Chapter 70: Aaron

I stared at my plate, my fork picking aimlessly at the half-eaten meal in front of me. The clinking of glasses and murmurs of conversation filled the air, but my mind was far away. Celia sat across from me, her dark eyes sparkling with excitement. She looked lovely, as always, but after the magical night I’d just had with Renee, Celia didn’t hold a candle to her.

"Aaron, I'm telling you, this is a golden opportunity," Celia said, her voice filled with urgency. "Seattle is a hub for artists, and there's a gallery opening up that would be perfect for your work. You'll be exposed to a whole new audience, a chance to elevate your career to new heights."

I looked up at her, torn between the possibilities and the familiar comfort of my life in Denver. Celia was persuasive, a force of nature in the art world, but this decision was more than just about my career. It was about uprooting my entire existence.

"But what about Renee?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. My girlfriend was everything to me, her laughter like music, her smile lighting up my world. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving her behind.

Celia's gaze softened, her hand reaching out to touch mine. "Aaron, I know it's difficult, but love should never hold you back. If it's meant to be, you'll find a way to make it work. But this is your dream, your chance to shine. You can't let fear of the unknown or fear of losing others dictate your life."

Her words hit me like a wave. She was right in some ways; I had been so consumed with the expectations and opinions of others that I had forgotten about myself. My art had taken a backseat, suffocated by obligations and the comfort of familiarity. My career was barely a hobby in the eyes of my two best friends, and part of me knew that if I even attempted to bring up a move like this, they would laugh me out of the house. We were settled here, Jake in law enforcement and Matt a captain of the fire squad. Renee’s nursing job made her happy. Who was I to take it all away from them?

As I contemplated my options, I thought of Jake and Matt. We’d been best friends since school, and they’d been by my side the entire time, supporting me through every twist and turn. The thought of leaving them, and especially Renee, behind made my heart ache. How could I just abandon the bonds we had forged over the years? I loved Renee. But would she even consider this a viable option? Could I live without them if it came down to it? Would I even want to?

“Just think about it,” Celia said, taking a sip of her wine. “This could be life-changing for you, let alone career-changing. You have time to broach the subject with your girlfriend. Maybe she’ll want to go with you.”

I almost laughed out loud. Renee wasn’t the only issue. We were a foursome, but Celia didn’t know that.

“Yeah,” I muttered, unconvinced. “Maybe I’ll bring it up and see what she has to say.

As if I don’t already know.

I went home after dinner with Celia and went straight to the fridge for a beer. I was already buzzed from the wine, but if I was going to bring up Seattle tonight, I needed a bit more liquid courage to get me through this. No one else was home yet, but I knew Renee would be home next, before Jake and Matt. If I could talk to her about it first, maybe it would be easier to approach the subject with the other two. That is if I had Renee’s support, to begin with.

I sat on the edge of our cozy living room couch, nervously fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. The weight of Celia's words hung heavy in my mind, but fear gnawed at me, its icy grip tightening around my heart.

Around seven I heard the front door open, and my body tensed. I hastily wiped the worried expression off my face, trying to appear calm and collected. Renee stepped into the room, her eyes bright and a warm smile playing on her lips. She was a vision of beauty, her presence filling the space with a comforting energy that always seemed to exude from her.

"Hey, babe," she greeted, dropping her bag by the door. "How was your day?"

I forced a smile, trying to push aside my concerns. "It was good, just working on some new sketches. How about you?"

Renee's brow furrowed slightly, her eyes scanning my face with a mixture of curiosity and concern. She knew me too well, and it was impossible to hide my true emotions from her. She moved closer, her hand gently resting on my arm.

"Hey, Aaron, what's wrong?" she asked softly, her voice laced with a hint of worry. I hesitated, my throat suddenly dry. How could I burden her with my own uncertainties and desires when she had her own dreams to chase? But Renee deserved to know, to be a part of this decision that would undoubtedly impact our lives.

Taking a deep breath, I mustered the courage to speak. "Renee, there's something I need to talk to you about. It's... It's about my art and a job opportunity that has come up in Seattle."

Her eyes widened in surprise, but she remained silent, giving me the space to continue.

"Celia, my agent, thinks it could be a great chance for me to grow as an artist, to take my career to the next level," I explained, my words stumbling over each other in my nervousness. "But I'm scared. I'm scared that if I pursue this opportunity, it might mean being away from you. And Jake and Matt. I don't want to lose you, Ren. I can’t. I don’t even want to lose them."

Renee's expression softened, and she reached out, cupping my face in her hands. Her touch was warm and reassuring, grounding me in the moment.

"Aaron, I understand your fears, and I appreciate that you're considering us," she said gently. "But none of us should prevent you from following your dreams and your passions. Have you spoken to Matt or Jake about this?”

I shook my head, dreading the mere thought of it. I should have known that Renee would always support me, no matter what, but maybe she wasn’t the issue.

“I don’t think they’ll be on board,” I admitted. “I’m afraid to bring it up.”

Renee smiled gently and then leaned in, her lips brushing against mine in a tender kiss. “Just know that I support you. And whatever happens, happens. Okay?”

At that moment, all the worries and uncertainties melted away. Our connection was a tangible force, a reminder of the love and support we shared. The seductive dance of her touch ignited a fire within me, fueling my determination to pursue my dreams, even if it meant facing the unknown.

Or my best friends.

“Now,” Renee said, taking the bottle of beer from my hand to set it aside before she straddled me, the heat of her body meeting mine in a seductive touch. Her hips pushed against my groin, and I grew hard for her, my cock reacting to the mere presence of her body. “How about I take your mind off your worries for a little bit, yeah? I bet it will help.”

I was breathless as Renee kissed me again, her tongue exploring my mouth, forcing my lips apart as she kissed me hard, passionately, hips grinding against mine as she teased me. Fuck, even with our clothes on the heat and anticipation gnawed at me, and I thrust myself up as Renee’s grinding fell into a sexy rhythm. As her hips moved against my jeans, I reached up and removed her shirt and bra, tossing them aside and taking her in my mouth. Renee gasped as my teeth pinched her nipple, and it hardened under my touch. Her grinding became faster, harder, and just as I was about to come, she came to a halt, her green eyes glinting mischievously at me.

“Fuck me,” she whispered, her red lips brushing my ear. “Fuck me hard and don’t you ever stop.”

“As you wish.”