“I can’t,” she whispers. “We need the money to pay for the treatment which means you guys doing these shows. I need to help you guys.”
“What about your friend?” I ask.
“Jacey?” Aubrey asks, her eyes clouded with confusion.
I nod. “She’s studying dance just like you, right? Surely she can teach us a few moves. You can go over with Max. Everything will be sorted.”
“I could ask her, I guess,” Aubrey says. She hesitates. “But what about us?”
I brush my finger over her cheek tenderly. “I’ll still be here once Max is sorted. Go be with your brother, Aubs. Family is important.”
“You always know just what to say,” she grins, her eyes sparkling with tears. I watch her as she tugs on a pair of jeans that hug her arse beautifully. My cock hardens. She eyes it through the thin layer of sheets and laughs. “You’re unbelievable, Drew.”
“What?” I protest. “What do you expect, standing there half naked in front of me.”
She laughs again as she threads her arms through her jacket, securing it tightly around her waist. Leaning over the bed, she places her lips on mine and kisses me deeply. When she’s done, I throw my head back against my pillow and sigh.
“Get out of here before I tie you to the bed,” I mumble. I have no idea how I’m gonna get through months without her, but I know Max needs her more right now. I’d never come between their bond.
“I’ll call you when I’ve organized my flight,” she promises.
Chapter Nineteen
Aubrey
“You want me to teach these guys how to strip?”
I laugh as Jacey’s eyes grow wide and a smile slowly spreads across her mouth. I can tell I’ve made her day. We’re sitting out the front of Mom’s house, waiting for Drew to pick me up for the airport. My flight leaves in three hours. I feel bad about deserting my friend after she trekked halfway across the world to visit me, but Max needs me, and I’d do anything for him.
“Only if you’re okay with it. It will take up most of your vacation time, and I know—”
“You think I’m going to complain about spending all my time with four half-naked, sexy-as-hell men?” Jacey squeaks. She bounces in her spot and I groan, laughing. What have I done?
“So long as you keep your paws off Drew,” I grin.
Jacey waves me away. “No worries there. I have my eye on Nash.”
“Nash?” I laugh. “You’ve been here two minutes, Jace.”
“And after your little stunt yesterday, I’ve spent nearly that entire two minutes with Nash.” She shrugs, her expression unapologetic. “What can I say? I work fast.”
“I’m not sure I should be leaving you here,” I grin. “It’s a recipe for disaster.”
Jacey’s face turns serious. “You go be with Max. He needs you. We’ll be fine here. I’ll make sure the guys do their shows so Max can keep receiving treatment. You don’t have to worry, okay?” She leans over and hugs me and I smile, tears welling in my eyes. I’m lucky to be surrounded by such amazing friends.
“Thanks Jacey,” I grin.
A car horn sounds, and we both look up to see Drew grinning over the steering wheel. He jumps out and jogs over to us, grabbing hold of my suitcase.
“I see you haven’t left anything behind,” he mumbles, heaving the heavy case down the stairs.
Only you.
“You never know what you’re going to need,” I say defensively. I follow him down the steps, Jacey at my heels, and over to his car. Em jumps out of the passenger seat.
“Are you okay?” she asks, pulling me into a hug. I nod and smile, even though I don’t really feel it. Deep down I know this is Max’s only shot. If this doesn’t work…I shudder. I can’t even think about that. “If there is anything I can do, let me know, okay?”
“Actually, there is something,” I half whisper. My eyes dart to Drew, who is busy trying to shove my suitcase into his small boot. “Nate. I need him gone.”
“You want me to kill him?” Em hisses, her eyes wide. I laugh and whack her over the arm.
“No, you idiot. I need him away from Drew and my life. I haven’t had a chance to really speak to him, and I’m worried he hasn’t gotten the message that we are over.”
“Leave it to me,” Em assures me. “If there is one thing I do well, it’s breaking things down. There’s no way he can not get it when I’m done with him.”
“Thanks, Em,” I say, relieved.
“How come you didn’t ask me?” Jacey asks. I can’t tell if the hurt expression on her face is real or fake.
