and catch a glimpse of the girl in the mirror.
She really is pathetic.
I'm pathetic. I hit her over and over as she shatters to the floor. I move to the other mirror and hit some more. I smash the picture frames before going into the bathroom and punching the mirror long after the pieces are shattered bits on the cold tile floor. I don't even register the dresser crashing to the floor as Cooper and Luke storm in and grab me. I hit and kick as tears stream down my face.
"Leave me alone!" I scream.
"No baby." Cooper falls to the floor and cries as he holds me in place. I fight him, only to have Luke throw me over his shoulder and carry me downstairs. He sets me down and I notice his white shirt is covered in blood. He pulls me into a hug, although I protest.
When I finally calm down they set me at the table.
I don't speak to either of them as the bandage my arms. They both cry, but I have no tears left as I sit and stare blankly at the city light twinkling outside the window.
"May I please go to bed?" I ask quietly.
"Yes." Luke says and move to carry me, but I step away.
"I would like to sleep alone, please."
"Fuck that. You're not going to be alone!" Luke yells. "I fucking love you. Cooper fucking loves you and we aren't going to let you hurt yourself!"
"I'm done now. It was the heat of the moment." I shrug and smile.
"Scarlett." Cooper sobs.
"We can discuss this tomorrow. Keep watch on me if you must, but I'm going to sleep." I walk to the bedroom and they both follow. "What part of alone do neither of you understand?" I ask annoyed.
"You destroyed an entire room, do you honestly think I'm going to let you be alone?"
"Why not? Nothing we say to each other matters." I shrug and sit on the bed. "I don't matter."
"You do matter." Cooper says.
"Coming from the husband who has been cheating on me for years?"
"It didn't start until after you were gone."
"Like the day I left? Maybe you were so caught up in her, you forgot. Maybe you beat me because I wasn't her." I say coldly and watch the color drain from his face.
"No. I'm so sorry, Scarlett. It wasn't right away. I fucking swear it. She doesn't hold a candle to you. I thought we were both detached from feelings. It wasn't until she met you that she told me she thought her and I had a future."
"Nothing that come out of either of your mouths matter anymore." I say.
"So it's over?" Cooper whispers?
"Fuck no it's not. We are going to be okay. I'm not giving up like that, and neither are you, Coop." Luke says sternly.
"Both of the men I love will have children with other women while you both use me as a warm crevice to come!" I scream and they both flinch. "Yeah. Fuck you both." I say and grab a pillow.
I go to the couch and lay so I'm facing the back of it. I close my eyes and wait.

They are both exhausted, so exhausted as they sleep on the couch and floor next to me. Luke is more of my concern as I quietly sneak off the couch.
He doesn't move, so I tiptoe to the bedroom and pull out a bag and some things. I grab money from the safe, and grab my cellphone.
I don't bother scribbling out a note as I leave the apartment.
I hail a taxi and head to the airport. I buy a ticket to New Orleans as myself, then go to the car rental and rent a car as Audrey Jones. It's not going to make that much of a difference, but enough to get me a small head start.
As I leave the I call the one person I can count on in the time of crisis.
"How are the parties is LA?" I ask as after she answers.
"To die for." She says and I know she is smiling.

I press the gas harder and get farther away from New York, but I leave my entire heart behind.