54. Storm
Isee the Honda that Auden used to drive home from Campbellton in Sean’s driveway. I wonder what it’s doing here. He lives close enough to her parents that maybe she parked it here because he has the extra room in his driveway. But the sick and jealous side makes me wonder if she stayed here when she came home to use his shoulder to cry on.
Fuck, what if she used more?
“Charlotte, hey,” Sean says, he’s out front mowing his lawn. He’s shirtless and flexes as soon as he approaches us, wiping sweat from his brow. “Sorry, Auden.”
I like this guy, and I think we can be good friends. But when Auden’s around, he tends to puff his chest out and curl his lip into a flirtatious smirk. I don’t like that very much. But I keep telling myself, they’ve been friends since they were kids. It’s nothing but good old fun.
“Good to see you again, Storm. The truck was useful?”
I’m tempted to take off my shirt and show him what Auden will sleep with for the rest of her life. “Yeah, thanks again, man.”
“I gotta pee,” she says, squeezing my arm and helping herself into his house. I hate that I’m jealous of that. But again, I remind myself that they’ve been friends forever, this is normal.
We’re both watching her and Sean raises his eyebrows, taking the keys I’m holding out to him. His house is a bungalow compared to Auden’s parents’ two-story, and his flower garden requires a woman’s touch. I can’t judge since I’ve never owned a home and the apartment I used to live in was upstairs from a bar.
“You guys all moved in?” Sean asks, wiping his face with the t-shirt tucked into the back of his jeans.
I fold my arms. “Almost, she still has a few things, but we can fit it in my Jeep.”
“When’s the housewarming?” He sniffs, scratching at the back of his arm. “Evan asked about it and I didn’t know.”
“We haven’t decided yet,” I answer, letting out a soft scoff. “Don’t think Evan will be invited to that.”
“Evan’s a good guy, no matter their history.” Sean nods. “Guess I won’t be invited, either.”
“You have a history with Auden, too?” I can’t remember if she told me or not. She warned me she slept with two people at the wedding, but the way Ryan was going on about her, I just assumed it was him. I should’ve assumed it was Sean…fuck, did she tell me and I forgot?
“First girlfriend. It was nothing serious. A bit of experimenting until we broke up and moved on.”
My jaw twitches, but out of respect for Auden, I keep my mouth shut. Now it explains the stares and the comments and how close they are. I can’t blame him; she is very beautiful yet knowing that he was the one to make her the wild cat that she is, is a little unsettling.
“How long were you guys together?” I ask, being as nonchalant as I can.
“Well, we’ve known each other since we were kids and got together when we were fourteen, then officially got together on my fifteenth birthday if you know what I mean.” He snickers. “A year and a half—no, two years?”
Auden walks out of the house, her long hair shines so orange in the sun. I’ve never been with a ginger before and I’m happy that she’ll be my one and only.
I let out a rush of air through my nostrils. “Fun.”
“Ready to go?” She smiles at me, flickering her gaze between the two of us.
I take her hand and pull her to my chest. She giggles, wrapping her arms around my waist and smiling that angelic grin that melts my heart. “Whenever you are.”
“You guys are so cute it’s gross,” Sean jokes, searching his pockets. “Here, I filled her up this morning.”
I take my keys and give him props. “Thanks, man.”
Sean hugs Auden and leaves a kiss on her cheek. “Text me whenever you guys are having a housewarming.”
“Of course,” she says, smiling. “Thanks for the truck.”
He nods. “Anytime, kid. I’ll see you Wednesday morning, bright and early.”
He embraces me like he does her and kisses me on the cheek, too. I hate that I like this guy’s humor, but he’s the one who deflowered my woman. Not sure how I feel about that.
She starts for my Jeep and he calls out to her before getting back to his yard work. “Love you, kid.”
“Love your face,” she sings, sitting in the front seat.
I don’t think I’ve cared this much about someone’s past before. I wanted one thing from them. But with Auden, she tells him she loves him like it doesn’t mean anything. Yet wouldn’t say it to me this morning.
I don’t want to be jealous. But I love her too much to admit it.
I hop in the Jeep and smile at her, innocence so pure yet devilishly so wild.
“Where do you wanna go now?” she asks before I’m even buckled in.
I reverse out of Sean’s driveway. “Take me to your favorite spot.”
“Ooh, that’s a good question.” She sputters and turns to me. “Up for some ice cream?”
I look at my dashboard as she punches in the address. “I won’t run into another ex, will I?”
“Jealous?” She titters.
“Why didn’t you say Sean was your first?” I ask her, wondering if this will cause an argument.
“Didn’t think it was important.” She shrugs. “The past is the past for a reason. Sean and I were friends before we were together, and because of that, our friendship was awkward for some time. But he’s my best friend, always will be.” She leans her head back against the headrest. “Don’t think anything of it.”
Her view on relationships is so different than mine. I’m old school, she’s more open and doesn’t mind hanging out with people she was intimate with. That bothers me. I want her to know it bothers me, but I don’t know how to express it without sounding like a dick. So, I don’t. I hold her hand and follow the directions to the ice cream joint she wants to show me. Hopefully my mood changes, there’s only so much biting my tongue I can do right now.