20. Auden
Well, shit. Now I’m about to cry because I’m such a sensitive fuck. I didn’t mean to upset him, I just don’t want any drama. I’m only here for a few more days. The last thing I need is for Storm to get in trouble with his family. I don’t know Frank and Storm’s relationship. If I’m added to the mix, who is to say Frank won’t hurt Storm for tainting me like he did to the other women he’s slept with? I simply don’t know any other way to express that.
I clean him from me and rise, catching my reflection in the mirror. One. Two. Nope, three hickies. I was barely able to cover the small ones he gave me on my first night here, and now this. Storm is a lot of trouble. I’m so out of my element.
Yet it feels right. We feel right.
When I open the door, he’s not in the bed anymore, but his clothes are still there. The balcony door is open and he’s leaning on the railing, smoking a cigarette completely naked. I admire that about him. His comfortability. I pull the t-shirt on that he’s been working in all night that smells like citrus and cigarettes and join him.
He smiles when I step out on the balcony and lean beside him, looking at the empty streets. Gerri’s auto shop is directly in front of us and I can see my car through the glass windows. Stupid piece of shit.
Not a single light is lit. The only things lighting up the streets are the neon signs from the pharmacy, the flower shop, and the café. I’m unsure why the lampposts aren’t lit, maybe they’re solar-powered or something. But it’s way too dark here for my liking. But they’re used to this type of darkness. No light pollution, just clarity. The stars are insane tonight. I can’t remember the last time I saw the galaxy like this.
He takes a drag and exhales. The smoke rises, circling us before it disappears. “I really like you, y’know. So, people finding out about us, and you being embarrassed by me, kinda hurts.”
I’m far from embarrassed by him. I’d be honored to be by his side. I just don’t want to because I’m leaving soon. Long-distance relationships don’t always work and I can’t give him my all if he’s ten hours away from me. Stability. I need that security.
“I’m only here for a few days. I don’t want to make a big deal of this. Like…I don’t want any family issues. If that makes sense. No, it doesn’t—sorry, I don’t want to upset you,” I stammer. “I don’t want to cause tension where there isn’t any.”
“What if the few days could be more?” He takes a drag, turning to stare at me as smoke escapes his nostrils. “Stay.”
“I can’t.” I take a breath. “I have a job lined up for me.”
He doesn’t shift his gaze from mine, locking our eyes together as smoke dances between us. I wish I could dive into his head and swim around his thoughts just to understand him a little better. But the last thing a psychiatrist wants is to use her skills on the person she cares about.
“New York City, huh?” He nods, tongue tracing his bottom lip. “I’ll come with you then. They have bars in New York, right?”
“Storm—”
“No, I’m sick of this fucking town. Everyone looks down on me because of my ways. They put me down constantly when my sexual shit doesn’t define me. Rick has slept with more fucking chicks than I have and no one puts him down because he has a kid and is getting married in the fall. Getting married to a chick he cheated on, by the way. And I’m the one who gets the shit end of the stick? Why am I so fucking different?” he scoffs, getting truly angry at this. “You…you saved me the night you came into the bar. I don’t want to tell you why, but you did. You’re my angel, Auden.” He sniffs, looking up at the sprinkle of stars. “I can’t lose my angel.”
I see tears glistening in his eyes, and he does everything to stop them from falling. I don’t know what to say. I want to know what he means when he says I saved him. But if I find out why, then it’ll just hurt that much more when I leave. So, I place my head on his shoulder and slither my arm on his back as he kisses my head and we remain in the silence under the stary night.
***
I hate how much I like waking up next to him. He’s a deep sleeper, but he makes sure to hold me tightly. I don’t sleep much. I never have. Six to seven hours is more than enough for me. So, when I look over at the clock and it reads 7:32 AM, I’m not surprised at all.
I get ready for the day, slipping on a strapless dress before I scribble a note for Storm.
Went to get breakfast at the café, be back soon
Auden, xx
It’s beautiful outside this morning, and the walk to the café isn’t too far, either. I could always eat at the BnB since I paid for the breakfast, but I don’t want to impose more than I feel like Storm and I have already. We made quite a ruckus last night and I’m too embarrassed to show my face this morning.
I find Sean’s number and give him a quick call; I don’t think I’ll be calling him much if I’m with Storm again today.
“Hey, kid. What’s good?” Sean answers with his mouth full.
I groan, crossing the street. “My night has been interesting.”
“You fucked him again, didn’t you?” He sighs, and a spoon hits something in the background. It sounds like he drops it in a bowl. “He kissed someone else last night, kid. And you fucking cried all night because of him, c’mon—”
“Sean, I didn’t call to argue.”
He starts munching again and mumbles under his breath. “Promise me something, Charlotte. Promise me you won’t relapse. He’s a freaking bartender, this is not good for you. He is not good for you.”
