Chapter 10
Aurora
I’d barely beenable to contain my excitement all day. It had been a struggle to get through the exam, but once I’d finished, we raced home and got ready for some time off. The ferry ride felt like it took forever, but now I sat in the car out front of her brother’s house waiting while Lorelai pulled her things from the car.
“Have a good time. If you need me, just text and I’ll come get you early if needed,” I told Lorelai as she pulled the last bag from the back seat.
Lorelai was helping her brother and Candace with wedding plans for the weekend, and since her brother Phil was best friends with her ex, Hugo, and he was in the wedding party, I wanted her to make sure she knew she had an out if she needed.
“Thanks, but Candace promised me he wouldn’t be there this weekend. She’s been trying to talk Phil out of having him in the wedding party too. She says it’s not fair to me after we broke up to allow him to be part of the family. I just hope she can convince him. God, could you imagine how horrific that would be, being stuck on a tiny island with him?”
“Hawaii isn’t that tiny,” I said, checking my phone for messages.
“Ha, says you. It is very tiny if your ex is on it with you. Believe me.”
“Hey, just remember you hold the power, my dear. He dumped you, remember?”
“I know. Doesn’t mean I want to see him soon. I especially don’t want to see him with someone else when I’m single. Phil told Candace he’s apparently bringing someone.”
I frowned. “The invites haven’t even gone out yet. How does he know he’s even allowed to bring a plus one?”
I got out of the car and hugged my best friend. “I get it. Breathe and have a good time,” I said as I made my way around to the driver’s side and climbed back in the car.
“Where are you going to be?”
“Dylan’s,” I said, my stomach flipping with butterflies.
The butterfly feeling started when we’d gotten off the phone last night. I couldn’t stop wondering where that conversation was going to go when we’d been so rudely interrupted. However, thinking back, I was glad nothing had happened. I’d never had phone sex before.
“So you didn’t tell your mother you were coming to Vancouver?”
I shook my head. “I haven’t spoken to her. I’m almost positive that she and Joe are still on their honeymoon in Europe, anyway.”
“Alright, well, have fun. I’ll call if I need.”
I waved and looked toward the house to see Candace step out onto the front porch. I waved, said good-bye to Lorelai once more, and then pulled away from the curb. I made my way through Vancouver, finally pulling into the parking lot of Dylan’s building. I glanced around and noticed his car parked in his spot, so I pulled into the visitors’ section and parked in the only available spot and made my way inside.
I stood outside his door, a small duffel bag in my hand, while my other hand shook as I knocked and then waited. I was about to knock again when the door opened and a soaking wet Dylan stood before me with a towel wrapped around his waist. Almost immediately, my mouth went dry as my eyes travelled down his built chest to his abs, to that delicious vee that was peeking out just above the band of the towel.
“Wow…” I muttered under my breath at the sight in front of me.
He glanced down at himself and then looked at me with that stupid cocky smile he always wore, the one I’d been dying to see again.
“Get in here,” he said, gripping my wrist and pulling me inside and into his arms.
Instantly, his lips were against mine as he pried the bag from my hand while his other held onto the towel that was wrapped at his waist. Once my bag had fallen to the floor, he took hold of my hand and pulled me down the hall to the bathroom where the shower was still running and dropped his towel. He pulled at my shirt, popping button by button, and then shoved my shirt from my shoulders. He pulled at the button on my jeans. Want coursed through my veins as he pushed them down my legs.
I stood there half undressed, breathing hard as he grinned at me, turned, and stepped into the shower, leaving the door open.
“You coming?”
“Did you plan this?” I questioned, stepping out of my pants that were bunched at my ankles.
When I’d pulled away from the curb, I’d messaged him to let him know I was on my way. That notice would have given him plenty of time to get himself into the shower.
“I’ll leave that question for you to figure out.” He chuckled.
Seconds later, I stood under the hot water, my back pressed up against the wall of his shower, his body pressed against mine as he took my mouth with his. His kiss was frantic at first, then it slowed. He wrapped me in his arms, kissing me slow and deep, his tongue washing through my mouth as he pulled me tighter against him.
“I missed you,” he murmured between kisses. “I thought about this all night last night.”
