Aubrey nodded. She looked back over her shoulder twice before disappearing into the house. A few minutes later, they came out together again. Dick nodded at me, and Aubrey looked down as they passed. I had started to dig a hole to put flowers in when they went inside, but I’d forgotten to stop. I now had a waist deep crater. I couldn’t look over at the curb as they got into their cars. My restraint was hanging on by a thread.
One car pulled away. Not hearing the second start, eventually I looked out to the street. Dick was gone, but Aubrey was still sitting in her car. Her head was leaning against the steering wheel. I walked over and got into the passenger seat.
Neither of us said a word for a minute. “What am I supposed to do?” She eventually whispered.
I blew out a heavy stream of air. “Do what’s in your heart, Aubrey. If that’s not being with me—it will suck—I’m not going to lie. But I want you to be happy. That’s how I’m sure I’m in love with you. If the choice is you being happy or me…there is no choice. You come first.”
She shook her head. “I believe you, you know.”
I took her hand from the steering wheel and lifted it to my lips, kissing the top. “You should. Because I mean it. There’s nothing I won’t do for you, Princess.”
She smiled. It was a step in the right direction. She believed me.
“I better go. We have a deposition in fifteen minutes across town, and I’ve been so preoccupied, I didn’t even realize that the file was at home.”
I opened the car door. If we had more time, I would have preferred to leave things for today. But, thirteen days. I had to ask. “Come home with me this weekend?”
“Chance…”
“I know. But I don’t have the luxury of time anymore. You have a decision to make. And Dick gets you all the time. I want to take you home with me. Show you what our life can be like. No crazy road trips. No interruptions. Just me and you. Give me a fair shot if you’re making this choice.”
“I told you. I can’t be with you like that. Richard is a good man. It wouldn’t be fair to cheat on him. Our kiss the other night was bad enough.”
“Bad? I thought it was pretty fucking phenomenal.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“Fine. I won’t touch you. Sexually, I mean. I won’t.”
She looked at me like she didn’t believe my intentions were genuine.
“Trust me. You have my word. I will not lay a finger on you in a sexual way.” It looked like she was considering it. I probably should have just kept my mouth shut. But, I wouldn’t be me if I did. “And when you make a move on me, I’ll refute it.”
Her eyebrows jumped. “When?”
“That’s right. When.”
“Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you, Cocky?”
She had no idea how much hearing her call me Cocky, did for me. “I am. Sounds like the only one that can’t control themselves is you.”
“I can absolutely control myself around you.”
I leaned in. “Then come with me. Give me a weekend before you decide. Please.”
She looked torn. “Let me think about it.”
That was better than a no. “Alright.”
“I really better go now.”
I exited the car and stood next to it as she started the engine. Right before pulling away, she rolled down the window. “Nice name, by the way.” Then, she disappeared.
It was the end of the second day since I’d spoken to Aubrey on her front lawn, and I still hadn’t heard from her. Eleven days. Time was ticking, and there wasn’t shit I could do about it.
Except get drunk.
It was a distinct possibility that I might have drank more sitting at that little bar across the street from the motel, than I had in the last five years of my life.
“Carla Babes. Hit me up again.”
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough, hot stuff?”
My brain was still working. “Nope. Not even close.” I held up the glass and clanked the ice around.
She took it, filled it with what I suspected from the color was pure club soda, and then proceeded to come around the other side of the bar and sit next to me. It was nearly closing time, and I had been sitting on that stool for close to six hours. We were the only two left in the bar.
Carla waited until I looked her straight in the eyes before she spoke. “She’s an idiot. You’re a great guy. I don’t even have to know Dick in order to be certain she’s making a big mistake. And it’s not just because you’re hot as fuck and have a body I’m pretty sure matches that perfect face. It’s because you’re committed.”