Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Aubrey
It was already Friday, and as I was packing up my bag to head home, my phone rang, alerting me that Penelope was calling.
“Hello.”
“Tell me you don’t have plans for tomorrow.”
“Not really. Why?”
“Good. Then you’re coming with me to a birthday party.”
“Whose party?” I asked as Ian took my bag from me.
“A client’s girlfriend. He contacted me and bought another one of my paintings. His girlfriend loved the one he bought at my exhibition so much that she wanted another. He said that she would love to meet me and invited me and a friend to her birthday party tomorrow. Don’t make me go alone,” she whined.
I let out a laugh. “Fine. I’ll go. What time does it start?”
“Five o’clock.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready.”
“Thanks, love. I owe you.”
“What are you doing right now?” I asked.
“Not much. Why?”
“Good. You can meet Ian and me at Roof on South Park in about twenty minutes, and buy me a drink or two.”
“Sounds good. I’ll meet you both there.”
Ethan
With a bouquet of flowers in my hand, I stepped inside Charles’ and Lexi’s townhome.
“Hey, Ethan.” Charles smiled as he shook my hand. “Aw, you shouldn’t have.” He winked as he looked at the flowers.
“Very funny. Where’s Lexi?”
“Outside talking to one of her friends. Follow me.”
I followed him out to the patio and gave Lexi a kiss on the cheek.
“Happy birthday, Lexi.” I handed her the flowers.
“Thank you, Ethan. These are beautiful. I’m going to go put them in a vase.” She smiled as she walked away.
“How about a scotch?” Charles asked.
“Sounds good.”
I followed him to the bar in the patio's corner.
“Scotch on the rocks for my best friend here,” he spoke to the bartender.
“Wow. You went all out for this party.” I smirked.
“That’s because she’s worth it.”
The bartender handed me my drink, and Charles pulled me over around the corner and reached into his pocket.
“What do you think? I just picked it up yesterday.” He smiled as he held a diamond ring in the palm of his hand.
“Very nice. When are you asking her?”
“Tonight. In front of everyone.”
“I thought you were going to wait until your trip to Aruba?”
“I was, but I can’t wait any longer.”
“I thought that was the reason you booked the trip.”
“It was, and I know she’ll be expecting it then. So this will be more of a surprise.” He grinned.
I placed my hand on his shoulder. “Congrats, bro. I’m happy for you.”
“Don’t congratulate me yet. She hasn’t said yes.”
“She will.” I smiled as we walked back to the party.
I finished off my scotch and went to the bar for another. As the bartender was pouring it, I looked around. My heart stopped when I saw Aubrey standing next to Penelope, talking to Charles and Lexi. What the hell was she doing here? Shit. The bartender handed me my drink, and I stood leaning against the bar and sipping it while I stared at her. She was too damn beautiful, and I didn’t know what to say to her. This shouldn’t have been a problem. I’d always run into women with whom I had one-night stands. They’d yell at me or call me names, and I’d just smile and keep on walking. But with Aubrey, it felt different. That was something I felt I couldn’t do. I didn’t want her to know I was here, so I would quietly escape, and she’d never know. Not until Charles opened his big mouth.
“Ethan, look who’s here!” he shouted from across the way.
Asshole.
Aubrey looked straight at me. It was as if she could see me standing there. I finished off my second scotch and casually walked over to where they were standing.
“Hello, Mr. Klein.” Penelope glared at me.
“Penelope. Nice to see you again.” I nodded. “Hello, Aubrey.”
“Hello, Ethan,” she spoke in a soft voice.
“Come on, Penelope. Come with Lexi and me, and we’ll show you where we hung your spectacular painting that I bought last week.”
Dick.
Penelope placed her hand on Aubrey’s arm.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.” She looked down and gave a small smile. “How have you been, Ethan?” she surprisingly asked.
“Busy. How about you?”
“Busy as well.”
