Chapter Fourteen - Scarlett #2
“Hey, hey don’t stop this public display of affection on my account.
I did see you both run off into the moonlight together the other night remember.
Ain’t none of my business what two hot people do together in their spare time.
” Collins looks at me with the slyest grin and I can tell he can smell the sex in the air.
He leans a hand forward and playfully fixes the top of my hair, smoothing down the strays that have given us away.
“No idea what you’re talking about I’ll deny deny deny” I shoot back winking and swatting his hand away.
“Don’t touch her.” Asher spits out
I think he’s serious “Ash woah it’s fine, he’s just joking.”
“I don’t give a fuck if he’s Australia’s hottest fucking sold out comedian, don’t touch her. You touch her again and I’ll break your hand off, should’ve done it the other night actually.” his voice is heavy, laced with a tinge of murder.
Collins doesn’t flinch or move; he just smiles wider. Like this is his best friend and this is a side of him he knows well. “Well fuck me mate, she’s already got you by the balls then.” He jokes. “I’ll be damned, a girl’s got Asher down bad.”
Asher laughs and pushes past him “I mean it Collins, you’re all ha ha jokey flirty with everyone else’s missus, stay the fuck away from mine.” It’s true I’ve heard the rumours, he’s a party boy through and through. A real PR nightmare, needs to be tied down asap. That would fix him.
I follow after Asher skipping a little to keep up “I’m sorry did you say Mrs?”
“It’s the only term that’ll get through his thick head that you’re well-off limits, don’t stress about it darling. I know we are just having a little fun for now yeah?”
My heart sinks because that isn’t the answer I wanted. A little fun, I’m not risking my career on a little fun.
* * *
I’m quieter than usual when I hop out of my car, I lean over the drivers seat to grab my bag and softly shut the door behind me.
I’ve parked a few doors down from Asher’s house, that feels incognito enough for this meeting.
The short drive here all I’ve thought about is what he said back at the stadium.
“Having a little fun” I don’t think risking it all is me having a little fun, I need to make that very clear to him.
Otherwise, we can just throw the towel in right now.
I pin the thought when I get to his front door and he’s there smiley and waiting, did he not mean what he said? I’ll run with that for now. I can be cool about it.
Fuck this, I’m asking. “What was that back there? Are you really risking your career on a bit of fun or? Because I’m not here to just fuck around Ash. I’ve got a lot riding on me being professional right now. I’d never be acting this way with anyone else, you know that night two years—“
“Scar, shut up.”
“Excuse m—“
And then without any warning I’m pressed against him, he stares dead pan into my eyes, and my stomach starts backflipping and bubbling, what’s he playing at.
“How about tonight we just hang out then? And I show you that I’m not just after a little fun.”
“Yeah, right because you’re a going to be able to resist all this” I prop my hands up under my chin all cute like. I feel kind of stupid about my outburst but seriously this is big for me.
“I promise not so much as a little tongue kiss, let’s just chill out watch a movie and talk life?”
“Hmm okay.” I push past him edging the rest of the wooden door open and take in Asher’s Bach pad. Surprisingly, it’s cosy, and decorated quite well. I expected immature man cave vibe that smelt like sex and whiskey. The Bach pads they warn you about on those rom com movies.
“Bathrooms this way, I’m still having a shower so you can watch or if you don’t trust yourself chill out here.” he gives me a playful wink and a grin.
“How about I give you a hand with that strapping? Deal still stands though, no kissing.”
He struggles to pull the edges up on the tape and looks over at me defeated “Done.”
“You got any oil?” I stalk toward the kitchen ready to investigate myself before he can answer.
“Huh what for? We are showering not cooking” his brows almost meet as he tries to work out what in the hell, I need oil for. Imagine all the dirty places his mind went, men.
“No you’re showering I’m watching and going to get that strapping off easy as!
I’ve seen my mum do it a thousand times to dad…
I mean I used to see her do it. But I’m telling you oil is the trick.
” I skip over to raid his pantry and grab the oil.
When I turn back around, he’s staring at me with a look I can’t quite place.
“What?!” I feel slightly self conscious; I’m being heavily assessed which is making my palms sweat—which I know is ridiculous with this man.
“Nothing I just, you’re just not what I thought you’d be” his eyes smile at me, and his mouth purses shut.
I brush past him with my index finger running along his collar bone “come on big boy, I’ve got a shower to watch” I clear my throat “and ditto.”
* * *
Asher keeps his word; we don’t so much as peck we just spend the night enjoying each other’s company learning more about who we are and what we want out of life. I take back what I thought when he said a bit of fun, this feels like anything but that.
“Why Dawson’s Ridge? Out of everywhere you could’ve signed, why here?
” I rub my thumb across the back of his palm and watch his expression change.
His eyes narrow and he stares off past the tv unit in front of us.
He’s searching for the answer. When we first met, he didn’t strike me as someone living out here.
Like sure the accent is country, bogan some might even say.
“It’s different out here. Quiet. Private.
When I visited before signing, it just… felt right.
Like I could breathe for the first time in months—you know after Ben and the stuff in Sydney.
” He rubs his other hand across the short stubble growing across his chin.
He looks down at me and a shy smile cracks over his face.
“I didn’t know you’d be here eventually but, that’s a bonus, Scar.
” For a moment I can feel the magnetic pull between us, and I swear he’s going to kiss me, he doesn’t.
Instead, he keeps his word. His eyes quickly dart away from my lips and he’s staring back at the tv.
“I love the country but, I grew up out bush with my uncle. That’s where the accent comes from, mum and dad weren’t around much when we were kids.
” He pauses trying to figure out how to word what he says next.
“They um, worked away a lot I guess you could say, so yeah Sydney’s never really felt like home, I moved back when I was about 13. ”
“Well… I didn’t know you’d be here either.
” I manage a smile, but it falters. “Makes Dawson’s a little more tolerable, that’s for sure.
” I glance down, tracing the seam of the cushion.
“I wasn’t sure how I’d feel being back without Mum.
She was kind of the heartbeat of this place—well any place she went really.
” My voice cracks ever so slightly but I don’t let the mention of mum break open the water works, I’m slowly leaning into the happy moments and it’s helping with the grief control.
The thing I’m learning about grief is it doesn’t ever really leave, and you don’t just get over it—instead each day you just focus on the loss a little less and more on the time you did get and the memories you do have.
Asher leans his arm around the back of the lounge and cradles me into the side of his chest, leaning his chin on the top of my head. “Yeah, that’s how Sydney feels for me with Ben, it’s always hard being back there.”
We fall quiet, lost in our own thoughts. The kind you don’t say out loud. I haven’t watched any of the movie Ash put on. I’ve just been in the moment soaking this in, wondering if we could make this work and how this could be anything more than whatever it is right now.
He’s the first to break the silence. “Well, has tonight convinced you that it’s more than a little fun for me?
” He is hopeful, and I hate to be the way I am but one night isn’t going to make me feel secure, it’s helped there’s no doubt.
But after Jason did a number on me, I’m finding it harder to trust anyone, especially someone who’s line of work is rugby league.