Chapter 29
Tyler
Islam the car door and heft my gym bag onto my shoulder. The guys and I just finished a particularly brutal workout, and I’m ready to eat dinner and go to bed. Not before I call Audrey, though.
I’m worried about her. I don’t know if something’s going on with her mom or if it’s just been stressful for her dealing with Joe’s sudden mood change over the last week.
She’s been quiet and withdrawn since the Sunday he called her in.
I’ve tried to ask her about it while we’re working, but every time, she tells me she doesn’t want to talk about it there.
Which I can understand. I wouldn’t want Joe to overhear her talking about him. That would just cause her more problems.
I pass the end of the garage and head to the walkway leading to my front door. One of these days, I’ll clean out my garage so I can park in there. However, since I bought this house six months ago, I haven’t unpacked some of the boxes yet, so they’re still scattered around the garage.
As I make the turn up the walkway to the front door, my feet freeze. A shadowed figure sits on the small chair my mom set on my front porch when she was helping me move in. The figure stands up, and I instantly recognize it.
“Audrey? What are you doing here?” I rush up the few steps to her.
She wraps her lips over her teeth and raises her shoulders in a meek shrug.
“I didn’t want to be alone tonight.” When she holds up a box, I recognize the logo and grin.
“I brought you some donuts. I know how much you like them. Figured I could bring you some this time. And you won’t have to stop tomorrow morning. ”
I haven’t seen her in three days except while we’re at work. It’s been killing me not to be with her. After taking the box from her, my hand goes around her waist and rests on her lower back. “Let’s go inside.”
Unlocking the door, we head inside, and I drop my gym bag on the floor with a thud as we toe off our shoes.
“I’m sorry if I smell bad. I just got done at the gym.” We walk farther into my house, and I ask, “Are you still a member there? I keep meaning to ask you if you want to go with me sometime.”
Audrey keeps her face averted when she says, “No, I canceled when I lost my job.”
Deciding I’ll get her added to my plan the next time I go, in case she wants to use it and she won’t have to worry about the money, my hand returns to her back.
“Come on, let’s go to the kitchen. I’m starving.
Have you eaten?” I glance down at her, and she shakes her head.
“Okay, I’ll start dinner. Then I’ll hop in the shower. ”
She leans closer to me and inhales. “You don’t smell bad. It’s yummy manly sweat.”
I chuckle as I flip on the light to illuminate my small kitchen. “Good to know. Well, I’ll still shower, regardless.”
My mind cycles through all the dinner options I have, and I don’t have much. I set the box on the counter and open the fridge to dig around. “I have some tortellini and frozen garlic bread? I know it’s not much, but are you good with that? If not, we can order.”
I don’t like how sad her smile is when she says, “That sounds perfect.”
Once the water’s boiling and the oven’s preheating, I walk over to Audrey.
I let my hands rest on her neck, loving the softness of her skin under my palm, before running my hands up and burying my fingers in her thick hair.
Gripping her scalp, I tip her head back and capture her lips.
Her body sways into me as I deepen the kiss.
When her tongue runs along mine, I groan into her mouth, loving how responsive she is.
I slow the kiss so I can nibble on her lip, and I press my rapidly hardening cock into her stomach.
Pulling back, I graze my thumb along her bottom lip. Her tongue darts out and swipes over the pad.
I huff a laugh that sounds more like a growl. “So tempting, baby. But I’m starving, and I want to feed you. I’m going to take a quick shower. Go relax on the couch. I’ll finish dinner when I get out.”
She frowns. “I’m not going to sit on the couch when I can finish dinner while you shower.”
“Audrey…” I didn’t want her to have to make us dinner. She deserves to be taken care of.
She pops up onto her tiptoes, cups my cheeks, and pecks a kiss on my lips. “Go shower. I’m making dinner. Stop arguing with me.”
I grunt out my dissatisfaction, but relent. “Fine.” Not being able to resist teasing her, I comment with a smirk, “I see you are living up to your nickname tonight.”
She scoffs with a roll of her eyes as she fights a smile. “Oh my god, you’re terrible.”
I yank her into me one last time, pressing a kiss on her forehead before I release her and go to my bedroom. Grabbing some sweats for myself, a pair of my boxer briefs, and a T-shirt, I toss them on my bed.
Sticking my head out of the doorway, I yell to Audrey, “I left some clothes on the bed if you want to change into something more comfortable.”
“Thank you!” she yells back.
I hurry into the bathroom, not wanting to take more time than I need.
When I walk back into the bedroom about fifteen minutes later, it’s gratifying that the clothes I placed in the bed are gone.
I’m obsessed with Audrey wearing my clothes, especially when she’s in my kitchen making dinner.
And to make it even better, she sought me out.
