Chapter Thirty Three - Scarlett
Really, he’s made this too easy for me. After his eye fucking and desperate attempt to cut Asher’s grass the other night, I know Caleb is itching to get some alone time with me.
And clearly he has some sort of fantasy for what that entails.
My body repulses in a shiver at the thought knowing what I know now.
Before all of this and before Asher, Caleb could’ve been the type of guy a girl like me falls for. Now I’d rather sit on top of a cactus.
Caleb grins as he swings the door open, shirtless, and smug like he’s already won. I fake a smile, keeping it light. Flirty. Casual. The exact kind of girl he thinks he deserves.
“Didn’t think I’d hear from you so soon after the other night,” he says, stepping aside to let me in. “Guess golden boy isn’t all that golden, no surprise there.”
I shrug. “Things change, and you know my loyalty is always to my oldest friend.” I poke his chest playfully to really amp up the tension.
His eyes dart to my finger and follow along the length of my arm to my collarbone.
God has he always been this desperate or am I only just noticing how much he irks me now.
He raises an eyebrow. “That so?”
I give him a long, slow once-over—the kind of look that makes men think they are in control. I love being a woman. “Thought maybe you were right about him, anyway I don’t want to talk about him, I want to forget him Cal.”
That hooks him. He leans against the kitchen bench top with that overconfident smirk that used to pass for charm in primary school. “Yeah? What finally broke the spell?”
I wave a hand, brushing past the question. Is he catching onto my act. “I’d rather not talk about it, let’s talk about us instead.”
He swallows and with one sentence I’ve peaked his attention again. Now how do I get into his ensuite medicine cabinet “where’s the bedroom?”
“Geez Scarlett, so forward. I know it’s been a long time coming, but I didn’t expect this.” The hide of him, a long time coming. Maybe in your dreams boy, but this is my nightmares. Fuck, is he suspicious?
I walk around the kitchen bench to face him and against all the instincts of my very being I run my hand down his bare chest. I block out the little voice in my head that’s telling me this is a bad idea and I’ve bit off way more than I can chew here.
I take his hand and move toward the hall.
“If you don’t want me now, I understand.
I’ve got some work I can go finish to distract myself instead. ”
“No, don’t be stupid I’ve wanted this longer than I can remember. I just didn’t think it’d be this easy.”
Great choice of words, idiot. He has no game at all.
He takes the lead, walking down the hall to the furthest room.
It’s tidy, freakishly neat. His bed is huge, the room is cool with carefully selected décor that gives it that stage home vibe.
There are small mementos placed around of photos, trinkets and watches that tell me this is in fact his room, but it wasn’t what I expected.
The Caleb I know was warm, and cosy. This room was anything but.
I didn’t really know this Caleb though, did I.
“You’re so perfect.” He says pulling his arm around my waist and leading me to the bed, his eyes lingering on my lips. My heart hammers in my chest—not from nerves, but from purpose. I know what I’m looking for. I know what I hope I won’t find, but I need to get into that bathroom.
“Can I use the bathroom real quick, I’ve drank so much water today.” Smooth Scarlett, smooth.
“Yeah of course, whatever you need. I know you’re nervous, I am too.” of course he thinks it’s about him.
The five steps to the ensuite are the longest steps I’ve ever taken. I slowly breathe once I’m inside the bathroom, door locked behind me. It’s go time. I run the water and start splashing my face. My cue to search is now.
There’s nothing in the vanity cupboard just spare toothbrushes, toiletries, the usual.
I make my way to the tiny drawers. Nothing in drawers one or two.
But when I open the third drawer, it’s there.
Zolpidem, stilnox.
Exact prescription name. Same as the toxicology report.
Holy fuck. I was expecting this but I wasn’t expecting this.
My fingers tremble as I pick up the bottle. This isn’t paranoia. It’s confirmation.
The voice in my head whispers you were right—but it doesn’t feel like relief. It feels like betrayal burning in my throat.
“You all good in there Scar, we don’t have to do this you know?” Caleb calls.
I shove the bottle back in place and flush the toilet to keep the noise up, then splash cold water on my face again and compose myself in the mirror.
I snap a quick picture to Shell and tell her to call me now. Phase two of the plan: easy escape.
Time to get the hell out of here.
I walk back into the bedroom, trying to keep my expression smooth. My phone rings, my phone that is never on loud that happens to be on loud for this exact reason. Saved by the Shell—as planned.