“Because you let him come over here,” I scoff. “Besides, you’re too nice and have a soft spot for the guy who can’t get a hint. I need Em’s hard edge for this and she doesn’t know him enough to care if he gets pissed at her.”
I hug both my friends and leave them bickering over who is going to talk to Nate. I don’t even care, so long as he is far away from Drew and Australia, because the last thing I want is to worry about Drew getting the wrong idea again.
“Ready?” Drew asks, nudging me gently.
I nod and slide into the passenger seat.
“What about Em?” I ask as he is about to drive off. Drew glances back at her and Jacey still arguing and smirks.
“Looks too busy to me. Besides, I was kind of hoping to see you off myself.” I melt into my seat. Could he be any sweeter? He reaches over and takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. “I’m gonna miss you, Aubs.”
“I’ll be back,” I promise him.
He nods. “Until you leave for the States again,” he murmurs.
I glance out the window awkwardly. We haven’t discussed the fact that we live in different countries. Suddenly I’m doubting myself. I’m doubting us. How the hell is this going to work?
The drive to the airport is short in distance, but the heavy traffic means I need to get my ass to the check in or I’ll lose my place. Drew pulls into the drop off zone and jumps out of the car to grab my bags. I wait, anxiety filling me. I’m not good at goodbyes. I never have been. I breathe a sigh of relief when he leans forward and hugs me, glad he made the move.
“Call me when you get settled, okay? And tell Max I’m thinking of him.”
His fingers slip around my neck as he pulls me closer. I sigh as his mouth touches mine, his soft lips in contrast to the roughness of his kiss. I pull away, a dazed smile on my face, aware that I need to move or I’ll miss my flight.
“Go,” he orders, nodding toward the entrance. I nod and step back, holding his hand until the distance between us it too great. Taking hold of my case, I hurry toward the counter, arriving just before the attendant loops the chain across the entrance.
I check in my luggage and then wait in the boarding area for the majority of passengers to board the plane before I join the line. I can’t stop thinking about everything that has happened over the last month. It feels like ages since I was sitting in my dorm room waiting for my exams to begin. Now, I’m on my way to Switzerland, hoping like hell that this experimental treatment for Max is going to work.
Sitting down in my seat, I smile at the elderly woman next to me. She smiles back and reaches for my hand, giving it a squeeze.
“I don’t like flying either, dear. Try not to think about crashing to the ground in an explosive ball of flames. That’s what my husband used to say to me every time we were about to board a plane.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “He sounds very supportive.”
“Oh, he was,” she says affectionately, a distant look in her eyes. “He’s been gone nearly twenty years now. They say you heal as time passes, but I’m still waiting.”
Would I heal if I lost Max? I can’t imagine it.
“What’s taking you to Bern?” she asks.
“My brother is having treatment. He has cancer,” I explain, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
“Oh, dear. You’re a good sister to go over to be with him,” she says.
I shrug. “He
would do the same for me. Hopefully it works. If it doesn’t, then…” My voice trails off and she nods, understanding where I was headed. “I’m not good with letting people get close to me.” I laugh, even though inside I feel like bursting into tears.
“Is there a boyfriend?”
“As of a week ago, yes,” I smile. “But who knows how long I’ll be away for.”
“If it’s meant to be, then it will be.” She turns to look out the window as the plane lurches forward to begin it’s take off, leaving me to ponder her words. Of all the things I have to worry about right now, Drew shouldn’t be one of them. But he is. I’m not someone who lets others in easily, and when I do, I’m just waiting for them to let me down. Maybe this time will be different, but in the back of my mind, I can’t let myself believe it. That’s the thing about disappointment. If you learn to accept it, then it doesn’t hurt as much.
It will be fine. Jacey will keep everyone in line and Max and I will be back there in no time. I laugh to myself, thinking about my awkward, funny friend. I wish I could be a fly on the wall for those dance sessions. God help whichever guy she decides to sink her teeth into.
I settle back into my seat and close my eyes. Everything is going to work out. Max will get better, we’ll go back to Australia, where Drew and I will resume where we left off.
If it’s meant to be, then it will be.
Excerpt from book two in the Men of Mornington series, Slow Burn.
Slow Grind (Men of Mornington Book 1) Page 18
