Aubrey
“Wine or cocktails?” Liv calls from the kitchen. “I can make us something if you want.”
“Is both an acceptable answer?” I call back, turning just as Kade and Brandon stroll through the living room toward her.
Kade slides his arms around Liv from behind, pulling her gently into him. “Can I trust you two out here while Brandon and I disappear into my office?”
His tone is teasing, but the gesture is warm—innocent, sweet. He kisses her cheek, and I watch as Liv leans into him, completely at ease in his embrace.
Jealousy tightens in my chest, and like it always does lately, my mind drifts back to Trent.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.
We agreed that the weekend in Pinecrest was the start of us finding a friendship again. Clean, simple and yet seeing him at the bakery the other day stirred something I thought I’d buried.
Now, I can’t stop wondering what if.
Liv’s voice pulls me from the spiral. “We are grown women. If we want wine and cocktails, then we can have them.”
“I’m not complaining, baby,” Kade says with a smirk. “You’re always a little freakier after a few drinks.”
Liv gasps, swatting at him playfully.
“Can you guys chill with the PDA?” I tease. “It’s actually kind of nauseating.”
“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, Strawb,” Kade calls out with a laugh, planting one more kiss on Liv before turning away.
“If you need anything, we’ll be in the office,” he adds, nodding to Brandon as they head down the hall and disappear around the corner.
Liv rounds the couch and drops down beside me, two glasses in one hand, a bottle of wine in the other, with a bag of salted chips and a pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Minis tucked under her arm.
“Okay,” she grins, setting everything down. “Girls' night can officially start—I’ve brought the goods.”
I hold out my wine glass, and Liv doesn’t miss a beat—she pours the last of our second bottle into it just as I shove the final chicken ball into my mouth.
“Thag yew,” I mumble around the food, the words barely understandable.
Liv laughs, setting the empty bottle down on the floor and reaching for her own glass from the coffee table.
“Oh my god, chew your food like a normal person.”
I swallow the bite just as we both burst into a fit of giggles.
Tonight has been exactly what I needed. It feels like forever since Liv and I had a proper girls’ night—and judging by the way she’s cry-laughing, I’m guessing she needed it just as much.
“Oh my god, I’m drunk,” she gasps between giggles, clutching her stomach as she tries to catch her breath.
“Me too,” I admit with a sigh, leaning into her shoulder. The couch dips under our weight, and the wine buzz hums softly in my veins.
“We need to do this more,” she says, her voice softer now. She raises her glass and clinks it gently against mine, the sound a tiny chime that seems to echo in the dim light.
A comfortable silence settles over us. The TV hums quietly in the background, some show we put on but never watched. Liv shifts, tucking her legs under her and glancing sideways at me.
“Can I ask you something?” she murmurs, her tone suddenly tentative.
“Yeah, of course,” I say, turning toward her.
She glances over her shoulder as if making sure no one’s listening, then leans in close, her breath warm with wine. “Do you still love Trent?”
The question catches me off guard. My smile falters. “I don’t really know what I feel anymore when it comes to Trent,” I say after a beat.
“I think he loves you,” she says simply.
My eyes widen. I shift to face her fully, studying her expression. “What makes you say that? Did he tell you something?”
Liv shakes her head slowly. “Not in words, exactly. But I could just feel it, you know? In here.” She taps her chest lightly with her fingertips.
I give a small, doubtful laugh. “I’m not sure he does.”
“Aubrey,” she says softly, her brows knitting together.
“Are you happy? Like… actually happy? Because that’s all I want for you.
It’s all anyone wants for you. And honestly…
” She hesitates, swirling the wine in her glass.
“I think Trent knows he messed up before. I see the way he looks at you now. I really think if you two talked, you could make each other happy.”
I snort, trying to deflect. “How much wine have you had?”
“The same amount as you,” she shoots back, giving me a pointed look that’s half amusement, half concern. “And I’m serious, don’t just brush me off.”
“I’m not,” I say with a small smile, bumping her shoulder playfully. “I appreciate that you care so much—even if you’re a bossy drunk.”
