Scarlett's POV

What the fuck just happened? How much rage has she been holding inside for her to lose control like that? Okay, maybe I did pressure her... But I didn't expect her to lose herself in her anger to the point that I could barely stop her. She even managed to topple me backwards.

It honestly frightened me just a little. And I can only imagine what she must have felt when I was beating up her ex-boyfriend a couple of weeks ago.

However, I was more worried than scared. What she showed me was that she's been harboring a colossal amount of emotions, feelings, and fury that have been increasing every day. Like the amount of chemicals inside a tightly closed bottle. If you open that bottle, all those chemicals cause an explosion. And more often than not, if you don't release them in time, they'll explode on their own and destroy the container.

I knew that I had no right to pressure her into revealing all her past and what has happened in her life, because I was keeping a part of my past from her. Well, several parts.

But seeing her lose herself like that, to turn from the sweet and precious woman that I've known so far into a raging maniac, has me riddled with worry as I walked around the gym to make sure everything is in order and locked. I double-checked all the locks and equipment since I couldn't risk losing access to this gym after-hours, and being friends with the owner certainly doesn't give me a pass to be negligent.

Returning to where I left Audrey, I observed her staring off into the distance with a nervous expression on her face while biting her lip in that cute way I loved from the very first time I saw her do it.

"How are you feeling?" I asked. I watched her jump a little as she turned her head to look at me with a startled look.

"I um... a lot better," Audrey softly replied. Almost like a whisper.

"Can you walk?" I adjusted my gym bag's shoulder strap around my neck.

"I... I think so," Audrey tightly smiled.

"I don't want you to walk."

"Hm?"

I quickly walked up and lifted her from the chair in one swift movement, holding her in my arms as she let out a cute squeal of surprise.

"Omg! What are you doing?" Audrey asked, a startled look on her face.

"Carrying you. What does it look like I'm doing?" I grinned mischievously as I began to walk towards the exit.

"I can walk myself. I'm not a baby," Audrey huffed.

"You're my baby." I kissed her on the forehead and smiled with amusement as her face turned red.

"Aren't I too heavy?" She reached her hand towards my face and removed a sweat-covered strand of hair that clung to my cheek.

"You're never too heavy for me, baby girl," I smiled. "Now be quiet before I drop you for asking me all these questions."

Three Days Later

The evening sun shone through the gigantic oak trees, illuminating the gorgeous dancing green leaves as a light breeze blew across the park. I recognized the familiar chirpings of the Mourning Doves as I approached the dog area, where there were a multitude of dogs being walked by their happy owners. Several ducks quacked as they swam in the lake and ate the bread crumbs that several children were throwing at them.

With my hands in my cargo pockets, I closed my eyes and deeply inhaled the rich scent of nature. When I reopened them, I finally noticed Audrey, who was training a German Shepherd some distance away.

"Fuss!" Audrey's commanding voice reached my ears as she released the German Shepherd from her grasp. The dog bounded in a flash towards the man with the bite sleeve and chomped down hard on his arm while the man swung the dog around. Eventually, the guy took off the bite sleeve and the dog proudly walked around in a circle with the sleeve in his mouth.

Audrey was already feeling better, although not fully recovered in my opinion. But she has insisted that she's fine and must go back to training dogs since her clients can't wait. So here I am, waiting for her to finish her final dog training for the day before driving us both home, because I didn't want her to drive on her own after spending half the day training some big dogs.

Watching Audrey train German Shepherds with such precision and perfect technique was fascinating and entertaining. The dogs seemed to just follow her every command and move with grace and accuracy.

Audrey waved at me from where she was standing, dressed in black/camo adidas sweatpants and a matching hoodie with her blonde hair tied up in a ponytail. She was talking to whom I assumed was the owner of the German Shepherd dog. I waved back, and suddenly out of my peripheral vision, I saw a blur of movement.

The next thing I knew, I was lying on my back with a huge black Mastiff slobbering his wet tongue all over my face. I grimaced against the sticky wet feel of dog saliva and tried to get him off.

"Omg, I'm so sorry!" I heard someone exclaim as the Mastiff was pulled off me.

I immediately leaped to my feet and wiped the drool from my face. I saw a woman who looked like in her thirties clipping a leash onto the excited, panting Mastiff.

"I am so sorry," the woman apologized. "He usually doesn't act like this. He must really like you."

"I think he likes me a bit too much," I lightly chuckled as I attempted to wipe off some more of the dog's saliva with my sleeve. "It's fine. At least he didn't bite me."

"Leo here is not a biter," the woman nervously laughed. "He's a lover, aren't you boy?" She directed the last part at the dog, who wagged his tail even more vigorously.

"Oh my god, what happened?" I heard Audrey exclaim as she jogged up to us, a look of worry on her face.

"Just a little accident. We're good," I replied and smiled at the woman. "Dogs can be unpredictable at times, so just make sure you're keeping an eye on him."

"I will! Again, I'm so sorry," the woman repeated. "Have a good evening, ladies!"

"You too!" Audrey and I answered simultaneously. We glanced at each other and smiled.

"Are you okay? I saw what happened and immediately ran over," Audrey's voice was filled with concern as her eyes searched my face.

"Besides being lathered in sticky dog saliva, I'm fine," I sighed. "Let's go home so I can clean myself up."

At that moment, Audrey's phone rang and when she opened her screen, I noticed a slight change in her face. Was that... excitement?

"Okay, I just need to take this call. I'll meet you in the car?"

"Mhm. I'll wait." I gave her a quick peck before she walked away and pressed her phone against her ear.

Sitting in my car for ten minutes now, I couldn't help but wonder. Who the hell called her? Could it be... No, she would never do that to me again. But why wouldn't she? She did it once before.

I shook off the negative thoughts. I won't allow myself to sabotage this relationship. I've been doing that for the last four years. I needed to learn how to trust again.

The car door opener and Audrey slid into the passenger seat with a sigh. She looked a little flushed and she had a strange gleam in her eyes.

"Okay, I'm ready to go home," Audrey smiled at me.

"Who was that on the phone?" I asked, unable to restrain myself.

"Oh, just a friend," Audrey chirped.

"Just a friend?" I repeated, raising my eyebrows at her.

"Yes," she replied, turning fully towards me. "She's coming back to America in a couple of days and I agreed to meet with her. We haven't seen one another for almost two years now so I'm just really excited."

"Oh..." Slight relief flooded over me. "Well then, that's great!"

"Did you... did you think I was seeing someone else again?" She furrowed her eyebrows at me.

I didn't reply, as I couldn't come up with anything to answer her question.

"You know I would never do that to you again, right?" She reassured. "Hey, look at me."

She tucked her finger under my chin to turn my head towards her.

"Do you trust me?" She asked, her golden hazel eyes boring into my soul.

Did I trust her? No, not completely. I couldn't fully trust anyone just like that. I barely knew anything about her past, and vice versa. I haven't been able to even properly date anyone after having my heart broken and betrayed by my ex-girlfriend years ago.

I searched for the slightest emotion in Audrey's eyes, anything that might indicate that I can't trust her. And I only saw love and affection reflecting back at me.

"I hope so. Can I trust you?" I finally answered in a slight whisper.

"Yes." She answered, before leaning forwards and taking my mouth with hers. I felt the warmth and sweetness of her tongue as I returned the kiss, my hand reaching up to cup her cheek. She slightly moaned against my mouth as I gently nibbled at her bottom lip, feeling her melt into me.

If she breaks my heart just like Abriana did, I will never recover.