“Me too,” I said, panting.
“What were you doing on the phone last night while we were talking?” he questioned, moving to my neck, kissing his way from my ear to where my shoulder met my neck.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I giggled, then sucked in a breath as he brought his lips to the top of my breasts.
He stopped what he was doing and placed his hands on the shower wall on either side of my head and met my eyes. “I would.”
The intensity in his eyes made me weak in the knees as he stared at me, waiting for me to tell him what it was he already knew. With my heart in my throat, I closed my eyes and jumped a little when I felt his hand graze the front of my thigh. My body shook as he trailed his finger up my inner thigh.
“Were you touching yourself?” he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. “I had my cock in my hand, thinking of you.”
Fire flooded my body as his fingers found their way to my centre, and I let out a moan as he gently ran them over my clit. I opened my eyes to see him watching me.
“You like that?” he questioned.
Before I could answer him, he licked his lips and devoured my mouth with his.
* * *
We satin a quiet corner out on the balcony of The Sunset, an upscale Italian restaurant on the water’s edge. I poured us both another glass of wine while we waited for dessert to arrive.
I’d planned this date from my hotel room almost as soon as I’d hung up the phone from talking with her. I’d scoured the internet looking for restaurants in the area that I thought would be a good choice. When I came up empty-handed, I pulled Knox aside and asked him. This had always been his go-to place, and to be honest, he wasn’t wrong. It was perfect. Watching the sunset over the water during dinner was probably the most romantic part of the night and, she admitted it to me as the sky went from shades of pink to hues of purple.
We talked about everything under the sun. Food, music, hobbies, her childhood and mine. She picked up her wineglass and brought it to her perfect full lips.
“Alright, I have a question. What are the little things that improve your days?”
“When I need a pick-me-up or having a tough day, I always go for the cinnamon scones at Sip and Stir. What about you?”
“Probably skating. I just get out on the ice and go. It always takes my mind off everything.”
“What is one quality you wish you had?”
“Oh god, that is tough.”
“No, it’s not.”
She brought her fingers to her lips. “I wish I could be more like Lorelai at times. She just has a way of reading people, and I’ve always admired it. What about you?”
“Sometimes, I wish I could be more like Knox in the relationship department. He’s just so easygoing, where I’m more the relationship type guy.”
“Nothing wrong with the way you are,” she whispered.
I met her eyes and smiled. “Okay, I have another. If you could relive one day, what would it be?”
A light blush rose to her cheeks, and she averted her eyes down to the glass she was holding. I sat there waiting for her answer when she finally spoke.
“Are you going to tell me what is in the bag?” she questioned, looking over with curiosity. She’d been eyeing the bag the entire night.
“Once you answer the question, you can look in the bag,” I said.
“Do you want an honest answer?”
“Uh, yeah, the whole point of tonight is to get to know one another on a better basis. So, the truth would be preferable.”
She spun the stem of the glass between her fingers. Keeping her head down, she muttered something to herself.
“I didn’t quite catch that,” I said, reaching across the table and placing my hand on top of hers.
She looked up at me. “You’re probably going to laugh.”
“Doubt it.”
“Okay, here goes nothing. The one night I wish I could relive would have been that night in Mexico with you.”
I didn’t know what to say as her eyes met mine, but somehow her answer warmed me.
“Why that night?” I asked, my heart beating a little harder.
“There would be things I’d change. First, I’d have gotten your name so I didn’t need to wait so long to find you again,” she whispered.
I reached down beside me and grabbed the bag, handing it to her. “I hope you like it. I was debating not giving it to you for fear you thought I was being a little too possessive.”
She looked at me with curious eyes then opened the bag.
“It’s my jersey,” I said, as she pulled it out of the bag.
A smile fell over her lips as she flipped it around to see my name across the back. “Thank you. I love it.”
“So you’ll wear it?”
She nodded. “I will.”
* * *
After dinner,we made our way over to a private nightclub where we were meeting up with Clay and Knox.
Once inside, Dylan ordered us each a drink from the bar and we headed out to the dance floor. Dylan took a moment to text them both to tell them where we were, then we started dancing.
