The afternoon passed, and soon the sun began to sink lower into the sky. The early evening chill set in, and soon the group was ready to head home. Ashley noticed her skin was taking on a hint of red, and she figured that was as good of a sign as any to start getting back.

But as she stepped out of the surf for the last time, her eyes settled on Scott. Having long shucked off the light, linen short sleeved button-up he had been wearing, his sculpted, flawless body was now on display. Ashley's eyes moved over his smooth, toned pecs, his wide, strong shoulders, and cut abs; she couldn't spot an ounce of fat on his body if she tried. And, even better, the skin-tight, black swim shorts he was wearing gripped his ample package, leaving little to the imagination.

No lusting after the boss, Ashley had told herself. Especially one who screwed over your friend the way he did.

But the words rang hollow in her thoughts; did she really know for sure that what Regina said about him was true?

"I think I could go for some pizza," said Scott, slipping his bookmark between the pages of his novel. "What do you guys say?"

"Yeah!" shouted Olivia.

On the way home, Scott put in an order for a couple of large pies, which arrived at the house just about the time that they did. Scott took the pizzas from the delivery man as Ashley opened the front doors. Once the table was set, the three of them dug in, satisfying the hunger from their long day out in the sun. Soon, they were full, nothing on their plates but small pools of orange grease. Ashley looked out through the back windows and saw that the sun was dropping low in the sky, the brilliant, clear blue of the say being replaced with creamy oranges and soft purples, the dark of the night above it all.

"Dad, can I have some ice cream?" asked Olivia, a smear of grease on her beaming smile.

"Do you have any homework?" asked Scott, skepticism in his voice.

"No. I mean, yes. I mean, a little."

"Go finish your homework and we'll talk."

"Fine," said Olivia, pushing herself away from the table.

"And don't forget to clear your plate," said Scott.

Olivia took her plate and glass with her to the sink, set them in, and left the room. Ashley watched her with a look of admiration, noting that she seemed to be quite well-behaved for a girl that age without a mother around.

"I don't know about you," said Scott, putting the pizza into one box and shutting the lid, "but I think I could go for something a little stronger than soda."

"That sounds just right to me," said Ashley.

Scott slid a bottle out of the hanging wine rack. After a moment or two, he had the thing open, a pair of glasses poured full with ruby red liquid placed before them.

"It's a nice night," he said. "Care to join me on the deck?"

"I'd love to," said Ashley.

The pair headed out to the deck. Once they were out, they both noticed a slight chill in the air. Scott flicked the power on a nearby heater, the air around it filling nearly instantly with a pleasant warmth. They both took a seat, each sipping their wine, their eyes on the lights of the city, the gentle din of the faraway traffic floating in the air.

"Mind if I ask you a question?" asked Scott, breaking the silence.

"Um, sure," said Ashley.

"You still keep in touch with Regina?"

Funny he'd ask, thought Ashley, he didn't seem like he was too concerned about her, what with how their relationship ended.

"Why do you ask?"

"Curiosity. We were engaged, after all."

Ashley took a sip of her wine, the rich taste washing over her tongue.

"Not really," said Ashley. "She went off to grad school –NYU, I think- and never looked back. She graduated a couple of years ago and stayed in the city, got a job in public relations, I think. Most I see of her is on Facebook. Usually just pictures of her on vacation or whatever food she's about to eat."

"Hmm," said Scott.

What, not a good enough answer? thought Ashley. Hoping she’s miserable?

Emboldened by the half of glass of wine she'd drunk, Ashley posed a question of her own.

"I have to admit, I'm a little surprised to hear you ask about her. There a reason why you still care?"

Scott turned to Ashley, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"Well, like I said, we did use to be engaged."

"Regina was really hurt by what you did you her, just so you know."

"What I did to her?" asked Scott. "What do you mean?"

Ashley closed her eyes, focusing carefully, making sure not to say anything too far out of line.

"I was close to Regina at the time," she said after a moment. "She was a wreck after you broke up with her. You should've heard half the things she said about you."

"I'd be very interested to hear them."

"The specifics aren't important," said Ashley, covering for the reality, which is that she had a hard time remembering exact complaints among the tears and invectives, "but I had to see my best friend be an emotional wreck for months. Whatever you did to her, you did it well."

Scott took a slow sip of wine, weighing the words carefully.

"I know you're –or, were- her friend, but that doesn't mean that everything she says is the gospel truth. There are two sides to every story, you know, especially when it comes to relationships. Maybe you'll learn that one day when you've done some growing up."

With that, Scott finished his wine and went back inside.

Shit, thought Ashley, scolding herself for taking such a stance on what was a long-dead issue. Would it have killed you to take the boss's side? At least he had the good sense to cut the conversation short before it got too heated.

But Ashley couldn't shake the echoes of Regina's accusations. What could Scott have done to make her feel so emotionally devastated? She considered this as she slowly worked her way through her wine.

He was being pretty evasive about the subject, thought Ashley, swirling the last dredges of wine in her glass. Maybe there is something to it? Something more than what he's letting on…

Ashley drained the last bit of wine, turned the heater off, and went back inside. After depositing her glass in the kitchen sink, she returned to the living room to see Scott curled up on the couch with Olivia, the lights in the room dim aside from the children's movie on the TV. Each of the two had a big bowl of ice cream on their lap, their eyes on the screen.

A warm smile crossed Ashley's lips as she watched the scene from a distance. After a time, she went to the kitchen and prepared her own ice cream, filling her bowl with three healthy scoops of chocolate truffle. She joined the two in the living room, watching out of the corner of her eye as Olivia drifted off to sleep, her head resting on Scott's shoulder.

When the movie was done, Scott set their bowls quietly on the coffee table and scooped Olivia into his arms. She roused a bit, smacking her lips and looking at her dad through half-opened eyes. Scott gave Olivia a small kiss on the forehead and took her up the stairs to her bedroom. Each step he took was slow and careful, as if carrying the most precious object in the world.

How could a man who's that sweet to his daughter be as evil as Regina made him out to be? thought Ashley, watching the scene. I need to get to the bottom of this.

Collecting the empty bowls and bringing them to the kitchen, Ashley considered her next move.