She didn’t want to be alone, and she came to me.
That makes me so fucking overjoyed and, honestly, turns me on.
It’s not that I want Audrey to be dependent on me, but there’s something about being needed by her that does something to my insides.
I saunter back into the hallway just as Audrey’s spooning the pasta into two bowls.
She looks back over her shoulder with a smile.
“Perfect timing. The garlic bread is almost done.”
I walk over and, standing behind her, pat her hip. “Thanks, baby. Go sit down at the table. I’ll get the garlic bread and some drinks.”
“Okay, I didn’t know where your silverware is anyway.” She picks up the two bowls and carries them over to my small dining room table.
I spin and open the fridge again. “Do you want water or beer? That’s about all I have.”
“Can I have both?”
“You sure can.” As I grab our drinks and head over to the table, Audrey’s watching me, her hands tucked in between her thighs. I gently pinch her chin and tilt her head, giving her a chaste kiss on the lips before going back into the kitchen to retrieve the garlic bread from the oven.
Once I have everything on the table, I sit down next to Audrey and jut my chin toward her bowl. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
Neither of us says anything for a few moments as we start eating. I swallow my bite of food and eye Audrey. I decide to ask her a question. I’m concerned about what the answer will be. “How’s your mom doing?”
She dips her head as she chews, and her shoulders drop a little when she blows out a breath.
“It’s been a few weeks since she started chemo, so she’s been feeling a little worn down.
Doesn’t have a huge appetite.” Her chest rises with a shaky breath.
“I’m worried about her. Despite that, she swears she’s fine. ”
Reaching over, I squeeze her thigh in silent consolation. I’ve never dealt with what she is, so I’m floundering in how to help her, but I hope she knows how much her hurting tears me up. “Did she like goat yoga?”
Audrey lets out a watery laugh, and the sound is everything I’ve wanted to hear since she got here. “She freaking loved it. She told me we should move to the country and get some goats.”
My grin widens. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“No, it definitely doesn’t sound bad at all. Actually sounds pretty nice.”
“So, what’s the next thing on the list?” I take a bite of food as I wait for her answer, curious to know what her mom wants to do.
Audrey cringes. “Glass blowing and making her own butter.”
My fork freezes halfway to my mouth. I drop it back and set it in the bowl. “I’ll be honest, I never would’ve guessed those two things.”
She giggles softly. “I was a little surprised myself when I read the list.”
I take a deep breath. “I wish I could say everything’s going to be fine and that she’ll be okay, but I don’t know that. And I’m sure that only goes so far, even when people have the best intentions.”
Her eyes lock on mine, and my heart clenches.
“I’m here for you, and please know you can come to me at any point. I don’t ever want you to feel like your feelings are too much or this is going to scare me off, because that’s so far from the truth.”
Her fingers wipe the tears trailing down her cheeks.
“I hate to inform you that you’re stuck with me,” I finish. It’s no admission of love, but the fear of her rejection makes me feel exposed.
She sniffs and wipes her cheeks again. Her voice is a whisper when she says, “I think I want to be stuck with you.”
Relief loosens the tightness in my chest. “I’m glad to hear that, mama.”
She rolls her eyes and lets out a watery laugh. “I still think we should revisit the nickname situation.”
Not being able to fight the grin, I reply, “Not a chance.”
We spend the rest of dinner talking about Tim’s nose and the update my mom gave me on Rob. I tell her about our next family get-together and invite her to come with me. She nervously agrees. I always love those dinners, but with Audrey, I’m going to enjoy the next one even more.
Just like the other night, I love how we load the dishwasher after we finish eating. Hands and bodies brushing as we move around the kitchen. In the middle of it, I have the crazy thought of wondering how I can convince her to move in with me.
It’s almost nine by the time we’re done cleaning.
I tug the towel she’s holding from her hand and drop it on the counter.
Before she can move away, I hug her to me and rest my chin on the top of her head.
“We have a few options. We can go cuddle on the couch and watch a movie of your choosing while eating donuts, or we can go to bed.”
I let the insinuation hang between us, leaving the option to actually go to sleep. Having her in my arms is really all I need, and I know that I could easily fall asleep with her warm, soft body cradled against mine.
She snuggles into my chest. “Would you be disappointed if I said go to bed?”
Nuzzling my nose into her hair, I murmur, “If I’m ever disappointed to go to bed with you, I’ve had a lobotomy.”
She laughs, but I’ve never been more serious about anything.
After we brush our teeth, we climb into bed. I open my arm, and Audrey wiggles into my side before I encircle her shoulders. I kiss the top of her head as her hand rests on my pec.
This moment feels so perfect and peaceful. My eyes close as my grip on her tightens, and she snuggles deeper against me. I release a sigh of contentment before slipping into a deep sleep.