The tires splashed against wet pavement as I pulled up to Scarlet's building. The morning rain pattered on the windshield, matching the quiet between us. Scarlet stared out the window, her fingers toying with the strap of her bag.
"Thanks for the ride," she said softly.
"No problem." I glanced at her. "You sure you're okay?"
She gave a small nod. "Yeah. Last night was... a lot. But I'm fine now."
I wanted to believe her, but the way her shoulders still seemed tense said otherwise. I stayed quiet, not wanting to push her.
"Thanks again," she whispered. "For everything."
"It's what friends do," I replied, offering a small smile.
She looked at me, lips parting like she wanted to say more. Instead, she just smiled back. The way her eyes softened made my chest feel tight.
My phone buzzed in the cup holder—Chris, asking if I was alive and needed coffee. I snorted, tossing the phone back.
Scarlet chuckled. "Your friends worry about you a lot."
"Yeah, well... they know I'm not the best at taking care of myself."
She gave me a thoughtful look but didn't push. "They seem like good guys."
"They are. Just... loud."
She laughed, and the sound eased the tension in the car. Finally, she sighed. "I should go inside."
I nodded, trying to sound casual. "Right. Take care, alright?"
Scarlet reached for the door but hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
She glanced at me, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "Last night, I noticed some things in your place. The old photo of you and that guy—was that your dad?"
My chest tightened, but I kept my tone neutral. "Yeah. That was him."
She hesitated. "And the boxing gloves—looked like they've been used a lot."
"They have," I said, not meeting her gaze.
She bit her lip. "There's also a dent in the wall near the kitchen. Like... someone punched it."
I gripped the steering wheel tighter, not answering.
Scarlet's voice softened. "You didn't have a great past, did you?"
My jaw clenched. I didn't want to get into it—not here, not now. Finally, I managed to say, "I'll tell you when it's the right time."
She didn't press. Just nodded, accepting my answer without pushing for more. The way she looked at me—like she wanted to understand but wasn't going to force it—made something inside me loosen.
"I'll wait," she whispered, her eyes never leaving mine.
The air between us felt charged, but neither of us moved. I wanted to reach out, just to close that gap, but I held back.
Finally, Scarlet broke the spell, opening the door. "I'll see you around?"
"Yeah," I said quietly. "Anytime."
She gave me a small wave before heading inside. I watched her go, exhaling slowly once she disappeared into the building. The rain continued its steady rhythm, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between us—something I wasn't ready to put into words.
With one last glance at the entrance, I pulled away, the quiet hum of the engine blending with the rain.