Page 38 of The Fantasy League
I didn’t know much, but I did know one thing for sure.
Abel and I made a great couple.
Even if it was just for shits and giggles.
ELEVEN
SCARLETT
“Great work.”Abel flashed me a sly wink as he slid a brand-new edition of Page Six across the kitchen island where I was sitting.
“Oh my god!” I gasped, picking up the magazine that’s front cover featured me sitting on his lap in a restaurant booth, our faces inches apart, his eyes locked on my lips.
Holy hell, that picture was hot.
Abel peeked over my shoulder, caging me between his arms and the island, as I read the article in front of me.
Mr. Tight End, Abel Abbott, spotted on a romantic dinner date with new girlfriend and food blogger, Scarlett Sawyer. The couple first hinted at their relationship together last month with subtle Socialgram posts, but close sources said the pair have been together for four months.
I couldn’t believe I was photographed on thecoverof a magazine looking like I was seconds away from having a public make-out session.
“These tabloids always tell such half-truths. Like what ‘inside source’ told them we had been together for four months? Only a handful of people knew that I even worked for you before we made it ‘official.’”
“It’s all a bunch of bullshit,” he complained. “They’ll do anything to get their money, even if that means making up lies and twisting stories.”
It was one thing to read articles as a bystander and assume some of the contents were made up, but it was another to be the one being written about andknowthat what was posted was a complete and utter lie.
Granted, we weretryingto convince the paparazzi that we were in a fake relationship, so I’d give them some grace. But coming up with fake “sources” and inaccurate time lines was a bit baffling.
Oh, if only they’d known how much I hated Abel’s guts four months ago, then their story would be entirely different.
“I don’t have anything planned, but we could go out again tonight if you want,” Abel suggested with a shrug.
“Sorry, can’t.” I was a lot more disappointed at turning him down than I should’ve been. “Mae called a girls’ night tonight and I’m not allowed to say no.”
“Girls’ night?” Abel questioned from over my shoulder. “What exactly happens at agirls’ night’?”
“Calling our old boyfriends, celebrity gossip… naked pillow fights. You know, the usual,” I deadpanned, swinging my head around to meet his eyes.
“Naked pillow fights, huh?” A lopsided smile nudged the corner of his lip upward. “Tell me more.”
“I’m kidding, you idiot.” I rolled my eyes and slapped the back of my hand playfully against his chest. “It’s mostly me cooking a bunch of food while we sit around the kitchen, drink wine, and talk about our problems.”
“You’re having problems?” He furrowed his brows at me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m not having any problems… well, at least not right now. Mae’s going through it because her old modeling agent blasted her on Socialgram recently for starting her own company to spite him, so it’s more for her than anything,” I explained, trying not to get too riled up over my anger at the idiot who kept trying to ruin Mae’s career.
“You know if you’re ever having any problems, you can talk to me, yeah?” he volunteered.
All I could do was smile up at him.
I hadn’t known… but now I did.
* * *
Maeand I were holed up on the lilac purple accent couch in her home office, studying headshots when a knock at the front door startled us.
Lea had called an hour earlier saying she had an emergency at work and would be late joining us. She said something about having to clean up a PR disaster after one of the Matrix players punched a sponsor for flirting with his wife.
