Chapter 45: Chapter Forty-Five
Everett
We walk in silence. An awkward silence. How did we become like this? You would think we were strangers who had only met, and it couldn’t be further from the truth. Aubrey is in a little world of her own. She isn’t really watching where she's going. It is why I am keeping a close eye on her. It is a good thing because the next thing she trips over something and nearly face plants to the floor. I grab her quickly from behind, pull her up straight and bring her back against my chest, slipping my arm around the front of her body.
“Easy, sweetness,” I whisper in her ear.
Aubrey shudders, and a soft moan escapes from her lips.
“Thank you.”
I turn her to face me, her arms automatically going around my neck. “You ned to be more careful.”
Aubrey doesn’t say anything. She stares at me. I swallow hard. It is an intense stare and is doing strange things to me. The beat of my heart quickens, and butterflies gather in my stomach.
“Why do you always seem to be around to save me, Everett?” she whispers, breaking the silence.
“I-I-I don’t know.”
She has a point. It isn’t the first time. Silence comes between us once again. I keep my arm wrapped around her, and before I can stop myself, my free hand reaches up and caresses her cheek with the pad of my thumb. Aubrey closes her eyes and moves into my touch, sighing.
“Everett, what are you doing?” she breathes out.
I don’t answer with words. Instead, I do something I probably shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself. With her eyes still closed, I lean down and cover her lips with mine. She moans the second our lips connect. I expected her to push me away or slap me. She doesn’t. Aubrey kisses back, pressing her body tightly to mine. I groan, making sure to keep her close. The kiss deepens quickly. Aubrey’s fingers entangle in my hair, her tongue slipping between my teeth and nudges mine. I don’t fight it, and our tongues soon mesh together. I have missed her lips. Kissing her always feels good.
I should stop. It would be best if I stopped, but I can’t.
“Everett, Aubrey, where are you both?” Hugo’s voice echoes in the dark.
Aubrey abruptly pulls away from the kiss. “Fuck.”
“It is fine. He never saw anything. By the sound of his voice, he is too far away.”
“We should get back.” She says, hurrying off.
Hugo couldn’t have waited a few more minutes before coming to search for us. I groan, gather myself and follow her. Hugo is waiting on the back porch.
“Where were you? You shouldn’t be out walking in the dark.”
“We are fine. We didn’t go far.” I reply.
“Sorry, I need some air and a walk to clear my mind. I asked Everett to come so I wouldn’t be alone.” Aubrey lies. I was the one who suggested the walk.
“As long as you are both okay. Erica and I are heading to bed.”
“Me too. Goodnight.” Aubrey says, rushing off.
Hugo’s full attention focuses on me. He eyes me suspiciously. “Everett, you better not be trying to win her over.” He warns.
I stop from rolling my eyes. “I am not.”
“It better stay that way.”
Oh, he would be so disappointed in me if he knew the truth. I am done with the conversation. I bid him goodnight and head upstairs to the room where I will be sleeping. I pop my head into the room where Aubrey is sleeping.
“Goodnight, Aubrey.”
“Goodnight, Everett.”
I nod, close the door and go to my room. I shut the door behind me, resting against it. I run my fingers through my hair and shake my head. Sleep is the last thing on my mind. Groaning, I strip down to my boxers and tee, slipping into bed. I stare at the ceiling, my mind going crazy. The kiss is running around in my head. I miss when I could do that whenever I wanted. I don’t expect it to happen again. Aubrey made up her mind. Tonight was a moment of weakness, nothing more. She still won’t want us to rekindle what we had going on. Something I don’t blame her for.
It is still dark when someone shakes me awake. I didn’t fall asleep that long ago.
“What the hell?”
“Everett, wake up.”
Aubrey! What is she doing in here? Does she know how much trouble it would cause if Erica and Hugo catch her?
“What is wrong? Are you okay?” I ask, sitting up and switching the lamp on.
Aubrey sits on the edge of the bed. “I am fine.”
“Then why are you here? Do you want me to be a dead man?”
“Because we need to talk about what happened, Everett.”
We don’t, not really. But if she has her mind set on it, then I guess we are talking.
“What about it?”
I have a feeling where this is going.
“It shouldn’t have happened. I can’t go there again, not with everything going on. Not with how it went the last time. It has been running around in my head since it happened. I couldn’t sleep. I needed to come and make sure you knew it doesn’t change anything between us.”
I am disappointed, but it is what I expected. I can’t force her to be with me. She is right, though, she has enough going on, she doesn’t need me to add to the hurt and the drama.
“I understand. It is what I expected anyway.” I make sure the disappointment isn’t evident in my voice. She doesn’t need to know how much I wish things were different between us.
“I am glad we are on the same page. Sorry, I woke you.”
Aubrey jumps to her feet.
“It is okay.”
“I am going to try to get some sleep now. Goodnight, Everett. I will see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, Aubrey.”
Aubrey exits the room, and the second the door closes, I let out a loud groan of frustration. I need to find someone new. Someone I can use as a distraction until I can get over whatever it is I am feeling towards Aubrey. I can’t keep doing this to myself. It is messed up. I don’t feel things. It is better that way, safer that way. Aubrey is fucking with my head without even meaning to, and I can’t handle it any longer.