Chapter 50: Chapter Fifty

Aubrey

Everett has been staying at my place for a week. I appreciate him sticking around to make sure everything is okay, but it was getting on my nerves at the same time. I need my own space, and tonight I am getting it. Everett is away out. I don’t know if he is meeting friends or a woman. I didn’t ask. It is none of my business what he is doing. Yes, I am happy to have time alone, but I am also on edge. I keep checking outside every so often. So far, there has been no sign of Benji. There hasn’t been since that night. I can’t help but wonder if he was hiding in the shadows somewhere when Everett went outside, and knowing Everett was here and I wasn’t alone scared him off again. I hope that is what happened.

My door is locked anyway, so he couldn’t get in even if he tried. Everett took my spare key with him. Come tomorrow, my apartment will have a security system paid for by Everett. I am on the fence about it, but it is booked and paid for. I may as well give it a try. If I don’t like it, I want it removed. I have made that clear to him.

Checking outside one more time, I decide it will be the last time. I stop in the kitchen to heat up the macaroni cheese that Everett insisted on making this afternoon for my dinner tonight. We have such a strange dynamic going on. He is taking care of me like a boyfriend would, but he isn’t, not even close. He has taken care of me better than any man I have been in a relationship with. It is confusing. He is confusing.

The ping of the microwave snaps me out of my thoughts. I leave it too cool for a minute while making iced coffee. The plan for tonight is to laze around on the sofa, watching movies and enjoying the peace until he returns. If he returns. If he is with a woman, he will go to his place or hers. Taking my food and coffee through, I settle down on the sofa with a blanket draped over my shoulders.

I check my cell and notice a text from Everett.

Hey, I wanted to make sure you are okay. Do you need me to come back? X

He has only been gone a couple of hours. I didn’t expect to hear from him until he returned. Surely, he isn’t with a woman and is texting me? That would be rude.

Hey, I am okay, just sitting down to have some mac and cheese. You don’t need to rush back xx

Okay, enjoy. Text or call if you need me. I won’t be too late back xx

I leave the conversation there and find a movie to watch, tucking into my food. I groan with the first bite. I am never disappointed with any meal Everett makes me. If he weren’t a businessman, he would have been a great head chef. I may need to have seconds. It is such a comfort food. I smile as I eat. I don’t know what he adds to it. It is something because I have never tasted anything like it. I smile with every bite. He made more than enough, it will do for tomorrow too.

A loud bang wakes me from my sleep. I must have crashed out on the sofa. I stay still, pulling the blanket all the way over my face, fear taking over me.

“Aubrey, where are you?” A familiar laugh echoes through my apartment in a slur.

I relax knowing it is Everett.

“I am in here.”

He stumbles into the living room and over to the sofa. He lifts my legs, sits down and rests them over his lap. “Hey, beautiful, did you miss me?” he grins.

He smells of cigars and scotch. There is no hint of perfume or sex. Maybe he was out with friends, not a woman.

“Hello. What time is it?”

I have no idea how long I was asleep. He struggles to take his cell from his pocket. With one eye closed, he tries to read it. I laugh, shaking my head and check mine. It is only eleven-thirty. I expected him to be later.

“I should sleep. I drank way too much. Can I sleep in your bed tonight?”

“Yes, you can sleep in my bed.”

I pull my legs off his lap and sit up. Everett tries to get to his feet, but struggles, laughing at himself as he does. I roll my eyes, shaking my head and jump to my feet.

“Come on, let’s get your drunken ass to bed.”

I help him up and take him to my bedroom, sitting him at the bottom of the bed to help him out of his clothes. He can sleep in his boxers, I am not changing him into his pjs.

“Do you think you can get into bed by yourself?” I ask.

Everett nods. I turn to walk away, but I don’t get far. Everett reaches for my hand and pulls me back to him, bringing me around to face him and positioning me between his legs. He grips my hips and stares up at me.

“Where are you going?”

“To lock the door and get some water. I will be back in a few minutes.”

He doesn’t say anything else, he just stares up at me. I swallow hard, and a shudder runs through me. A loud sigh escapes from his lips, and he shakes his head in disapproval. Disapproval of what, I have no idea.

“What? What is wrong?”

“You don’t see it, do you?” he whispers nervously.

I furrow my brows. “Everett, what are you talking about?”

“Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”

Everett lets go of me and crawls up the bed, slipping under the covers. I don’t move. I am confused. I don’t see what? What is he talking about? It must be drunken gibberish. I shake my head and exit the room, making sure the door is locked and get him some water before returning to the bedroom. Everett is crashed out, snoring away. Switching the light off, I set the water next to his side of the bed before I climb in.

I turn away from him, sighing to myself. I honestly can’t work out what he meant. The bed shifts from behind me, and the warmth of Everett’s body presses against my back, his arm draping over me. I try to ignore the butterflies in my stomach or every other feeling coursing through me with the closeness. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and wait for sleep to take over me. I won’t bring it up to him tomorrow. He won’t remember saying it, anyway. There is no point mentioning it.