Chapter 39: Chapter Thirty-Nine

Everett

I leave the soup to cook on the stove and head back through to check on Aubrey. She is sound asleep on the sofa. I place a blanket over her, leaving her to sleep and take a seat on the chair across from her.

I stare at her, and as I do. I don’t like what I am feeling. A part of me wished I had still stayed away when I had the chance, but here I am. I am glad I managed to get to her today, but to be honest, she would be better off without me in her life, in any way, in any capacity. She doesn’t need another asshole of a man in her life. Sighing, I shake my head. I draw my gaze from her and run my fingers through my hair. I need to find out more about her ex and pay him a visit. Having me around isn’t good for her, but before I decide what I am going to do, I will make sure he never comes near her again. If I know she is safe, then I can disappear from her life once again. Aubrey has Erica and Hugo. She will be okay with them.

Aubrey stirs, and I expect her to wake, but she doesn’t. She mumbles and stays asleep. It is a good thing. I am not ready for her to be awake. The rest will do her well. I can’t just sit here and lose myself in my thoughts. Pulling myself up from the sofa, I return to the kitchen to check the soup. It smells good and is cooking along nicely. I hope I can get her to eat some, even just a little.

I pour a scotch and sit out on my back step. I take a sip, my thoughts wandering again. I down the rest of it and go inside for a second, but stop myself. I shouldn’t be drinking, not today. Aubrey doesn’t need my drunken ass around her when I am supposed to be taking care of her.

“Everett? Are you still here?”

The sound of Aubrey’s panicked voice echoes from the living room. I rush through to her. She is sitting up, breathing heavily and sweating. “Hey, I am right here.”

I drop to my knees before her. When she looks at me, I can see tears in her eyes, along with fear—the same fear from when I found her in the alleyway.

“I-I-I had a nightmare.” She whimpers, “I haven’t had one in a while, but seeing him today must have triggered.”

I climb onto the sofa next to her. I slowly wrap my arm around her, pulling her close to me and her into me. “You are okay, Aubrey. I promise. You are safe here. He can’t get to you.”

Aubrey clings to me. I can feel her shaking. I swear, if I ever get my hands on the bastard, he is a dead man. I will make him disappear.

“He can’t get to me, Everett. He was so cruel. I can’t. I can’t even see him ever again.” She whimpers, her tears soaking my shirt.

“He won’t get anywhere near you, Aubrey.”

I keep calm because I don’t want to scare her. But the anger is running around inside of me. Silence falls between us. I let her cry and hold her. I don’t know what else to do, but it is what she needs in the moment.

It takes her a little time to stop, and she sits up, sighing. “I am sorry. You shouldn’t need to put up with this.”

“You have nothing to apologise for anything, Aubrey.”

She nods. “Do you mind if I take a shower?”

“I don’t mind. I will get you some clean clothes. When you come out, the soup should be ready. Do you think you could eat some for me?” I ask softly, wiping the wetness away from her cheeks.

“Okay.”

Aubrey kisses my cheek and disappears upstairs to shower. Waiting for a moment, I go up too, getting her some fresh towels and clothes to change into.

I knock on the bathroom door. “I have towels here for you. Are you decent? Can I come in?”

“Yes, you can come in,” she calls back.

I step into the bathroom. She is already in the shower. I set the towels down and exit quickly. I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. I head back downstairs and wait for her.

Half an hour passes before I hear Aubrey finally come downstairs. I didn’t expect her to be so long. Coming into the living room, a pair of my joggers and an oversized tee cover her body. She looks so good in my clothes, but now is not the time for me to be thinking of these things.

“Better?” I ask.

“Much. I love your shower. I could have stayed in there for hours.” She laughs.

It was nice to hear rather than her breaking her heart.

“You seem better,” I smile, “Now, sit. I will get you some soup.”

“Are you having some too?” she asks.

I nod. Aubrey smiles at me and goes to make herself comfortable on the sofa. I get us a bowl of soup each, along with some rolls and join her. She may not eat it all, but some will be enough.

“Oh, this smells and looks good,” she says excitedly, taking it from me.

Resting back, she tries it and groans.

“Good?”

“Yes, very. Thank you, not only for the soup but for today. You didn’t have to come and get me. You didn’t have to let me stay, and you sure didn’t need to put up with my tears. I appreciate it more than you know, Everett.”

I rest my hand on her knee, squeezing it. “I am just glad I came. You don’t need to thank me.”

With a smile, she focuses back on her soup. We eat in a comfortable silence. I am happy when she finishes the bowl.

“That was delicious, Everett. Who knew you were an amazing soup maker?”

“Would you like some more? There is plenty left.”

I made way too much. I won’t eat it all. I will toss it out or freeze it.

Aubrey takes a moment to think about it. “Yes, only half a bowl, though.”

“Okay. You can take some with you to Hugo and Erica’s place tomorrow. There is plenty there.”

I disappear to get her some more. I don’t take any more. When I return, Aubrey is staring into space, lost in her thoughts. The sound of me approaching makes her snap out of it.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“I am fine, thinking is all.”

I don’t believe her, but again, she doesn’t want to talk to me about it, and I can only respect that. I nod and hand the bowl over to her. She eats in silence again, but I can tell she is still thinking about everything. Once she goes to Hugo and Erica’s, she will feel safer and more comfortable. She has them, plus the kids and three dogs. Their place is more secure than mine, but she may not feel it, she is just as safe here.