Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ethan
I hailed a cab home and got ready for work. As I stood in the shower, I lowered my head and let the water beat down on me while I thought about Aubrey. For the first time in years, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Telling her about Sophia and making her understand the way I was, was gratifying. I was honest and told her I couldn’t commit to anything, yet she still wanted to make love, which was a sign that she was okay with it. I still had fears and many of them. Would I ever go back to the way I was? I didn’t know. But, little by little, Aubrey was peeling away the damaged layers that resided inside me. Spending the night with her was great, and I didn’t feel like I needed to leave. It was the least I could do for her since she sat and listened to what I had to say. Did this mean we were in a relationship? No. It meant that we reached a level where we could enjoy each other’s company without any strings attached.
As I was sitting in my office doing some work, a text message came through from her.
“Hey, I know you’re busy working, but I’m going rock climbing today and wanted to see if you wanted to tag along. It’ll be fun.”
Rock climbing? Was she serious? She couldn’t rock climb. A nervousness settled inside me at the thought. She’d slip and fall and possibly get killed. All sorts of things ran through my head.
“Is anyone going with you?”
“Nope. Just you and me if you want to come along.”
Damn it. There was no way I could let her go alone.
“What time are you going and where?”
“Three o’clock at Chelsea Pier Sports Center. I have a friend who works there.”
I let out a sigh of relief. She was going to go to a gym to rock climb. That made me feel somewhat better because someone would be there with her.
“I really can’t. I’m sorry. I have so much to do.”
“That’s fine. I just thought I’d ask.”
I set down my phone and got back to work. My tech team was working today on that app I wanted to create. Walking down to their department, I found them huddled around a table.
“Anything yet?” I asked.
“We’re having trouble with the voiceover. It’s thirty percent complete.”
“Alright. Just keep working at it.”
Looking at my watch, I noticed it was three o’clock. Why on earth would she want to rock climb? Fuck. I couldn’t get the thought out of my head. Instead of going back to my office, I headed out the door and hailed a cab to the Chelsea Pier Sports Center.
When I arrived, I asked the young girl at the front desk where their rock climbing was.
“All the way in the back and to the right. Do you have an appointment?” she asked.
“No. I’m just here to support a friend of mine who’s doing it.”
“Oh. Okay.”
When I found the section where the rock climbing was, I clenched my fist when I saw a man with his arms around Aubrey’s waist. I stood back and watched as she began to climb the wall—the man who had helped her glanced over and looked at me. Bringing my finger to my lips, I motioned for him not to alert Aubrey that I was there.
“Hey, Alyssa, keep an eye on Aubrey. I’ll be right back.”
He walked over to me, and we stepped away from the area.
“Can I help you with something?”
“I’m just here to watch her, but I don’t want her to know.”
“Dude, that’s creepy.”
I couldn’t help but give him a half smile.
“I’m a close friend of hers. She called me earlier and asked me to come with her, but I couldn’t. I just wanted to see her do it. To be honest, I’m a little nervous.”
“Why? It’s not the first time she’s rock climbed. She’s been here several times, and she’s really good. If you’re such a close friend, you would know that. Listen, you need to let her know you’re here, or I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Then, after you leave, I’ll tell her you were here but didn’t want her to know.”
“Fine.”
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Ethan Klein.”
“I’m Justin. Nice to meet you.”
Rolling my eyes, I followed him over to where Aubrey was. She was already halfway up the wall.
“Hey, Aubrey,” Justin spoke.
“Yeah.” She turned her head to him.
“You have a visitor. He says his name is Ethan Klein.”
“Ethan.” A smile crossed her face. “I thought you couldn’t come.”
“I finished earlier than I thought, so I came down here to watch you.”
“Watch me? No, Ethan, I want you to climb with me.”
“I can’t, Aubrey. I don’t have the right clothes or anything. I’ll do it another time.”
“Promise?” she asked with a smile.
“I promise.”
She finished climbing and came back down the wall. Even though she was a sweaty mess, she looked incredible.
“Great job, Aubrey,” Justin spoke. “See you next week?”
“Thanks, Justin. I’ll be here.”
I took her hand and placed it on my arm.
“I didn’t know you rock climbed,” I spoke as we headed out the door.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
I smiled. “Is that so? Then how about we have dinner tonight, and you can tell me more about the things I don’t know about you.”
“As much as I would love to, I can’t. I’m having dinner and drinks with Penelope and my Aunt Charlotte.”
“Ah. Okay. Maybe I can see you after?”
“I’m not sure what time I’ll be home. Since we’re hitting the town, I probably won’t be getting in until really late.”
“Okay. I understand. How about we share a cab?”
“I’d like that. No Harry today?”
“Nah. He went out of town for the weekend.”
I hailed us a cab, and we climbed into the backseat.
“Why didn’t you drive your car?” She smirked.
“I didn’t feel like dealing with the traffic.”
She let out a light laugh. “Even though I have never actually seen what the traffic looks like in New York City, I can sure feel it, so I understand.”
“We have arrived at your apartment. Would you like me to come up for a while?” I asked.
“As much as I’d like that, I have to shower and get ready. So I won’t be much company.”
“Oh. Okay. Have a good time with Penelope and your aunt.”
“Thanks, Ethan. Enjoy your evening.” She climbed out and shut the door.