“Sorry I’ve really got to take this.” I pick up the phone call and wait a few beats for Shell’s story to spin.
“Oh no way, tell Justin I’ll be back in the office in 5 and can call the team right away. Don’t panic we will fix this.” I hang up the call and before I can verbally bail Caleb beats me to the punch.
Caleb looks disappointed but not surprised. “Ah PR stuff?”
“Yeah I’m so sorry, can we take a rain check? What are you doing for dinner?”
“I can do dinner, I’ll pick you up at 7:00?” He says eagerly, and I almost feel bad until I remember the pills and my poor sweet man, Asher.
“Of course, I’ll see you then” I offer a half-hearted smile and get out before the bile I have been swallowing down for the last 5 minutes rises all the way up my throat.
Later—Training Field. Same Day
I wait until the team is finishing warm-down. Ted’s on the sideline, clipboard under one arm, chatting to Jace. I step in quickly, pulling him aside.
“Got a sec coach?”
He takes one look at my face and nods. “For you my daughter anything, walk Walker.”
We move away from the others, closer to the admin building out of ear shot. I hand him my phone with a photo I snapped of the pill bottle—label visible, dosage clear.
“Where’d this come from? What am I looking at?” he asks confused.
“Caleb’s bathroom,” I say. “I had to fake my way in, but it’s a match to the same drug from Asher’s tox report a year ago after that crash you know the one where he was supposedly on an injury ban. I know you’re smart coach and you know that was all bullshit.”
Ted’s face darkens. “Are you sure? You know what this means if, you are sure?” He sighs “You think you know a man; he’s been gunning for Asher since the day I signed him. I didn’t think he’d stoop this fucking low.” Ted has a dropped a ‘fucking’ that’s when you know he’s mad.
“I watched him lie through his teeth and spin a web about what happened that night,” I say. “He’s been playing us all, and Asher, well he almost ruined his life not just his football career.”
Ted exhales through his nose, fury simmering beneath his usually calmer coach exterior—well except on game day in his 4x4 metre coach’s box.
He nods once and walks back onto the field.
I know what that nod means. He’s not waiting for anything, he’s handling this Ted’s way and Caleb will wish he handled it the right way—the PR in me tells me to stop him, but I want to see this instant takedown.
“Farah!” he calls. Caleb jogs over, sweat still glistening on his forehead. He gives me a wide smile like a cat that caught the mouse. Asher isn’t at today’s practice as his manager I made sure—on purpose of course—he’s got the medical staff appointment inside the gym right now.
“Yeah, Coach?”
“Scarlett just showed me something I think you should explain.” He shifts his gaze to me for just a second then back to Ted.
Caleb stiffens, visibly confused. His mind racing to work out what on earth Ted could be talking about. Damn how many secrets does this man have. “Explain what?”
“The Stilnox in your drawer,” I say, stepping forward. I can’t contain myself, I’m the one to deliver the blow. “The same prescription that was laced in a lemonade you gave Asher before he crashed a car with your Darcy in it.”
His entire expression shifts. “You went through my stuff?” he snaps. Not even a denial.
“You drugged him, Caleb,” I say, loud enough for the nearby players to hear. “Because you couldn’t stand that he earned what you never could.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He stalks a step closer to me. Intimidation tactics.
“Don’t I?” I hold up the photo. “Because this looks pretty damn close to premeditated.”
He turns to Ted. “She’s making this personal, tell them all who’s bedroom you were in yesterday afternoon. She’s been obsessed with protecting him since the beginning—”
“Watch your tone,” Ted snaps. “You’re not talking to Scarlett right now. You’re talking to your coach. So help me son, if one more insinuation leaves that mouth of yours I’ll wipe it off your face.”
Caleb bristles. “This is insane, you’re all fucking nuts.”
“No,” Ted says coldly. “What’s insane is risking a man’s life and thinking you’d get away with it. I suggest you call your agent and probably your lawyer.”
The field has gone silent. Players have started to come forward to see what the fuck is going on.
Ted levels his voice for everyone to hear. “You’re done for the season.”
Caleb’s face flushes red, then pale. He looks at me one last time—like I’m the one who ruined his life. But I don’t flinch. Because I didn’t ruin it.
He did. He dug this hole the moment he committed attempted murder on a man over a spot on a team—a spot he lost anyway. I’ve just been the one to close his coffin and fill the dirt in.