“I like him,” I say softly, stopping in front of the café. “Like like like him, and last night he said he’d move to New York with me. He’s willing to upheave his life for me, Sean. No one has ever been willing to change for me. Evan always cared more about himself and his lifelong goals, but he never cared enough to support me and mine. But Storm does. He wants to better himself for me.”
Sean stops chewing and sighs again. “You’re sure about this, kid?”
“I am.”
“I’ll always be here for you, know that.”
I nod, sniffling as I look up at the clear blue sky. “I know, Sean.”
He takes another mouth full of food, the loud chewing moving through the receiver. “So, tell me, how was your night?”
I moan, leaning up against the side of the café. “He has the tongue of the gods.”
Thinking of him between my legs looking up at me with those green eyes makes me smile. And right now, I’m smiling like a teenager with her first crush. Leaving in a few days is going to kill me almost as much as it’ll kill him.
He laughs with his mouth full. “Better than me?”
“Oh, so much better,” I tease, chuckling softly but meaning every word of it. “Mm, I really like him.”
“I’m happy for you,” he says, the sincerity in his voice makes me smile. “Now go get your fuck on, I got a patient coming in ten.”
“Oh, I will.” I giggle. “How is everything going? Am I still all set for next week?”
He clears his throat, gulping. “I got a meeting with her today. Should be good, though.”
I panic, cracking my knuckles. No, everything was set in place. I put a downpayment on a damn apartment in Central Park. “Should be?”
“Don’t worry, kid. Everything is fine, I promise.” He drops his dishes in the sick and sucks his teeth. “I’ll call you tonight, okay? Love you.”
I groan, shaking my head. “Yeah, love you, too.”
“Hey, everything is ready for you. Next Wednesday you and I will go to work together and I’ll introduce you to everyone, I’ll sit in with you for your first patient. Things will be great, baby. Trust me,” he reassures me. I hate when he calls me baby. That’s what he calls me whenever he’s inside me and it infuriates the hell out of me. But now isn’t the time to tell him to stop. “See you soon.”
I hang up and sigh. I want to get back to my happiness. I want to get back to my bliss with Storm. And I will get back there. We’ll be laughing in no time. But the lingering thought of what my future looks like will continue to sit at the back of my mind. This week is supposed to give me peace. Right now, all I want to do is go home and make sure all my ducks are in a row.
With a sigh, I push off the wall and continue to the café to get us something to eat. I’m not entirely sure what Storm eats in the morning, or if he eats at all.
The bell rings when I walk into the café and Gerri is sitting at the counter with a coffee and a breakfast sandwich in front of him. I smile softly and wait near the cash register.
“Morning, little miss, what can I get you?” Sam asks. At least ‘Sam’ is what his name tag reads.
“Two coffees to go, I’ll take two scones, too, and two fruit bowls,” I reply, smiling. He’s staring at my neck. I forgot to put on some cover-up.
“How do you like your coffee?” Sam asks.
“Both black with sugar and creamer on the side.”
Sam punches up my order and points to an empty seat for me to wait in. Gerri clears his throat when I sit down, leaving an empty stool between us. It’s awkward because I know he heard Storm and me last night. I can’t be quiet with him. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had sex this wild before. My exes weren’t this attentive to me, they never wanted to ravish me the way Storm does. Well, maybe that’s not true. My second boyfriend could never take his hands off me, but the sex wasn’t like this. Sex with Storm is incomparable.
“Good morning, Miss Summers,” Gerri says, sipping his coffee.
“Morning.” Two bananas are placed in front of me with a bag that has two blueberry scones.
“If you come to the garage around ten, I think we can write up a check for you.” He glances at my neck, then looks away. “I’ve waived the cost of labor since you’ve decided to let us keep your car for spare parts. Since your car is a BMW and the one we’ve lent you is a Honda, I think five hundred dollars is sufficient—”
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but there is no need to pay me. You can keep the car, so long as I can keep the Honda for my trip home. I can have it driven back to you if needed,” I say, nodding at Sam who places creamer and sugars into the bag.
Gerri looks at me, eyes wide with gratefulness. “I couldn’t accept that.”
“It’s no problem at all.”
“That’s very kind of you, Miss Summers.”
I smile, taking a couple of napkins. “Again, it’s no problem. I’ll see you later for the lunch that Stacy has planned. Noon, right?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Gerri says, saluting me.
I like the people here, they’re selfless, kind, caring, and always in a good mood—aside from the judging comments, that is. It’s a change from New Jersey and an even bigger change from New York City. It’s nice here. But I don’t think I’ll be able to get used to the seclusion for more than a week. Leaving will be a mixture of relief and torture, all because of Storm. The misguided, misjudged man sleeping in my bed waiting for little ole me.