Chapter 8

“You weasel! So, this is where you’ve been,” Gary said jovially to Eric who had the grace to look embarrassed when he sighted his boss. His eyes widened when they landed on Aubrey as she entered the room after her dad.

“Hi Gary, I didn’t know you would be here this soon. I would’ve finished my pie quickly and dashed out of here before you showed up,” Eric laughed as he stood up to greet the older Silver.

“You scoundrel,” Gary laughed heartily. These sorts of playful banters were the norm between the two men. They were not just employer and employee, but more like father and son.

“Hello, Aubrey,” Eric acknowledged her with a wide smile and a nod.

“Hi,” she said coolly with a blank expression that lacked any form of recognition. Her aloofness was a carefully practiced defense to keep people at bay and to save her from embarrassment or heartbreak.

Eric was taken aback by her cold demeanor. Wasn’t this the same woman he’d had sex with this morning, or did she have an identical twin sister? Why wasn’t she smiling back at him? And why was she acting like she’d never set eyes on him before?

He went back to his seat, but his appetite was gone, and his cheerful mood was momentarily deflated. The others in the room didn’t seem to notice his change in mood or Aubrey’s stony expression, because they carried on with their conversations at the same tempo as before.

“Gary, how did you manage to convince Aubrey to come down all the way here with you?” Rev. Pearson asked. “Because I know she doesn’t like coming this way.”

Aubrey’s granite face cracked a little to reveal a small smile. “That’s not true, Reverend. I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to say hello to you and Aida, especially since I haven’t seen either of you in ages.”

Gary was surprised by her response, but he let it pass. Aubrey was as unpredictable as the weather.

“How nice of you,” Rev. Pearson beamed and hugged Aubrey. “Please have a seat.”

“I’ll go fetch the land papers,” Aida offered and swept gracefully out of the room.

The elderly men began to talk business, while Eric busied himself with his pie and Aubrey studied her nails. Although she was quite used to shutting people out mentally, this time around, she felt a twinge of guilt inside of her as she pointedly ignored Eric who kept stealing looks at her as if to confirm if she was the same woman he’d been with earlier.

“Aww, these two are bored to death,” Aida said in reference to Aubrey and Eric as she returned to the room with a handful of documents. “Why don’t you two take a walk to the barn and check on my dear Mamy for me. She’s the dotted brown goat that just had two kids yesterday.”

Aubrey began to say no, but Eric was faster, and he spoke up first. “That sounds great!” he said enthusiastically. “How about it, Aubrey?”

It was a dare and Aubrey knew it. Though she hated the idea of being alone with Eric again, the other option of sitting with a bunch of old people talking about land sale was even more unappealing.

“Ok, sure,” she said with the enthusiasm of a dead fish.

“Aren’t you two such darlings?” Aida said happily. “Take your time,” she added with a playful wink.

Aubrey suppressed a groan and stood up from her seat. She ignored Eric’s offered hand and walked ahead of him instead as they made their way to the front door. Once outside the grand house, Eric turned to face her with a questioning look which she ignored. He remained quiet as they walked side by side towards the barn. Once he was sure that they were out of earshot, he spoke.

“Did I do something wrong?” He asked her.

“What do you mean?” She asked without looking at him.

“I mean, why are you suddenly acting so cold towards me? A couple of hours ago, we were having sex in your dad’s house, and now you see me and act like you’ve never set eyes on me before. What’s up with that?”

“So, what do you want me to do? Jump into your arms and declare undying love?”

“No, but at least be cordial. Why are you acting like you’re mad at me?”

Aubrey sighed. “Look, I know you’re probably used to women falling at your feet and praising your sexual prowess, but you won’t get any of that from me. What happened between us was purely physical, there was nothing special about it. I was horny, you were available, and we had sex. End of story.”

Eric was stunned at her detached tone and disrespectful choice of words. If truth be told, he was hurt. He felt used and insulted, and he didn’t think he deserved such treatment from her of all people.

“What is wrong with you?” He asked her, genuinely puzzled. “Why are you like this?”

“Like what?” Aubrey asked flatly. “Why am I like what? Like a man? Isn’t this how you guys treat women? You sleep with them and then act like you don’t know them. Why are you so shocked to be given a dose of your own medicine?”

Eric didn’t think it was possible for him to be more offended by her words, but right now, he was. “I don’t know what kind of men you’ve been meeting, but none of those things you’ve said describe me in any way. We don’t have to become lovers after one round of sex but being nasty is not the best way to protect yourself from getting hurt. Your behavior is despicable, and I damn well do not want your kind of energy around me. I think you should go back inside. I’ll go check on Mamy alone.”

He turned around and walked away from her, leaving her there to stare at his receding rigid back. Aubrey wasn’t sure which one irked her the most—that he had the last word or the fact that she felt shitty after listening to his little speech.

Crap! She thought sullenly. I’ve just earned myself a new enemy in this town.