The sound of the faucet only added to my impatience. She began walking back into the living room with a glass of water. After taking a drink, she nodded. “Just tired, that’s all.”
“Wanna watch a movie on TV or something?”
Shaking her head, she pressed a fake smile. “I’m tired. I’m gonna go lie down.” I don’t know what it was, but something inside of me didn’t want her to be alone. That vision of her drowning in the bathtub popped back into my mind.
I patted the cushion next to me. “Come lie down here. You can watch me while you try to get to sleep.” I forced an overdone smile, hoping to catch one from her. “I know how much you love to watch me,” I teased, wiggling my brows at the same time.
A faint smile appeared. Her brown eyes had a beautiful gold glint to them that made my heart stir. Both fell from her face when she looked out the window at the dismal day outside. “Come on. I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer,” I pressed, hoping I could keep an eye on her.
Her eyes flicked over to her door and then back to the couch. I jumped up and ran to my room, grabbing my comforter and dragging it quickly to the couch. “See. It’s even better now,” I told her as I threw my white comforter on the couch and then ran behind her, nudging her to the couch. I grabbed the glass from her hand and set it on the coffee table. Aub plopped onto the couch like a blob with her hands falling to her lap. I couldn’t help but chuckle as I sat on the corner of the couch and pulled her head to my lap. This could be the first time I’ve ever pulled a chick’s head to my crotch without expecting her to suck my cock.
I pulled the comforter over her body and sunk into the couch with the remote. Not one word was said as I ran my fingers through her silky strands. I used to love that when I was little. Benji’s mom used to do that to me whenever I stayed over at their house. It always put me right to sleep. I was hoping it would do the same for Aub.
After a few moments of watching TV, I felt her breathing pick up. Looking down, I noticed tears began to fall down the bridge of her nose into my lap. I brushed the back of my hand over her cheek hoping it would help calm her. I was just about to ask her if she wanted to talk when she sprang up to sitting, startling me.
“I can’t. I can’t do this!” The fear in her voice scared the hell out of me.
“Do what? Sleep?”
“I’m sorry. Thank you.” She rushed the words out as she stood up, tears pouring down her cheeks now. She backed up as if she were a cornered animal and then ran to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
It all happened so fast that all I could think was—What. The. Fuck. I just wanted her to calm down. And that has to be the first time a chick ever stopped me when I wasn’t even making a move on her.
I walked back to her door wondering if I should attempt to talk to her. She freaked out, but why? I glanced to the TV wondering if something was on that may have bothered her. It was a basketball game. Unless Greg played ball, I was pretty sure that wasn’t what upset her.
I went ahead and knocked on her door again, something that keeps reoccurring today. It seemed as if that white door was taunting me today, never to see what she might be doing on the other side. I heard rustling and weird sounds that led me to believe she was crying again.
“Aub!” I called out as I knocked hard. “Talk to me. What the hell is going on with you?” Nothing. No response. “Aub, you better fucking talk to me or I’ll bust the door down.”
Scaring the hell out of me yet again, the door flung open. Aub stood there looking like her old self. Pure sexual attraction replaced the fear from moments ago when I took in everything about her that I missed. Her chocolate eyes were outlined again by that smoky, sexy thing she does with makeup. Toned legs that I missed so much were showcased by a short, black skirt. I couldn’t help my stare lingering at her amazing chest. A low cut top accentuated her curves, her tits propped up for the world to see. Now we’re talking. She’s back to her old self again. I probably even licked my lips like a lion about to devour a meal he hadn’t had in a long time. Good. Maybe she snapped out of her crying funk. I tried to conceal the urge to throw her down onto the carpet right here by switching gears—caring. Be caring right now. “You okay? You wanna grab a drink before we head over to Mel and Flynn’s?”
She avoided my gaze. Not that I would have noticed if I hadn’t forced my eyes to meet hers. I was mesmerized by her legs; watching as she slipped a high heel shoe onto each foot. After putting them on, she was almost as tall as me. Not to mention, they made her slim legs sexier than hell. I got an instant chub from just looking at her total package and thinking back to when her legs were wrapped around my head. It most definitely switched the gears from being caring to wanting to fuck her again.
