Page 1 of Center Sneak

Chapter One

Five Years Ago…

Scarlett

I’m staring at my bedroom door, where I’ve been standing for a solid five minutes, willing myself to enter. I inhale a breath before I peek into my bedroom, where my eyes land on his naked ass on my king-size bed.

Again.

I exhale, then tiptoe across the room to my side of the bed, careful not to wake my husband. Our bedroom reeks of cheap beer and poor decisions. Sadly, most of those bad decisions come from me—over ten years’ worth.

I stare at the drunk asshole passed out on top of the worn black comforter, and tug at the sheets in hopes of getting a small piece of a sheet, a blanket, or anything. The comforter moves a few inches, and I’m able to tuck under enough not to wake this rangy beast next to me.

Little wins.

Tonight is my last sleep in my twenties.

Good riddance.

I probably should be sad about that fact, but my twenties were nothing like the movies make them out to be. It was a lot different from what I thought.

I turned twenty with so much optimism and hope. I had big expectations for the next ten years and life in general.

What a moron.

I won’t make that mistake again. I have no expectations going into my next decade, and I can’t see how my thirties will be any better.

Unless…

No, I can’t.

My phone pings from the nightstand, and I glance down to grab it. My husband doesn’t even stir.

There’s a message from my baby brother, Sebastian.

Sebastian: Happy Birthday!

A smile automatically takes over my face. I glance over at the time and notice it’s not even close to midnight yet.

Scarlett: It’s not my birthday yet here, but thank you!!

Sebastian: In my time zone, you are 30

Sebastian: Which I used to my advantage to be the first one to send birthday wishes

He doesn’t have a lot of competition on that front, but the truth would be too depressing to admit out loud, so I refrain.

I don’t talk to my brother often, so I’m kind of surprised he remembered my birthday in the first place. He’s a busy guy as a professional football player on the opposite coast, and his team just won the Super Bowl.

Before I can think of a proper reply, a new message from him pops up.

Sebastian: Big plans for your birthday?

I’m sure it was an innocent question, but my answer is depressing. No, I don’t have big plans. I don’t have any. I usually sugarcoat my answers or make my life seem a lot more interesting than it really is. However, I don’t want to lie anymore, especially to my family. I simply reply no, and his response is instant.

Sebastian: If you want to leave the sunshine for the snow, you are welcome to come visit

I know it’s probably a joke, but I wouldn’t mind leaving the California sunshine. It’s never kept me warm. I tap open the weather app and glance at the current forecast in Boston right now. Nine degrees. I’m from Northern California, so I can handle some cold, but I’ve never been in single-digit temperatures before.