She laughs, the sound warm and familiar. “I just worry about you, that’s all. When I moved to Mayridge, you were the only friend I had. You looked out for me… so I’m looking out for you now. Talk to him, Aubrey.”
Before I can reply, the sound of footsteps draws our attention. Kade and Brandon step into the room—Kade all easy confidence, Brandon lingering awkwardly in the doorway.
“Party’s over already?” Kade teases, circling the couch. He drops down beside Liv and immediately pulls her against him. She squeals, half laughing, half protesting.
Brandon clears his throat, checking his watch before glancing our way. “I need to get back for Avery. Mom’s with her right now.” His eyes find mine. “Strawb, you want a lift home?”
“Yeah, actually—that’d be great.” I push up from the couch, swaying for a second before steadying myself with a hand on the armrest.
Kade smirks. “How much did you two drink?”
“Not much,” I lie, winking at Liv as she reaches for my hand and hauls herself up beside me.
She wraps me in a big, unsteady hug that smells like her perfume and cheap merlot. Her laughter vibrates softly against my shoulder. Then, close to my ear, she murmurs, “Think about what I said, okay? You deserve to be happy.”
I nod against her, my throat tight, and manage a small smile. “I will.”
Peeling myself away, I give her one last wave before following Brandon out the door and into the cool night.
The air hits me instantly—sharp and clean, cutting through the fuzzy warmth of wine and laughter.
The world tilts slightly, soft around the edges, but not enough to drown out the thoughts spinning in my head.
The drive is quiet. Streetlights blur past as I glance over at Brandon. One hand rests on the steering wheel while his elbow props against the window, his head leaning into his palm. A weary sigh slips from him as we turn another corner toward my house.
“Everything okay?” I ask, hoping that talking to him will chase Trent from my thoughts.
Brandon flicks his eyes toward me and offers a soft smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. The exhaustion lingers there as he nods. “Yeah. Just got a lot on my mind right now.”
I nod, understanding. “I get it. Anything you want to talk about?”
“Nah,” he says, shaking his head slightly as his grip tightens on the wheel. “It’s all good, strawberry. Just work shit cutting into my personal hours.”
“You know Avery doesn’t notice, right?” I say gently. “She loves spending time with Mom.”
“I know,” he replies quickly, his jaw tightening. “And I love the relationship they have. I just hate feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day. I hate losing time with her.” He exhales through his nose. “I don’t want her thinking I’m choosing work over her.”
“She wouldn’t think that,” I say, turning in my seat to face him. “Brandon, you’re there all the time. This is a one-off. Give yourself some grace.”
“Yeah,” he murmurs, eyes fixed on the road. “I know. I just get in my head about it. With everything that happened with her mom…” He trails off before continuing, quieter now. “I never want Avery to feel unwanted or unimportant.”
I reach over and squeeze his arm gently. “And she never will. You’re a great dad, Brand. And like Mom always says, it takes a village to raise a kid.” I smile softly. “We are your village, and we want to help. You don’t have to feel guilty for accepting it.”
Brandon lets out a quiet huff, shaking his head. When he looks at me again, there’s a real smile tugging at his mouth for the first time all night. “When did you get so wise?”
I snort. “Wow. I’ll have you know I’ve always been this insightful. You just never listened.”
He chuckles, the tension finally easing from his shoulders. “Clearly. Guess I should start paying attention.”
“Yeah,” I say lightly, settling back in my seat. “Might learn something.”
By the time we reach my house Brandon already looks less tense than he was when we first got in the car. As he puts the car in park, I unclip my seatbelt and lean over to him, kissing his cheek. “Thanks for the lift. Kiss that little girl for me when you see her.”
“Of course.” He smiles.
I open the door and climb out; the door thudding shut behind me and make my way up the porch steps. When I glance back, Brandon waves before pulling away and I watch as the taillights to his truck disappear.
I linger there for a moment, staring out into the quiet night—until the thoughts I’d shoved aside in the car start creeping back in.
Thoughts of Trent.
Liv’s words replay in my head.
Talk to him.
Before I can stop myself, I pull out my phone and tap open the ride app, setting a destination I shouldn’t be heading to this late.