Page 31 of Worth the Scandal
“Thanks for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. Hates Football.”
And just like that, he’s gone.
And I’m left wondering how many rules I’m willing to break for a man I met on a balcony with a bottle of fake (vodka) water and a heart full of secrets.
Chapter Eleven - Scarlett
I spot Shell and Jen laughing between themselves sat at a table out the front of Osteria—Dawson’s finest Italian restaurant bar in town. I make my way across the crossing, my heels are clacking on the pavement with each step, and it feels like I’m walking the catwalk in a Victoria Secret show because every person I’ve passed has stopped to take in my choice of attire. Can’t half tell they don’t dress up around here for dinner. Wouldn’t kill you to have a little class Dawson’s.
The girls spot me as I near and give me a full-blown cheer squad welcome, resulting in my already inflated (thanks to Asher Kingston) ego to puff up just a tad more. I must admit I’ve done well with the outfit pick tonight; I’m wearing a black skintight midi dress with a low back and a high neckline paired with a pair of black strappy heels. My good mood was definitely the catalyst for something so showy but I’m all about wearing your best dress to dinner type of gal—even if it’s just a bar in Dawson’s Ridge. Sorry “Dawson’s finest restaurant bar.”
“I’ve already ordered you a Shiraz babe” winks Jen, as she drops her elbows to the table and leans in with way too much excitement for a girl’s casual dinner. I give her my best side eye and straighten up the menu in front of me, a pathetic attempt to be acting nonchalant about what I know they are ever so desperate to get all the juicy details on.
“Omg Scarlett out with it already, how was Asher and coffee or whatever the hell you’re pretending your date was instead of a date” Shell is the first to bust.
“Yeah, is coffee code word for hot make up sex after a two-year ghosting orrrr” Jen adds grinning like she’s about to get a play by play of some sexual fantasy of mine.
“Jesus, cool it would you. Anyone would think we were all ovulating, but if you must know.” I pause waiting for the waitress to drop down our drinks at the table before we continue on the current topic of conversation. Just as I grip the stem of my Shiraz the waitress asks politely is there anything else I can get you? And then she’s like a kangaroo in headlights staring right at me. “Oh, it’s you, Asher’s girlfriend” I choke on the very small sip I’ve taken of my Shiraz. Jen and Shell are clearly as shocked as I am because they’ve made almost the same incoherent noise I have, followed by a splatter of wine leaving Jen’s mouth and going all over the table. The tables surrounding us peer over as they would in any establishment had someone just painted the white tablecloth red with wine they’ve spat from their mouth—but with extra sticky beak energy given this is Dawson’s Ridge after all. “I’m his manager, not his girlfriend, Ashley, wasn’t it?”Fucking small ass town. I mumble under my breath. More surprised than I should be to know the coffee shop waitress also happens to work a night shift waitressing at the restaurant. “Hmm does he kiss all his managers then?” And with that she saunters off, dropping a bomb and feeding me to the den of wolves that are Jen and Shell.
“Oh, fuck off you’re so holding out on us, what do you mean you—I give Jen an evil eye and place my finger over my lips, telling her to keep it down with the busy bodies all around us AKA Dawson’s everyday citizens—oops sorry” she drops the volume and continues “It’s just that’s a big development and you didn’t think to lead with that?”
“It is not at all what you think, little Miss Australia’s sweetheart was flirting with Asher like a monkey to a tree and he was uncomfortable, so I made a passing comment which I did tell her was a bloody joke.”
“Nah ha not buying it, she said kiss!” Shell so unhelpfully reminds Jen.
“Alright fine you got me, we had two years of pent-up sexual fantasies and frustration so he laid me out right there on the café table and did unspeakable things to me,” I do my best to layer it with heavy sarcasm seeing as these two are a little closer to tipsy than sober.
Before they can give their two cents I tell the actual story. “He ducked in for a friendly cheek kiss goodbye at the same time I cocked my head that direction” I exaggerate a head turn to the right “and he whacked one on me. Very unintentional and awkward given he’s seen and explored every inch of my body.”
“Oh, hell yeah, we are so on. Team scarsher!”
Shell adds, skulling her wine glass and immediately waving down another waitress to order one more. “3 more please, probably keep ‘em coming I’d say” well now I know why she’s Ted’s PA, with a wine order like that.
“Settle down, there is no couple name because there is no couple.” I remind them pretending to act casual flicking my hair back behind my shoulder and peering down at the menu.
“Um, righto but you want there to be right, like you’re not an idiot?! It’s Asher Kingston, next big thing we are talking about here.” well seems Jen has been doing her FBI stalking, she does this every-time one of the girls announces they’ve got a new man on the radar. Honestly, the Australian Federal Police should’ve hired her by now because the woman can find out what a man ate for breakfast just by checking his Instagram following. One time I started seeing a guy who and I quote “just wasn’t into social media” well it took Jen all of 5 minutes to find out that wasnot the case he just wasn’t in to his hookups finding out he had a whole ass family waiting for him at home and a pregnant wife.
“Look I’m not rushing into anything and especially not with someone who is so off limits. You know how hard I’ve worked to get Maroon off the ground and if he signs with me well then, he’s a client anyway.”
They both look at me like I’ve suddenly lost my mind.
“Okay but if he does make a move than what’s a girl to do, I only have so much self control” I add with a cheeky grin and they love that answer, which isn’t a lie. He’s barely resistible.
Shell makes a fake shocked face “Yes that’s a girl, I won’t tell if you don’t and hell, I’ll even help you keep it hidden.”
“Besides men cross the professional line all the time in your line of work don’t see their businesses or names getting dragged through mud” Jen adds, which isn’t really comforting because we know it’s a man’s world in sport, especially this sport and they get away with well, murder really.
“Can we all just agree to calm down and if and when there’s anything to tell you girls will be the first to know” I raise my Shiraz to clink glasses on that note.
“Fine.”
“Ugh I guess”
“Perfect, now a toast to new friendships”—I gesture to Shell—“and old ones”—I gesture to Jen, “and delicious Italian food”
Clink, clink, clink.
