Page 68 of Worth the Scandal
“I’m sorry, Caleb. I’m really tired I struggle to sleep sometimes.” I’m probing and I wonder if he notices. But he was the one who mentioned lack of sleep.
He nods, expression hard to read. “I know the feeling well, I’m practically insomniac at this point.”
He’s playing into my hand, he doesn’t know what I know, clearly. But Asher said no one else knew about the toxicologyreport but a handful of people close to him—so why would Caleb suspect my conversation was anything but casual.
His voice cracks slightly, and I reach out instinctively, placing a hand on his.
Bigmistake.
He turns that touch into something else. Shifts closer. Looks at me with a softness I don’t trust. Ah, this is why he’s here late, wearing a slutty outfit combination by men’s standards.
“I’m sorry you had to find out about Asher’s lies the way you did,” he says, eyes locking onto mine. “I saw him take something. I was at the party. He was all over the place—took a drink, stumbled out.”
I freeze. Something does not add up. Although, I’m slowly putting two and two together.
“You saw him take something?” I ask carefully.
He nods. “I even offered him a lemonade to sober him up a bit, he was supposed to be our next big thing, and he was making a fool of himself. He must’ve felt the embarrassment because that’s why he left early I reckon.”
My skin crawls. One of the only things Asher remembers from that night before it all went blurred lines and blackouts was someone handing him a lemonade.
“I really should get to bed, I’ve got a big day tomorrow.” I walk forward through the gate.
He grabs my wrist, “Are you sure you don’t want some company?” his eyes are pleading for an invitation inside, is this man for real.
I yank my hand away, but remember I need him on my side if I’m going to get the truth out of him. “No, I’ve had a huge day, and I’m just so torn up about Asher, but I’m so glad I have you Caleb. Someone I can really trust.” idiot.
“Don’t let it get to you Scar; he’s an idiot for what he’s lied about and lost. Any man would be lucky as hell to have you.” hiseyes drink me in and suddenly my choice of skirt and top are making me feel completely exposed.
I offer a wry smile and turn to walk into the pool house. I feel dirty, Caleb isn’t the Caleb I know at all. Maybe he never was. People change, trauma changes them, life changes them, growing up. Who is my friend?Who is Caleb Farah?
Chapter Thirty One - Asher
“He said what?”
I pace across my room, gripping my hair like I’m trying to hold in the rage.
Scarlett’s voice crackles through the phone. “He told me he saw you take something. That you were holding the drink the whole night. He was the one who offered you lemonade to sober you up.”
I stop cold.
“I wasn’t,” I whisper. “I set it down. I remember that. I didn’t even finish the first beer I had, then someone bought me another.”
Silence.
“Wait…” My heart starts pounding. “You’re telling me, he handed me a drink, he was the lemonade man.”
“Yep, that’s what he said, right after he told me how hard he finds it to sleep. You know spoken like someone who takes sleeping pills.”
“Scarlett, I think I am remembering something more. At the party. Caleb handed me a drink before I left. Said something about celebrating, letting bygones be bygones over the position. I thought he was just being cool for once.”
Scarlett’s breathing quickens.
“Oh my God,” she says. “Asher—he drugged you.”
I lean back against the wall. My stomach flips.
“No one else knew about the drug test. That wasn’t in the press. Only my family knew. And now he’s claiming he saw me take something?”