She nodded toward the couch as she adjusted her top and grabbed her purse from the floor. “Sorry about…that.” Couple that husky voice she has and the way she looked—instant sex on a stick. “I’ve got a date that I forgot about.” Considering she just did a one-eighty, it took a moment to register what she just said. An odd panic flooded me.
“It’s Sunday.” I didn’t even try to hide how ridiculous her new date seemed. “We always go to Mel and Flynn’s.” She dug her hand into the glass bowl beside the door for her keys and grabbed the doorknob.
“I know. Tell everyone I’m sorry that I can’t make it tonight,” she called over her shoulder as she left, closing the door behind her and leaving me completely confused.
Watching her flee so quickly after I tried to help her, my dad’s voice rang through my head. I wanted to ignore it, but Aub leaving just served to prove him right again. They leave just when you’re there for them.
“I CAN’T FIGURE it out,” I told everyone at dinner that night. I had already briefed Vanessa and Matt on our walk over to Mel and Flynn’s and now sitting with everyone at dinner, I was still completely confused about what happened earlier. The pit in my stomach was still there, but I tried to push it away to see if everyone else could help me figure it out.
“Are you sure you didn’t touch her boob or something?” Mel accused me after I ran through the whole story to them.
“No! I swear it. I was trying to get her to relax with me. Trying to help her get some sleep because she’s seemed so distraught since she got back.”
“Are we sure this ‘Uncle Chad’ was really her uncle? Maybe he’s her some pimp or something,” Mel tried to surmise as she shook her head.
Vanessa’s voice screamed how offended she was by Mel’s statement. “She’s not a prostitute, if that’s what you’re thinking!”
Mel’s mouth popped open as she realized how that probably sounded and immediately sputtered. “No!” Mel continued, “That came out wrong. I’m so sorry, Vanessa. Really that’s not what I meant by that at all. I just meant...do we really know if that guy is related to her or is someone bad from her past that’s out to get her or something.”
I rolled my eyes at Mel because she wasn’t helping Vanessa feel better about her friend. Matt was thinking the same thing as he rubbed Vanessa’s back. “I’m sure she’s okay and I’m sure that he’s not someone bad. Maybe after that call she just went on a date last night and the guy was an asshole.”
“I don’t know what it is, but she’s been so depressed since she got back from Atlanta.” I turned to Vanessa. “I’m going to have you come over tomorrow night. She needs some sort of intervention or something. You need to get in bed with her again. You know, that thing you girls do.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes. I glanced around the table and noticed everyone’s expressions were perked up with curiosity. That’s when I realized we never really told the rest of the group about the weird thing Aub does. Vanessa squinted her eyes at me, scolding me as I threw my head back to stare up at the ceiling knowing I was in trouble.
“Okay. Spill it. What do you two do?” Iz asked as she leaned in. Mel’s eyes were just as wide as she did the same thing. Shit. Aub’s going to kill me for telling them this.
“
Nothing. It’s nothing. She just has trouble sleeping sometimes and just needs to talk. You know, like you used to do when I lived here, Mel.” Her eyes grew wide and I realized then I probably just fucked up. Again. Shit.
“What the hell are you talking about?” It was Flynn’s turn to get upset. He did the same leaning in thing that Izzy had done. I went against the whole group and leaned back in my chair and pressed my arms up in the air, pretending to stretch.
“It’s nothing,” Mel told him as she placed her hand on his arm. “I used to knock on his door if you and I were fighting. Back when we were doing the whole jealous back and forth thing.”
Flynn’s brows hiked up. “You went to Clark? Clark. Of all people?”
“Hey! What do you mean ‘of all people’? I’m a good listener, I’ll have you know!” Z sounded like he was choking on something. When I glanced at him, I realized the jerk was laughing. “I am!”
