Those Amber Eyes

Chapter 26 - "ScarJost..."

Colin's POV

I'm not going to lie, I'm slightly a little nervous. I've known Chloe since college, and we aren't really dating, just hanging out as friends. When I asked her to dinner, and explained the situation, she was a bit nervous, but agreed.

We arrived at the restaurant a bit early in order to get a table away from prying eyes. Scarlett's team had handled the articles beautifully, and thankfully there was no backlash.

"Tell me about Scarlett?" Chloe said, drawing me out of my thoughts.

"She truly is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Don't believe all the gossip rags, Scar really is sweet. She has this amazing ability to make you feel like you're the only person in the room, and her smile lights up a room. She is one of a kind."

"Wow, she sounds almost too good to be true."

"She really is just a normal human being, she just happens to be famous."

I look towards the door and notice Scarlett coming through with another woman, who I assume is Ashlyn.

"Colin!!" Scarlett says embracing me. As she steps back, she introduces me to Ashlyn. Ashlyn shakes my hand, smiling kindly.

"Scarlett, Ashlyn, this is Chloe Steele. We attended Harvard together."

Scarlett hugged Chloe, while Ashlyn smiled kindly at her.

"Please, sit."

"Have you ordered yet?"

"No, we wanted to wait for you."

As we settled into our seats the waitress came, taking our drink orders.

"So, Ashlyn, I've heard Scarlett's story of how you guys met, but tell me yours ."

"Let's see, I think the first time I met Scarlett, she was 7 years old, and was crying because Hunter had her in a headlock. I went over to help, told Hunter it wasn't nice to pick on his sister. He let her go, and she promptly slapped him across the back of his head. I quickly learned that Scarlett here was often the instigator. I spent the better part of my youth saving Hunter from his sister and my twin sisters. Poor guy couldn't catch a break."

"And I spent the better part of my youth thrown over Ashlyn's shoulder, sticking my tongue out at Hunter."

"And here we are, nearly 20 years later, and he is still being henpecked by the three of you, and he towers over all three of you."

"Poor Hunter," I said laughing.

"If you will, excuse me, I need to use the restroom. Ash, you know what to order me." Scarlett said, standing up.

"I'll join you," Chloe replied.

I watched as Ash rose from her chair as the ladies excused themselves.

"You know, when Scarlett told me about you, I wasn't quite sure what to think, but I see how you look at each other, and there is no denying you were made for each other."

"Thank you Colin. It was never my intention to take her from you. I have spent nearly 18 years avoiding her, because I didn't want to hurt anyone, when in reality, I was hurting both of us."

"Be good to her, she deserves the world."

"I will Colin, and you're right, she does. Tell me about your friend Chloe."

"We met in college, became friends. I always had a crush on her, but she was always unattainable. Then we graduated, went our separate ways. A week after Scar and I ended things, I was out having dinner with a few of the SNL cast, and saw her at the bar."