Chapter 38: Chapter Thirty-Eight

Aubrey

I open my eyes, and it takes me a moment to remember where I am. The space next to me, where Everett was when I fell asleep, is now empty. How long have I been asleep? Searching for my cell, I check the time. I’ve been asleep for two hours. I didn’t mean to sleep so long. It takes me a moment to come to and slowly sit up, running my fingers through my hair. I had hoped this afternoon would be a nightmare, but I know it wasn’t. I hate that I don’t know how he found me!

I hear voices from downstairs. Erica and Hugo must be here now. Sighing, I climb out of bed and only then do I remember I am in Everett’s clothes. I should change into mine, but I don’t have the energy. Hugo and Erica won’t think too much about it. Everett would have told them I was in his bed, asleep.

I make my way downstairs and follow their voices to the living room. “Hi.”

All eyes are soon on me. Erica rushes over, hugging me. “Are you okay?” she asks, worry evident in her voice.

“Yes, I am okay. I am just glad he didn’t see me.” I sigh, hugging back.

When she parts, she stares at me. “I need to ask you something, okay, and please don’t take it the wrong way, but I need to know.”

I nod, having a feeling of what question was coming next.

“Have you been in contact with him? Seen him? I know the hold he had over you. Please be honest, I won’t be mad. We are trying to work out what is going on is all.”

He did have such a hold on me, and in the worst way possible. I became so reliant on him, but it was always part of his plan. He doesn’t have that hold on me now.

“I promise I have not seen or spoken to him since the night I left. I have no idea how he found out my address.”

“Okay. Hopefully, we can work it out. Until then, you are going to stay between our place and Everett’s,” she says softly, rubbing my arms.

How did that come around? Who decided I should stay here sometimes, too? Did Everett suggest it? Or was it Erica and Hugo? I didn’t think they would want me to be alone with him.

“I don’t want to be a bother. I can go back to mine.”

“No.” Hugo and Everett say firmly and in sync.

“That isn’t happening, sweetie. You can stay at your place, not while he is hanging around.” Erica adds in, taking my hand and leading me to the sofa to take a seat between her and Hugo.

The last place I want to be is mine, but I don’t want to be a bother to any of them. They all have lives of their own, better things to do than babysit me. But no matter what I say or do, they won’t let me.

“We are trying to work out how he found you. I was careful when I put the paperwork in for your apartment and the job. I don’t understand how he worked out your address. Is there a chance he has been following you?” Hugo asks.

“I don’t think so. I would have felt it if he were. He must have gotten it another way.”

It isn’t like my ex is well-connected. I have been careful, too. I haven’t shared my address with anyone unless essential. If he were following me, I would have known, either that or my radar has been down.

“We don’t want you worrying about it. You will be safe. Once we find him, we will make sure he stays away from you.” Everett hisses, clearly angry at the situation.

He needs to be careful how he reacts, or it will make Hugo and Erica suspicious. As far as they know, we have only been around one another a few times.

“Yes. You will stay here with Everett tonight and tomorrow. We will retrieve some of your belongings from your apartment and bring them to ours, setting up a room so it feels like your own. Will you be okay staying here?” Erica asks.

“I will be fine,” I smile and turn to look at Everett, “Are you sure it is okay?”

I hope he isn’t agreeing to it because he was forced into it.

Everett nods. “Yes, of course it is okay.”

“Thank you.”

The three of them talk to one another and to me, but it goes through one air and out the other. I am not being rude, my mind is just somewhere else. I can’t think about anything else. I want the day to be over with. I want to climb into bed and stay there until tomorrow morning.

“Aubrey, are you listening? You don’t need to come to work for the rest of the week.” Hugo says, finally pulling me from my other thoughts.

“I don’t want to miss work.”

“Only for this week. You will still be paid,” he replies.

I go to argue, but change my mind. It is something else that I don’t have the energy for. Instead, I give a slight nod of my head. They continue to change, but after a bit, Hugo and Erica get ready to head home to the kids.

“Call me if you need anything, okay, sweetie?” Erica says.

“Yes, I will, I promise. Thank you.”

They hug me goodbye before Everett walks them to the door. I can hear them whispering, obviously about me. I lie down on Everett’s sofa, pull the blanket over me and wait for his return. I can imagine what they are saying, but any conversation about me will be about ways to help me and try to get rid of my ex once again.

Everett returns soon enough, a concerned look on his face when he sees me curled up on the sofa. Coming over, he crouches so he is at my level. He reaches in and strokes my hair.

“How are you doing? Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?”

“I don’t want anything. I am not hungry either. They are gone, now you can be honest with me. Are you sure you don’t mind me being here?”

“I wasn’t saying it because they were here, Aubrey. I don’t mind you here. Here you are safe.”

I study him closely, trying to work out if he is being truthful. I conclude he is. “Okay, thank you.”

Everett’s hand moves from my hair down to my cheek, caressing it with his thumb. “Please let me make you something to eat. I make an incredible chicken noodle soup.”

“I will try, but I am not really hungry right now.”

“If you don’t have some once it is ready, you can have some later.”

I smile, not knowing what else to say. Everett kisses my forehead and disappears to make a start on the soup. I sigh, making myself comfortable and close my eyes, wanting sleep to take over me again. If I am asleep, then I can’t think about the events of the day.