Aubrey #3
He’s wearing a perfectly tailored, three-piece navy-blue suit that hugs his large body deliciously, with a white dress shirt underneath and a blue tie that’s a shade lighter.
His hair is swept back with a bit of gel, except for those two strands that always fall forward near his temples and curl back toward his ears.
“I try my best.” He grins, those dimples I love seeing coming into view.
“You don’t need to try, you always do,” I tell him genuinely. Because it’s what I’ve always thought. I had never met a man as handsome as Shane.
A small pink hue appears over his cheekbones at my compliment. “I’ve missed you this week,” he says after a moment.
I bite my lip, loving that he missed me just as much as I missed him. “I missed you too, Shane.” I smile. “But you do know we have gone longer than a week without seeing each other.”
A soft chuckle leaves his lips that I desperately want to kiss. “I know, but this feels different.”
“It does,” I admit as my skin prickles with heat.
The song ends too quickly, coming back to one with more rhythm. We release each other reluctantly and take a step back, but not more than that. Neither one of us truly wants this moment to end.
“Are you… are you leaving tonight?” I ask, feeling red all over.
He shakes his head. “No, I leave tomorrow afternoon. I have a room here,” he says moments before his eyes widen. “That’s not… I didn’t mean anything… I’m not expecting—”
I place my hand on his arm, stopping him. “I know.”
He swallows nervously. “Okay.”
I look around and find a couple of my friends staring at us with excitement, making my blush worsen. “I should get back to my friends…”
“Okay,” he says again but doesn’t move. His eyes travel around the room before landing on me once more. He leans in quickly and kisses my cheek. “Thank you for the dance, Angel.” He steps back, leaving into the crowd as I watch him go.
I head over to my friends as they all wear identical grins. “You two are so adorable together.” Cecilia sighs dreamily.
“206,” Emma says as she intertwines her arm with mine.
I frown and look at her. “What?”
“206, that’s his room number,” she clarifies.
I blink a few times, eyes going wide as I blush. “How… how do you know his room?”
“Because he’s the unlucky person who booked beside our suite.” She giggles. “I’m just telling you in case you needed it. You know, to talk in private about the kissing thing.” Oh, that makes sense and is a much better option than doing it here.
“Thank you.” My face heats as I look at the floor with a smile on my face.
She releases my arm and instead goes for both my hands, standing in front of me.
“I know this won’t be easy, baby Brey. But we all just want you to be happy, including your brother.
And if that man right there is what makes you happy, then no one has a say in it.
No one has the right to stop you from being together.
” When my eyes water, she takes me into her arms. “I’ll deal with Greyson; he’ll come around. I promise you.”
“Thank you,” I whisper once more.
The party goes on for a few more hours, ending the night with Greyson stepping up behind the grand piano in the corner and singing the song he wrote for his lovely bride as his fingers play out the beautiful melody over the keys.
My brother could have easily become a pianist or a singer, he’s a man of many talents, but his true passion was always hockey.
When he finishes and Emma falls into his arms, I notice Shane walking up to them and seeming to wish them goodnight, then turns and looks around the room until he finds me. A sad smile forms over his lips as he gives me a small wave and turns for the doors.
My heart squeezes as I watch him leave, every fiber of my being pulling at me, begging me to follow him. Like an invisible string that connects us together, and everywhere he goes, my body wants to follow.
Ronnie steps up to my side with a champagne flute in hand and my small clutch and shawl in the other. “Here, drink this.” She passes it to me as I blink with quizzical eyes. “Down it and go after him.”
“But…”
“No buts. No one will notice you’re gone, certainly not the happily married couple. Just go.”
I look around, noticing most people are getting pretty close to drunk by now, including Greyson. “Okay, yes. I’m doing this. I’m going to march up to his room and demand answers.” I bring the drink up to my lips and swallow it all down, coughing a little once it makes its way past my throat.
She takes the glass back and hands me my clutch and shawl. “That’s my babe. Now go get your man.”
I wrap the shawl around me, smiling. “We’re just going to talk.”
“It’s whatever you want it to be, Brey.” She places her hand on my forearm.
“You decide what happens, remember that. If you’re ready, then you do what you need to do.
And if you feel uncomfortable, you leave.
If you need anything, you call me or any of us and we’ll be right there.
This is your show, Aubrey, your story. You make all the decisions, no one else but you. ”
“I love you,” I say with a nod as I kiss her cheek.
Quickly heading out the doors, I walk toward the exit leading to the second building that houses all the rooms. I have a room here too, but mine is on the first floor, while Shane’s is on the second.
I take the stairs instead of the small elevator, needing more time to convince myself I’m doing this.
Within minutes, I’m standing outside his door, the number 206 covered in a shiny black coating staring back at me.
I pass my fingers through my hair, wishing I had taken the time to freshen up before coming.
Oh well, too late now. Taking a deep breath, I shake out the nerves from my tingly hands, and lift my fist to the door—knocking twice.