Iz lifted both her hands to stop the whole discussion. “He actually is.” She quirked her head to the side and shrugged her shoulders. “Sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“Well, as long as you’ve already had sex, it’s like you’re actually okay to talk to. Like you’re not frustrated or something.” She smirked. She actually had a point there and I wasn’t going to dispute it.
“Look. We’re way off topic. I just wanted to let everyone know there’s something weird going on with Aub and as her friends…” I gestured to the whole group before continuing, “I think we all need to come up with some sort of plan. Vanessa needs to talk to her first and if Aub doesn’t snap out of her weird shit, then we all need to talk to her.”
Izzy had another pleased smile on her face. God, I hate that. “Then I can try to fuck her again.” Everyone started yelling at me. I couldn’t help but start laughing. It was far too easy to get this group into an uproar. For once, Vanessa looked at me with a shake of her head and a smirk. Finally. Someone was catching on. I winked at her knowing she finally understands.
THE APARTMENT WAS way too quiet the next day, so I peeked in Aub’s room. She still wasn’t back from her date last night. That’s when it dawned on me that she hasn’t been going to a job. Did she quit? Or did they fire her? Add that to my list of things to ask her about. I shot her a text asking her if she was okay since I had no idea where she even went.
Knowing she probably wouldn’t even answer me, I pulled the door open to leave for work. Scaring the shit out of me, I almost ran right into Aub. Her petite frame was hunched over with her arm outstretched as if she were trying to get her key into the lock. I grabbed her arm to steady her just as she began to stumble backward.
The second she peered up at me, I wanted to hit something. I wasn’t sure if I was pissed at her or the guy who let her walk around this way. Her blouse was ripped open with her bra fully exposed. All her makeup was smeared and if I didn’t know her any better, I’d swear she was on drugs. I could tell she was drunk and it wasn’t even eight in the morning. Still holding her by her elbow, I pulled her into the apartment.
“Mm. Thanks.” Her speech was slurred again and it only fueled my anger. Placing my hand under her chin, I tilted her head back to see her face. I could barely see her brown eyes as they seemed to roll back in her head. Her eye makeup was smeared so bad that she looked like a raccoon. Let’s not even talk about the lipstick streaked across her mouth. How the hell did she make it home?
“Aub. Where’ve you been?”
“Date.” Her answer was clipped and barely audible. What the hell is going on? Questions rolled through my head wondering what I should do. How to help or even if I could help her.
“Aub, it’s eight in the morning. Did you stay at some guy’s place for the night? Did he drive you back?” I couldn’t help but fire off questions at her.
She shook her head as she pushed me away and stumbled toward her bedroom. She shoved her door all the way open, which made it bang against the wall and pop back at her. I watched her trip forward and fall onto her bed, face down. Panic shot through me as I stood over her and tried to flip her over. She felt like dead weight and was completely passed out. I checked the rise and fall of her chest and relief washed over me. At least she’s breathing.
I shook her hoping I could ask her how much she had to drink. “Aub.” I nudged her body trying to get some sort of response. “Aub!” I was glad that the intensity and volume of my voice made her finally move. Her body broke out into a fit of coughs and I wasn’t sure if that might agitate her stomach. I scooped her up in my arms and hurried her to the bathroom in case she was going to get sick. I was almost hoping she would get it all out of her system since I had no idea how much she’s had to drink. As I leaned her against the wall, I wondered yet again what the heck was going on with her.
Aub’s body slid down the wall. Her head rolled back, her eyes doing the same and a new wave of fear gripped me. I dropped down next to her and took each arm, praying not to find needle marks. God, I hope not. Although drugs made sense, considering how out of it she had been lately. As I held her other arm and ran my fingers over her skin, she coughed and then started laughing.
“Are ya tryin’ ta read m’palm?” I could barely make out her words.
“No, I’m checking to make sure you’re not stupid enough to be shooting up.” Annoyed, but also relieved not to find any needle tracks, I dropped her arm. It landed with a thud in her lap.
I shook my head in frustration. Sitting on the cool tile with my back against the wall, I ran my hands through my hair, completely annoyed and unsure of what to do with her. “What the hell is up with you, Aub?”
