The Red Song

Chapter 19 - Part Two

I put on my sneakers and head towards the kitchen to cook some breakfast. As I'm scrambling some eggs and frying some bacon in the oven, I hear a voice coming from behind me.

"It smells great." Ian is leaning by the kitchen's door, staring at me, with a corner smile on his face. He's wearing some black cotton pants and a simple white t-shirt with its sleeves cut off – also -, so you can see the muscles in his arms. His hair is loosened and it's still wet from the shower, with a lock behind his ear.

I still can't believe how handsome he is, even when he's just leaning at the door, he looks incredibly seductive.

He takes a red rose which he was hiding behind his back and his smile widen, noticing how I'm probably flushing by his gesture.

"Is that for me?" I ask, smiling.

"Yes." He says and begins to walk slowly in my direction, handing the rose over to me as he comes close.

He puts his mouth right by my ear and whispers: "Beware of its thorns." Before placing a little kiss on my neck over my hair and holding me from behind.

I chuckle. "Well, you should've said that to me a long time ago."

He laughs at my irony and turns me around, placing a little kiss on my lips.

I smile at him. "But thank you, it's beautiful."

I nod to the set-up table behind us. "Have a seat."

He heads to the table and looks at my shirt, as I turned around to lay some eggs on his plate, and he smiles. "Cool shirt." His corner smile gets bigger.

"Sorry, I went through your closet, I had no clean clothes." I apologize, biting my lip.

"It's okay, it looks better on you anyway." He blinks at me and takes a bite of his eggs. "But let me warn you, I might want to take it off later."

I freeze at his words and smile at him, biting my lip to the thought. His rough and raspy voice still tangles me every time I hear it, especially when he sounds sexy as hell talking like this.

As I'm joining him on the table, he gets up, without even finishing his eggs.

"I'm sorry, baby. It all tastes delicious, but I have to go make some calls to make sure everything is on track for today, ok?" He says and places a kiss on my cheek before leaving the kitchen.

Today.

For a moment, I even forgot about his plans to take down Veronica. I sigh, I just want this to get over as soon as possible so he can get his life back. At least, the fact that he began to smile and make jokes again calms me down and makes me feel better. I'd missed that.

I finish breakfast by myself and decide to call my mom. I completely forgot I didn't return her calls to let her know how everything went down, she must be going crazy.

I call her from the kitchen, since Ian is still in the living room hanging on to the phone.

"Finally! Are you trying to get me killed, Samantha?!" Yeah, my mom is pissed. "Why didn't you return any of my calls?" She continues.

"I know, I'm sorry, mom. It's just that... a lot happened these past few days." I bite my lip.

"What happened?" She asks.

"Well... it's a long story."

"Did you get to talk to that Ian guy?" She sounds curious.

"Yeah... You were right. It was all a misunderstanding; he didn't kiss that girl. She was the one who forced him to kiss her."

I can hear her sighing on the phone, relieved. "See, I told you! I knew he wouldn't get to know you and just move on to the next girl. You're a Skye!"

I laugh, my mom is probably the only one who sees this amazingness in this family. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"And how are you both now? Are you back together?" She asks.

"Yeah, we got back on the same day. We're just been figuring some things out, that's why I wasn't able to call you."

"Oh, it's okay, darling. The only thing I want your happiness."

I smile. I've been gone only a few days, but I already miss her so much. "Thanks, mom."

Ian comes to the door of the kitchen and nods at me, calling me out.

"Look, mom, I gotta go. I'll call you later, ok?"

"But, Samantha... We barely got to talk." She cries on the other side of the line.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just have to finish a few things, I'll call you as soon as everything is done here, ok?" It breaks my heart to make her sad.

"Okay, darling. You stay safe there, ok? If you need anything, just call me."

"I will, mom. Bye, I love you."

"I love you, darling."

With my heart tight, I hang the phone and head towards the living room, where Ian is seating on a couch arm and holding another phone in his hand.

"Everything's ready... It's time." He says.

I bite my lip and my heart begins to rush as Ian begins to dial some numbers on the phone. I didn't think I would get this nervous to be finally doing this, I have no idea how Ian is remaining so calm right now.

He puts the phone on speaker as we both stare at each other, apprehensive, until someone finally picks up.

"Oh, look who decided to call up..." Listening to Veronica's voice on the phone makes my stomach turn.

"I need to talk to you." Ian says, with a sharp and direct voice.

"What happened? Did that sweet mermaid of yours break up with you?" She asks, with irony.

"Actually... she did." Ian answers and my heart begins to race inside my chest.

There's a pause on the phone. "Oh... why?"

"I told her about Emma."

And she laughs. "Oh, darling... I take she didn't take it very well, did she?"

"No, she didn't. Who wants to be with someone who... did something like I did?" Ian asks and closes his eyes with anger. He's trying with everything he can to keep up with the act.

"I told you that... I knew she wouldn't handle it." She brags, but goes on. "And how can I help you, Ian?"

"I need to forget about all of this. I just need to... forget, if you know what I mean." He asks.

"I know exactly what you mean... and what you need." She sounds cocky.

"Great, can you bring it over later?"

"Today?" Oh no, what if she can't?!

Ian starts to get nervous, but remains on character. "Yeah, I really need it. I need it now. Is that a problem?"

She holds a while on the line, before speaking. "For you... not at all. I'll come over later."

Ian let's go of his breath quietly. "Great, I'll be waiting for you." And he hangs the phone.

We stare at each other in the living room, not saying anything for a while, finally being able to breath normally.

Until Ian speaks. "It's on."