Page 67 of Worth the Scandal
I don’t. I won’t. I have no reason to believe this man other than I love him—I know that.
I drop Asher off at his house on the main strip of Dawson’s Ridge. He gives me a soft kiss before he gets out of the passenger seat. “Thank you for believing me darling. You don’t know how much this all means to me. I’ve got a therapy appointment early tomorrow before training, but I’ll call you after.”
After another long, lingering kiss goodbye, I drive off into the night, the city lights blurring as I head for home. Asher’s story replays in my mind on a relentless loop, every word he said lining up—then clashing—with Caleb’s version of the truth.
Caleb, who was so sure Asher’s the villain in this story.
Asher, who looked me in the eye and swore he wasn’t.
Was I really that blinded by love?
Are my glasses rose-coloured, or am I choosing to believe him because I need it to be true? Because if I don’t believe him—if I admit there’s even a chance he’s lying—then I have to admit I might not know the man I love at all.
And that’s worse.
If Asher really was drugged that night… then who would do that to him? It couldn’t have been one of the boys on the team—they’d die for him. They know he’s a once-in-a-generation talent. He’s their guy.
Well.
All except one.
But no. Not Caleb.
I know him. I grew up with him. He’s cocky and reckless, sure—but not evil. Not calculated. He wouldn’t risk someone’s life over a roster spot.
…Would he?
I look at the time on my dash and it’s just past 9:00PM, which means Shell will be awake in the middle of a Netflix marathon, and right now I need a friend and I need advice.
I hit the call button on the car LED, and the phone rings no more than once before she answers.
“Scarlett, I am watching the funniest romcom, I was just about to text you it could be you and Asher if you got your shit together.” she hums with excitement.
“Well, I’m here to report we are back on, more than back on. We just had the best sex of my life.” My excitement has matched hers and she’s pleased with the revelation.
I hear her pop another bite of something in her mouth “omg tell me all the juicy details, you know I’m living through you and this written in the stars fullback meets pr girlreallife rom com moment.”
“Well let’s just say we christened the field and–”
Before I can finish Shell interjects “Get the fuck out, that’s got to be peak sex life moment, like one of those memories you add into the never forget folder to tell your grand daughter about in 50 years and she doesn’t believe you.”
“Weird way to look at it, but definitely that type of moment” I’m focused on turning into Ted’s driveway when I see someone waiting near the gate to my granny flat.
“Huh, odd Caleb is here. I’ll call you back when I’m inside Shell.”
“You’ll see me tomorrow morning anyway, I’ve now got a date with my vibrator.” she hangs up on a laugh.
Chapter Thirty - Scarlett
Caleb waves and struts over to my car. He’s dressed like he’s just jumped out of bed in a loose pair of grey sweats. They leave nothing to the imagination. He leans forward opening the door for me with a grin that is too warm, this whole run in feels very calculated.
“Fancy seeing you here.” he says with a chirp in his voice.
“It’s late, isn’t it? Are you okay?” I say, stepping outside the car and flicking the central locking. What other reason could he have to just rock up here at this time than something important.
“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep, and after our chat today I thought maybe you’d be in the same boat so stopped by to check on you, but your car wasn’t here.”
It hits me like a slap. It’s a coincidence I tell myself. Who doesn’t text ahead these days? This is all very odd. My spidey senses tell me he is up to something.
