Chapter 33: Chapter Thirty-Three

Everett

Fifteen minutes have passed since I sat down. Aubrey hasn’t spoken a word to me or even looked in my direction. She must be pissed at me for disappearing and ignoring her. I had to. I needed to put some space between us. I was spending too much time with her. I couldn’t have her thinking we were becoming something more than we were. I could have gone about it better, of course, I could have, but shit happens. I was clear from the get-go.

“Are you just going to ignore me and sulk like a child all night?” I ask.

Aubrey whips her head around, glaring at me with furrowed brows and a red face. Oh shit! I have made her more pissed at me if that is even possible. I should have worded it better.

“Excuse me? If anyone is acting like a child, it is you, Everett. Why would I want to acknowledge you? You haven’t acknowledged me in over a week.” She hisses, her fists clenching in her lap.

“Please, explain to me how I have been childish?”

Aubrey scoffs. “One, you have been ignoring me and avoiding me with no explanation. Secondly, you ran away like a scared boy, all because we shared a day together without anything sexual happening. It is pathetic, really.” She snarls, shaking her head and turning away from me.

Clenching my jaw, I grip onto the arms of the chair. “I am not scared of anything.”

Apologising would be the best thing to do and get this pointless fight over with, but I can’t. Aubrey is getting under my skin more than she should be. I am only making things worse for myself when I don’t need to be.

“You could have fooled me. Why are you still here? Can you go somewhere else in the house or go home? You are ruining my peaceful night.” She sighs.

When I showed up, I honestly had no idea Aubrey was here until I heard her voice. Hugo never mentioned he was going out with Erica tonight. Sighing, I decide to stop my bullshit. “I am sorry, Aubrey. I acted like a dick. You don’t deserve it.”

God, I hate saying sorry to anyone. Only fools say sorry, but I don’t have the energy to continue arguing with her.

“No, I don’t, but I am not surprised. I should have listened to my gut from the start and stayed away.” She replies, turning off her movie.

“What the hell does that mean?” I snarl, my calmness vanishing quickly.

“It means I should never have gotten involved with you. You are trouble and I knew it. I will never learn.”

Aubrey jumps to her feet, refuses to look at me and walks out of the living room, running upstairs. Kyra and Aura follow her. By the sound of it, she is in the spare room above the living room. I warned her! She can’t put the blame on me. I didn’t force her to hop into bed with me. It was her choice. I groan in frustration, fighting the urge to go after her and have it out. I don’t want to wake any of the kids up.

Perhaps I should go home, but if I do, I will need to return early tomorrow since my car is parked down the road. Someone could have come out tonight, but the breakdown company said it could take hours. I don’t want to wait around all night. We agreed someone would be here at nine tomorrow morning. I didn’t want to disturb my driver because he was celebrating his anniversary or some other special occasion. I can’t remember exactly what he said.

I need a drink. I head to the drink cabinet and help myself to a scotch. Pouring a double, I head out the back yard to enjoy the quiet and darkness of the night. A drink will help me sleep, eventually, with any luck.

I soon hear a dog’s paws pat against the ground. Aura appears, jumping up on the sofa to sit next to me.

“Hey, sweet girl. What do you think? Will Aubrey forgive me?” I say, scratching between her ears. She lets out a small bark.

“I don’t know either.”

She lies down, resting her head on my lap. Aura has always had a sweet spot for me. She prefers me to Hugo. Why, I don’t know. Dogs are supposed to be drawn to good people, not someone like me. I’ll never understand. Maybe she senses some good in me, somewhere, deep down.

I sip my drink, taking in the cool air. My night was not supposed to end up here with Aubrey. I hadn’t honestly decided whether I was going to reach out to her again. I’ve been conflicted.

Just after midnight, I stroll back inside. Aura abandoned me half an hour ago. I make sure everything is off and the house is locked up before going upstairs to one of the other spare rooms. I pass by the room where Aubrey is. I stop, turning back. Opening the door, I pop my head in to see if she is asleep. She is, but the room is cold. One of the windows is wide open, and she had tossed the covers off. Is she crazy? She must be freezing. I quietly stroll in, closing the window and putting the covers over her.

Aubrey moves, mumbling in her sleep. I freeze, not wanting to wake and catch me in the room. She’ll wonder why I am creeping around. Thankfully, she stays asleep. I go to sneak out. I reach the door, thinking I am safe, but her voice rings through the darkness.

“Everett, why are you in here?” she questions in her cute, tired voice.

“I was checking in on you on the way to bed. I realised the window was open and you weren’t covered up. I didn’t want you to get cold. I didn’t mean to wake you, sorry.”

“It is fine and thank you,” she replies, sound asleep again, only seconds later.

I leave, checking in on the kids, who were sound asleep. Before finally going to the room I plan on sleeping in, I also check in. Stripping down, I climb into bed. Hugo and Erica will wonder why I am here in the morning if they are home before I leave. Hugo’s first thought will be I am here because I am going after Aubrey, even though I didn’t know she would be here. I will try to be gone before they return. I don’t want or need a lecture first thing in the morning for something I didn’t do. Because for once, I am actually innocent, sort of.

It is shit I can worry about tomorrow. Right now, I need sleep. It is strange being in the same house as Aubrey but sleeping in separate rooms. I am sure she would prefer if I weren’t here at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t ever want to talk to me again. I wouldn’t blame her. She clearly went through a lot with her ex, though I’m not sure what happened. Aubrey doesn’t need another asshole in her life.