She could barely turn her head as her eyes started to close. “Just finding my calm ‘nother way,” she whispered. I jerked my head up, surprised and worried by what she just said.
“What’s that supposed to mean? What kind of calm? Are you trying to kill yourself or something?”
She didn’t answer me and seemed like she was going to pass out again. I stood up and paced back and forth, trying to figure out what to do.
I ran across the hall to Vanessa and Matt’s apartment and pounded on their door. No answer. I checked my watch and realized they probably already left for work.
Walking back into the apartment, I heard a coughing noise and immediately panicked that she might choke on her own vomit. I cursed myself for leaving her and ran in. Fisting her matted black hair to hold it back, I glanced at the contents. Clear. Completely clear. I wasn’t sure if that relieved me or angered me, but I knew immediately that she had nothing but alcohol in her.
“What’d you have to drink, Aub?” I asked in between her bouts.
“Vodka. Stron’ an clear,” she answered in between coughs. At least I had something to tell the paramedics if I had to call them.
Finally finished, she slumped on her heels. I pulled her back to lean against the wall in case she might pass out again. I sat back next to her and just stared. My stomach churned seeing her sit there like a rag doll. How could she do this to herself over and over again without talking to any of us?
“What’s going on with you Aub? Can you let me in? You haven’t been the same since the asshole in Atlanta. He’s not worth all of this, Aub.” Her head rolled toward me and I watched her eyes blink slow and deliberate. I watched her lips smack and knew she probably needed some water.
I shot a text to my boss as I ran off to the kitchen to grab a glass of water for her. I knew I’d be late today, if I even made it in.
I reached the bathroom and Aub’s head was all the way back with her mouth completely open. Passed out. I set the glass down and pulled her up into my arms and carried her to her bed. I stared at her. I was full of questions, but without an answer in sight, I felt helpless.
It dawned on me that Izzy and Z don’t usually head to the bar until around noon or later. I put in a call to Z to see if he and Iz could help out. I wasn’t sure what was going on with Aub, but I was worried about how much vodka was in her system. There was no way I�
��d want her to be left alone.
As I sat there waiting for Izzy and Z to arrive, Aub woke briefly. “Hey…Clark,” she sputtered and gave a short laugh.
“Aub, Iz, and Z are coming over to be with you. Okay?” She laughed and then pressed her lips together before finally nodding.
I swallowed wondering if I should ask about her uncle. I felt like pressing to see what her reaction might be. “Is your uncle a cool guy?”
She gave a short laugh again. “Yep. Everyone loves him,” she whispered with her eyes still closed. Her mouth was pressed in a tight line and I watched tears begin to slip from the corners of her eyes.
I nodded, but something seemed off. “Do you like him, Aub?”
When she didn’t respond, I realized she passed out again. I pulled her blanket up over her and smoothed out her hair.
“What’s going on with you, Aub?” I whispered, knowing she wouldn’t respond. Maybe Iz could use her bartending skills and pull something out of her. Izzy’s good at things like that.
All I could do was just hope that Aub will let her in.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Aubrey
ONLY MINUTES ago I’d woke to find Izzy and Z staring at me, but my watch told me it had been hours. At first, I wasn’t even sure I was in my own bedroom. After several questions from Izzy, I realized my new babysitters had been sent by Questioning Clark.
I managed to ignore Izzy’s interrogation. Man, she would really make a great therapist. Too bad I wasn’t willing to be one of her patients, especially after she kept asking about Uncle Chad. There was no way I was telling anyone else about him. My own mother didn’t believe me, why would anyone else? Not that she’s my “real” mother. Maybe that makes a difference?
I did the same thing to them that I did to Clark the other day. I threw on some clothes and grabbed a taxi to a bar several streets away.
FOGGY. Everything I saw was covered with a haze as I lifted another glass up to my lips. I closed my eyes enjoying the sensation of my body floating away. I opened them to see a handsome guy across the bar watching me. His blonde hair flopped in front of his eyes and he quickly swiped it away. He held up his glass and smiled at me. I returned his smile and then licked my lips seductively.
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