Fuck. My conscience was getting the best of me, and I didn’t know why, and I didn’t know how to control it.
“Listen, Aubrey. I’m sorry that?—”
She put her hand up.
“Don’t apologize, Ethan. It was one night. That’s all. I didn’t expect you to call.”
“I wanted to, but I just didn’t have the chance with work and everything.”
“It’s fine. Like I said, I didn’t expect a call.”
“So, how’s school?” I asked to make the moment less awkward.
“School is great. I have wonderful students.”
“That’s good.” I placed my hand in my pocket. “It looks like they’re starting to serve dinner. I should get?—”
Before I could finish my sentence and was getting ready to make my exit, Lexi walked over and grabbed my and Aubrey’s hands.
“Come on, you two. You’re sitting at our table for dinner.” She smiled.
“I really need to get going, Lex. I have a lot of work to do.”
“Nonsense. It’s my birthday, and you’re staying. Work can wait until tomorrow. Oh, there’s someone that just showed up that I need to say hello to. Take Aubrey to that table right over there.” She pointed as she walked away.
I sighed.
“It’s okay, Ethan. You don’t need to walk me to the table. You didn’t ask to be my eyes.” The corners of her mouth slightly turned upwards.
She may have been smiling on the outside, but on the inside, she was sad. I could tell. It was in the tone of her voice when she spoke those words.
“Don’t be silly, Aubrey. I want to escort you to the table, and if you’ll allow me, I would like to sit next to you. So come on and let me escort you.”
“And what if I told you that I didn’t want you to sit next to me?” She lightly touched my elbow.
I chuckled. “Then I guess I’d have to find another seat.”
I led her to the table, pulled out the chair, and then took the seat next to hers.
“I’m sorry if you disapprove, but I’m sitting next to you anyway. Can I let you in on a little secret?” I leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“Sure.” She smiled.
“Charles is going to ask Lexi to marry him tonight.”
The smile on her face grew wide as she leaned closer to me.
“I hope she says yes. It’s a good thing you’re staying. He may need you for support if things don’t go his way.”
I chuckled. “You’re right.”
Penelope took a seat next to Aubrey, but not before shooting me a nasty look. Obviously, she meant what she said about protecting her best friend. Charles and Lexi joined us with a couple of other friends and as soon as dinner was served, I noticed something Penelope did with Aubrey’s plate. She turned it.
“Chicken is at twelve o’clock, au gratin potatoes are at three o’clock, and roasted green beans are at nine o’clock.”
“Thank you,” Aubrey spoke in a soft voice as she took her napkin and placed it in her lap.
“May I get you something to drink?” I asked her.
“A glass of wine would be nice. Thank you.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Getting up from my seat, I motioned for Charles to follow me to the bar.
“What?” he asked.
“You didn’t tell me that Aubrey was going to be here,” I spoke with irritation.
“I didn’t know. I told Penelope to bring a friend. To be honest, I forgot Aubrey was her friend. I don’t understand what your problem is.”
“You know I slept with her and never called her. Seeing her here makes things awkward.” I grabbed the glass of wine the bartender set down.
He stood there and stared at me for a moment as his left eye narrowed.
“You see women all the time you sleep with and never call again. Why is Aubrey different?”
“She’s not.”
“Bullshit, Ethan. You wouldn’t have asked me about her being here if she weren't. It’s obvious that it bothers you.”
“Forget I said anything.” I walked back to the table. “Here’s your wine.” I took hold of Aubrey’s hand and placed the glass in it.
“Thank you.”
Touching her again brought back the memories of our night together. Her soft and silky skin and the way her perfectly manicured nails dug into my back as I thrust in and out of her, causing a sensation that was too much to bear. The way her hair lay over her shoulders and the soft and subtle moans of pleasure that escaped her lips. Lips that I desperately wanted to kiss for some reason.
I came back to reality and began eating my dinner. Small talk around the table was made, mostly by Charles asking Aubrey about her life, which was none of his damn business.