Chapter 39

Aurelia's POV

"Did you really get laid?" she asked. "And when was that?"

Killian slammed into me while claiming my name. Yeah, that was the kinky memory that was coming to me.

"You know what, it doesn't really matter," I tell her, pulling off a cloth from a hanger and then dumping it on the floor. "What's sex going to do for me? Fill the void? Plus if I'm horny, I've got toys."

"Well, if sex won't fill the void, maybe you should start your internship and find some cute guy at work to bond with," Tasha teased, taking the sheets off her bed.

"Okay, that's just... stupid? Pointless? And trust me guys, I'm fine."

"Sure. And I'm Sherlock Holmes," Audrey whistled, joining me by my wardrobe to pack the rest of my clothes.

"Why do you have so much stuff?" Audrey asked with a groan. "You go home almost every weekend, and I can swear your shit isn't fitting one suitcase."

"I know right?" Tasha agreed. "Instead of getting an Uber, maybe we should get a moving van."

+++++++

The silence in the house was killing me, and I was two seconds away from going crazy. After our sleepover yesterday, Audrey and Tasha left this afternoon because they had things to do, and now I was left all alone in this house.

I wasn't sure why I was not okay with being quiet everywhere.

After Dad died, with me and Ivy in the house, there wasn't much talking going on, so on weekends, whenever Audrey was unavailable, I would go days without talking to anyone. I'd just read books, watch a movie, or do something.

But now, I don't want to do anything.

I just wanted the feeling of loneliness to stop.

Ivy had called once yesterday to check on me and see how I was doing, but after that, I had been pretty much on my own.

Despite the fact that I had been actively avoiding Killian, a part of me was wishing he were making more attempts to contact me or talk.

I sighed for the hundredth time that day and stepped out of my room, suddenly feeling too aware of how empty and lifeless this place was. Audrey and Tasha were sweethearts and helped me clean up after our girls' night, and now I was wishing they hadn't because I could definitely use some distraction.

I walked out of the house in leggings and a tank top, my headphones around my neck, and strolled down the street. Maybe I would get coffee and a doughnut, or some pizza. But at least the walk would clear my head.

"Heyyyyyy," a voice called out excitedly from my left. "Fancy seeing you here!"

I turned to the source of the oddly familiar voice, and a grin broke out on my face. It was Leo from the club. "Leo? Right?"

"You didn't forget my name, so that's a good sign. How have you been?" he questioned, assessing me.

I shrugged. "Surviving? Finished my final semester exams so that's a relief."

"I suppose it is. Any plans for the holidays?" We fell in step beside each other.

"Well, I have to start an internship in about a month."

"That's cool. I'm going to work some more but really, I just can't wait until I start college."

"That's nice."

"Hey... are you okay? That guy at the club the other day..."

"Yeah, it's fine. And I'm sorry he hit you. He was... just being protective 'cause he thought I was drunk… You know... he thought you were going to take advantage."

"Oh?" Leo burst out laughing so hard that he held his stomach and had to stop walking. "I wasn't... I mean... I'm gay."

"What?" I asked, my eyes widening in surprise as I laughed. "No way, I thought you were hitting on me."

"No... I was just trying to be friendly... and I invited you over because you didn't seem to want to be there with him staring at you, and to be honest, I didn't either."

"But like we kissed... that meant nothing?"

"You were looking at him the whole time," he snorted in laughter. "Then you looked at me and my lips, so I figured you wanted to kiss me to make him jealous and know he can't have you." He continued laughing, pausing again. "I thought we had some kind of mutual understanding."

"I am so, so sorry." I felt low-key embarrassed by thinking the worst. "You don't talk gay and... I don't know, I just... I'm sorry."

"Yeah, it's fine. I have an annoyingly deep voice and... seem pretty masculine to most," he grinned.

"But you flirted..." I deadpanned, still grinning. "Seriously, what if I fell in love? That's cruel, Leo!"

"Right after I said he seemed jealous... I pointed it out to confirm and you said Too bad he's not as cute... so I thought you wanted him to purposely see, oh my dayssss!"

"Oh well. Oh, and you called me beautiful."

"I'll call any lady I think is beautiful beautiful, and I'll call any man I think is handsome handsome… It's the way it works. You see something you like, you compliment."

"You have a very positive spirit, Leo, I like that. No wonder I almost fell in love."

"Well, I'll have a girl's back anytime she needs it," He laughed again. "So uh, where are you headed?"

"Taking a walk to clear my head... and grab something to eat."

"Nice, I was taking a walk to clear my head too."

"So... How are you liking town?" I asked. "It must be pretty different from what you're used to?"

"It is....and I'm having trouble getting friends."

"Ooof, I'm sorry," I grimaced, squeezing his shoulders gently. "Well, you have me now.'

"Thank you. What are you grabbing to eat? I know a pretty good spot for food. They don't have a dining area though... It's like a grab-and-go food truck."

"Okay... How about we grab something and then go back to my place?" I inquired.

"Visitation privileges already?" He grinned. "Seems like someone can't get enough of me."

"Oh please," I said, rolling my eyes. "Get over yourself.