Once Clay and Knox arrived, they came over and said hello then made their way to the bar. We were going to follow, but a slow song came on. Dylan grabbed my hand and pulled me against him. Resting my head against his shoulder.
As the music played, we swayed together. Something about this moment made me wish it would never end. I felt him press a kiss to my forehead as he held me in his arms. I’d just closed my eyes and relaxed in his arms when I felt someone grab hold of my hair and pull me backward, ripping me away from Dylan. I tried to fight, but there was nothing I could do, I couldn’t see who it was.
The room spun as I fell backward, until whoever it was finally let me go. I tried to catch myself before I fell to the ground but didn’t succeed. I blinked a few times and tried to focus before I moved. I got up on my knees and turned to see a woman about my age shouting at Dylan. I couldn’t make out what she was saying, but watched in horror as she smacked him across the face. She then began shouting at him again, only his time, she pointed at me.
Dylan came over to where I sat on the ground and grabbed my hands, bringing me up to my feet as she continued to shout at him.
“You asshole. Is this the piece of ass you have your eye on?” she screamed as she pointed in my direction.
Clay and Knox both came over to us and pulled me back away from her, stepping in front of me to protect me. The three of us stood there watching the events unfold before us.
“Carlie, it’s over,” Dylan gritted, wiping at the spilled drink that was all over his shirt. “It’s been over for a long fucking time.”
“Please…we had plans,” she cried.
Dylan shook his head and glanced over at me. Shock, hurt, and anger flooded me as I watched him stand there wiping the drink from his shirt. This girl looked absolutely gutted.
“You can’t give up on us that easily.” She sniffled.
Dylan shook his head. “Carlie, there isn’t anything left!”
“I made mistakes, Dylan. You were right. I didn’t know what I had with you, but I do now, and I don’t want to live my life with a huge regret. I need you back in my life. We were talking about getting married and starting a family. Settling down,” she cried.
My stomach churned and the room spun. I glanced at Knox and Clay, who stood there, neither of them looking surprised. This seemed to be something that was a common occurrence for them. As the events of the past few minutes ran through my mind, my hearing became fuzzy. Never in my life had I been the other woman, and it made me sick to my stomach to think that’s what this was.
“Carlie, I told you, we are over. If you never got the hint from the last letter from my lawyer, then I don’t know what it’s going to take,” Dylan said, coming over to me and wrapping his arm around me.
Carlie spun around and glared at me, then at Dylan.
“Dylan, don’t do this…” she sobbed. “And you…you slut…you stole him from me,” she sneered, raising her fist.
Dylan grabbed me and ripped me from the spot where I stood, Clay and Knox both staying there protecting the pair of us as we left the club. Once outside, we all walked in silence, Clay and Knox keeping an eye out from behind us as we made our way through the parking lot to Dylan’s car.
My heart pounded in my chest as the events that had just unfolded before my eyes replayed in my mind. I didn’t know what to think. What I knew was I wanted to get away from this place and from Dylan as quickly as I could. He opened the door and turned to me, waiting for me to get inside.
I swallowed hard as I looked at the three of them, my stomach rolling. Why wasn’t anyone explaining anything? Who was that girl? Was Dylan married? Was he in a relationship that I didn’t know about? I had so many questions, and the world seemed to be moving at such a fast pace right now, I didn’t know what to do or what to ask.
“Come on, let’s go,” Dylan said, waiting for me to get in.
I shook my head and slowly stepped back away from the car. “Not until you tell me what that was about,” I said, standing my ground while trying to fight back tears.
“Not here,” Dylan said, still waiting for me to get in the car.
I shook my head and stepped back.
“Come on, Aurora, get in,” Dylan demanded. “We have to get out of here before she comes out.”
When I didn’t move, Knox stepped forward. “Come on, he’ll explain once you’re in the car.”
I shook my head and pulled my cell phone from my back pocket, quickly dialing Lorelai. If she didn’t answer or if she or her brother couldn’t come to get me, I’d get into a cab and head to her brother’s place. I didn’t care, right now. I wanted to be anywhere but here. If he wanted me to stay, then I wanted to know what that entire situation was about and he’d better start explaining.