Chapter 60: Chapter Sixty

Aubrey

I am nervous as I drive up the long driveway that leads to Everett’s place. I have barely spoken to him. Once, while he was on his way home, but that has been it. I don’t know how tonight will go, how the conversation will go. I have no idea what mood he is in. He will still be stressed out. I come to a stop, taking a few deep breaths before getting out of the car.

I am surprised when I see Everett standing at the front door, waiting for me. He smiles as I approach and instantly returns it. Has his mood picked up?

“Hi,” I say, kissing him softly.

“Hello, beautiful,” he replies as we part from the kiss.

Everett reaches for my hand, leading me inside and locks up behind him. He doesn’t say another word and guides me to the living room, and we take a seat on the sofa. I notice a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table. The scent of dinner cooking travels through the air from the kitchen.

“Dinner won’t be long. Do you want some wine?”

“A small glass.”

Nodding, he pours us each a little and hands me one before he rests back against the sofa. I take a sip of mine and turn to face him.

“How are you?” I ask nervously.

“Stressed and confused.”

Which means he hasn’t made up his mind. There is a chance he is going to London.

“Are you any closer to deciding on what you are going to do?”

I keep my emotions intact. I don’t want to put them out. This is a choice he needs to make without me guilting him into it. He sighs, taking a long gulp of his wine.

“Why did you try to encourage me to go, Aubrey?” There is a sadness in his tone.

I knew what I said got to him.

“Everett, I don’t want you to go. I want you to stay here with me, but I also don’t want to be the reason you don’t go. I don’t want you to end up resenting me. It is a great opportunity for you, Hugo, and the business,” I say honestly, and take his hand in mine.

I don’t want him to think that I want him to leave. It is the last thing I want.

“I could never resent you, Aubrey. I don’t know what to do. I want to stay here with you, but I don’t want to let Hugo down.” He runs his fingers through his hair, frustrated.

“Can’t you see if maybe you can only go for a few weeks, take someone else with you who can take over when you leave? Everett, I will support whatever choice you make, but I worry that if you go, we won’t work. A year is a long time. I can’t exactly jet off and see you every weekend. One, it will raise too many questions and two, I can’t afford that. You need to do what is best for you.” My words are shaky, and I can feel the tears threatening to fall.

“I had the same thought. A year is a long time. Everything is still so new with us. If I leave, then I don’t think we will make it either.”

“You will make the right choice, but I can’t make it for you, Everett.” I whimper, a few stray tears rolling down my cheeks.

Damn it! I didn’t want that to come out. His lips press tightly together, and his brows drop, sadness taking over his face. “Please don’t cry, Aubrey.”

“I am sorry. I was trying so hard to hold them back.”

Everett brings me closer to him, and I curl into his side. His arm comes protectively around me and kisses the top of my head. “Aubrey, I don’t want to go.”

I nuzzle my face in his neck. “Then don’t. Tell Hugo you don’t want to.”

He sighs. “I need to, or maybe suggest what you said, only going for a few weeks. Would that be okay? Could we make it if I do that?”

“Yes, we would make it, Everett. A few weeks isn’t a long time.”

I know Hugo, and the business is important to Everett.

“Promise?”

I glance up at him, smiling. “I promise. Maybe I can sneak away one weekend and come to meet you in London. I will tell Hugo and Erica I am going somewhere else.”

“I would like that. I will buy your flight, though, and don’t try to tell me no. Flights aren’t cheap, and I don’t want you spending most of your paycheck on one. I will take care of it.”

Usually, I would tell him no, but he has a point. If I pay for a flight, I won’t have money left. “Okay, only this one,” I state firmly. I would never take advantage of his money, no matter how much he has. I am not that type of woman.

He nods and reaches down, kissing me softly. “I will talk to Hugo tomorrow.”

Hugo can’t go, which is understandable since he has a family, but there must be someone they can trust to take care of things.

“Okay. It will be okay; we will work it out. I promise.”

“Yes, we will. I will check on dinner. I am making a beef stew. Is that okay?”

“Yes, that is fine. It smells delicious. Comfort food.”

I pull away from him. Everett kisses my forehead and disappears to the kitchen. Sighing, I rest back and sip my wine. He seems to have made up his mind, but it could still change. I hope it doesn’t. Hugo better not try to push him on it. He can’t take him away from me, even if he won’t know he is doing it. If things change and he needs to go longer, we may need to share our relationship sooner than planned. I will try my hardest not to stress too much, but that won’t happen. My anxiety will take over, take control, and it will become too much.

I hear him come back through and pull myself together, acting like I am fine.

“It should be ready in about fifteen to twenty minutes.”

My stomach grumbles at the mention of it, loud enough that Everett hears it and laughs.

“Sorry, I am so hungry tonight.” I giggle.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I made plenty, so you can have as much as you want. There will be enough for tomorrow, too. I think I made too much.”

I smile when he says that. Benji was the opposite. He made sure I didn’t eat too much or put on any weight. If I did, it didn’t end well for me. No, he is not getting inside my head again. I rid my thoughts of him.

“I will hold you to that.” I grin, kissing his cheek.

Stew is filling, one bowl will be more than enough, but I like that Everett wants to take care of me and makes sure I am eating. I snuggle back into him, and I plan on staying like this until our food is ready.