Chapter 65: Chapter Sixty-Five

Everett

I barely slept last night. I am annoyed at Aubrey for not responding last night. Now, it is morning and still nothing. It is two here, which means it will be nine in New York. Aubrey should be awake by now. I know things haven’t been easy in our first week, but I just got here and need time to get things sorted and get myself into a routine. I will make time for her. I will cancel everything, and I thought she would have known that. Clearly not, which makes me think Aubrey still has some doubts about us, which I hate. I don’t want that. I don’t want her to have any doubts about us. I’d better hear from her soon because I need to leave in a couple of hours to head to the airport and pick up Hugo. He got an early flight from New York. It takes me over an hour to drive from here to the airport.

I stop pacing and take a seat at my desk, trying to calm myself down. I rest back, sighing and just as I do, my cell rings. I grab it quickly, hoping it will be Aubrey. It is, thank God. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t hear from her. I answer it right away.

“Aubrey,” I sigh.

“Hi.”

“What took you so long to get back to me?” I try to hide the annoyance in my voice. I don’t want her to end up hanging up.

“Because I was asleep. Remember, I am five hours behind you, Everett.”

“Yes, but you are usually up by now. Did you mean what you said? You aren’t coming to London?” I ask sadly, dreading what her response will be.

Aubrey takes a deep breath on the other end of the call. “I am thinking about it, yes, because I am not flying all the way over there for you not to be around, Everett. You know I can be really anxious. The thought of flying all the way there to be left alone is putting my anxiety through the roof.”

“Aubrey, I promise if you come, I will be around. I will cancel my schedule for the weekend. I want you to come, Aubrey, please come. If you don’t, then it means we will be apart even longer without seeing one another,” I plead.

It has only been a week, and I am already missing her, even if it doesn’t seem like it to her because we have barely spoken.

“How do I know that won’t change?”

“I promise, Aubrey. Please come?”

I can’t force her. If she doesn’t want to come, I can’t make her. I will be disappointed and sad, but it is her choice, no matter how badly I want her here. I can understand why she is worried, especially after the last week.

“I don’t know. I need to think about it. I will see how things are between us over the next few days. I know Hugo will be there, but if we can work around it in some way, then I will come. If not, I probably won’t,” she says softly.

It is going to be harder with Hugo here, but if that is what it takes, then I will need to make it work.

“Okay, I understand.”

“Anyway. I need to go shower and get ready. I am heading over to Erica and Hugo’s place. I will talk to you later, though.”

I didn’t want the conversation to end so quickly, but she has plans.

“I will talk to you later. I miss you, angel.”

“I miss you too.”

With that, the call ends. I toss my cell on the desk. She still seems a little off. Has my lack of communication really gotten to her that much? It isn’t like I did it on purpose. Work just took over, and I need to do everything I can, especially since we are starting off. I wish this trip had come at a later time, in a few months, once Aubrey and I had more time to be together and develop our relationship. It would have made things easier, since the truth would have been built too. Now, if she doesn’t come, it will make me wonder how we are going to make it a month. I groan and tug my hair in frustration. I am going to be on edge until I know for sure what is happening.

I had just picked up Hugo from the airport. He seems exhausted. Thankfully, he doesn’t have to do anything today. Tomorrow the work will start. It will be nice to have some company for a few days.

“Are you okay? You seem off?” he asks as we get on the road.

“No, not really. It has been harder than I thought to keep in contact with Addie. She is mad at me. She is supposed to come and visit, but now she doesn’t know if she will. Addie is worried that if she does, then I won’t have any time with her.”

“I am sure it will be fine. You haven’t been together long. It will take some adjusting. I am here now, so it takes some of the pressure off. You can take the time to communicate with her,” He smiles.

I wish that were true. With Hugo being here, it will be harder to talk with Aubrey.

“I hope so. I don’t want things to be ruined before we have a chance to really start.”

“Everett, you can’t keep thinking like that. You will be fine. It will work out,” he encourages.

I nod, hoping he is right, because if things don’t work for Aubrey and me, then I will never get in a relationship again. If I can’t make it work with Aubrey, then I have no chance with anyone else.

“I can’t help it. You know how terrible I am at relationships. This is the first time in a long time I have let anyone close. If I can’t make this work, then I won’t be able to make it work with anyone else.”

Hugo is silent, but I can feel his eyes on me. Checking out the corner of my eye, I notice he is smirking. “Why are you smirking at me?”

“Is my big brother falling in love for the first time?”

“What? No. It is way too soon for that,” I protest. I am not in love with Aubrey.

“It is never too soon to fall in love if it is with the right person.”

“You are imagining things.”

Hugo chuckles. “No, I am not. You are acting the same way with Addie as I was with Erica at this stage.”

I groan and shake my head. “I am not you. I am not falling in love.”

He chuckles, not saying another word. His silence is enough. He doesn’t believe me. That is his choice. He can think what he wants. I know the truth.