Chapter 36: Chapter Thirty-Six

Aubrey

The last couple of weeks have been strange to say the least. I honestly expected Everett to disappear from my life after I told him nothing would happen between us. I couldn't have been more wrong. He hasn't disappeared at all. Everett texts or calls me nearly every day. I have seen him in person a few times, too. I am trying not to be suspicious of him, but I am. What reason does he have to stick around? Does he have another game plan? I don't know.

One thing that hasn't changed is my attraction to him. I hate myself for it. I hate the way my breath catches in my throat any time he is too close, or how my body screams for him if he accidentally even touches me. It is pathetic. A part of me wished he hadn't shown up at Hugo and Erica's place that night. If he didn't, life would be easier. He wouldn't have reached out otherwise. Everett would have forgotten all about me. No matter how much a part of me still wants him, I refuse to go down that road again. I learned my lesson. Well, I will keep telling myself that.

I sigh as I stroll back to my apartment after taking myself out for lunch. It is my day off, but I was getting slight cabin fever and had to get out for a bit. A couple of hours was enough. I will be in for the rest of the day. As I approach my building, I notice a figure hanging around outside. It takes me a moment to realise who it is and freeze.

What is he doing here?

How does he know where I stay?

My ex! The one I freed myself from after years. He was never supposed to find me again. My chest tightens, and my breathing becomes uncontrollable. It uses everything I have in me to move and dip into the closest side street. I can't let him see me. I don't understand how he knows where I am. Whatever his reason for being here won't be a good one. Crouching down behind a large trash bin, my hands begin to shake.

I manage to take my cell from my bag, staying as quiet as I can. I don't want to risk him hearing me or finding me. Trembling, I find Hugo's number and call. I hope and pray that he isn't too busy to answer. One, two, three rings and his voice rings through the speaker.

"Hey, Aubrey."

"Hugo, he is here. How did he find me? I am scared in case he sees me." I whimper.

"Who is there? Where are you?" I can hear the panic in his voice.

"I am hiding up a side street along from my apartment. Who do you think? It is Benji. Can you please come and get me?" I beg.

"Shit. I can't. I am hours away. Erica is, too. Is there anywhere safe place you can hide in?"

"I don't know. What if he sees me, Hugo? I don't understand how he found." The tears stream down my cheek, fear overcoming me.

"Send me your exact location. Do not move. I will call Everett to come pick you up. He is close by at a meeting. Try to go into a café or store, somewhere public. Somewhere he won't find you."

I glance around, but there isn't anywhere. I can't get into any of them because it is mostly back entrances or people's homes.

"There is nowhere."

"Fuck. Stay there. Don't move or say a word. Everett will be there as soon as possible. I promise. I will call you right back, okay? I will stay on the phone with you until Everett arrives. I will be back in a minute. You will be okay, Aubrey. I promise."

"Okay," I whisper, and he hangs up.

Everett is the last person I need to see. Hugo will tell him why he needs to come and get me, which means Everett will ask questions. I check for a street name and find one, texting it to Hugo. I put my cell on silent, keeping an eye on it. I don't move an inch, taking deep breaths to stop from having a panic attack. I need to move. I can't stay somewhere I know Benji can come. I thought he had left me alone. It has been a couple of months now.

Hugo calls back a minute later, and I quickly answer.

"Everett will be there as quickly as he can. Are you still in the same place?"

"Yes."

He stays on the call, talking with me. I don't say much —just a word here and there —so he knows I am still on the call. I don't want to speak in case Benji hears me. I don't know how much time passes, but it feels like forever. The sound of footsteps approaching where I am sends me into another panic, terrified that they are Benji's.

"Someone is coming my way," I say.

"You are okay. I am right here. If it is Benji, knee him in the balls and run."

"Aubrey, it is Everett. Where are you?"

The familiar voice makes me relax. "It is Everett."

"Okay. Keep me on the call and let me talk to him."

I slowly stand. I have pins and needles in my feet and legs from crouching down to look. I step away from the trash bin. "Everett." I whimper.

He rushes over, clearly worried for me. "Are you okay? What is going on? All Hugo said was, "I needed to come and get you right now."

I hand my cell to him to talk to Hugo. I can't make out what Hugo is saying to him, but with every passing second, Everett becomes more tense, and his grip on the cell tightens; his other hand clenches at his side.

"Aubrey is safe now."

With that, they hang up the call, and his attention focuses on me. "Is he still there?" he hisses.

"I-I-I don't know."

I am unsure how many details Hugo went into, but something tells me Everett now knows my ex was controlling and abusive.

"I will fucking kill him." He snarls, turns and runs in the direction of my apartment.

Fuck! I run after him, hoping Benji is gone because my gut tells me if he is still hanging around, Everett is going to seriously hurt him. I know some of his and Hugo's past, the abuse they suffered from their father, but Hugo doesn't talk much about it.

When I catch up with Everett, I sigh in relief that there is no sight of Benji. Not like I care if he gets hurt after everything he's done to me, but I don't want Everett getting into trouble.

"Is he gone?" I ask nervously, glancing around, still scared in case he appears out of nowhere.

"He seems to be. Are you okay?"

I shake my head, the tears streaming down my cheeks. Everett sighs, reaches for me and brings me tightly to his chest, hugging me. He strokes my hair. "I got you now. You are safe. I promise. Let's get you out of here. You are shaking."

I can only nod against his chest, crying. He parts from the hug, keeping me close and leads me away from my apartment, on high alert. We reach his car, and he makes sure I am safely in before he climbs in.

"We can go to my place."

"Okay," I reply.

He starts the car, getting us on the way. I stare out of the window, trying to calm myself down. Everett places one hand on my knee, comforting me, but doesn't say a word. He can sense I don't want to talk, not right now. I will need to speak at some point since he knows part of the truth.