Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Sierra and Ryan hands intertwined, exited the room and stepped into the elevator.

Ryan quickly pulled Sierra into a hug, coaxing her softly, Tm sorry, babe.”

Sierra pushed him away. “Get away from me! If we don’t go through with this divorce, I’m a coward!”

Ryan looked earnest. Then I guess I’m a coward too,” he mumbled, planting a quick, apologetic kiss on her forehead.

Sierra couldn’t help but smile, then murmured sadly, “I feel so bad about Bree. We used our divorce to pressure her into compromising, I really did her wrang..”

Ryan looked innocent. “What else could we do? We ju

just knew she and Damon were both so stubborn, neither of them would budge.”

“Bree’s reason is to investigate her dad’s case, the killer lives right across the street. Living here makes it easier for her. But Damon! Why won’t he move out!”

Ryan frowned, a puzzled expression on his face. It truly is baffling. Damon has always been so gentle and refined, polite and charming in every interaction. He has impeccable manners and such a sophisticated air about him. But this time, I just can’t figure him out. Why is he being so unyielding?

“Oh, never mind then,” Sierra said, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Since things are settled here, let’s go to the courthouse and get our divorce papers.”

Honey, stop scaring me,” Ryan whined playfully. My poor heart can’t handle it

Sierra pressed her lips together in a soft smile.

Ryan cupped her hand and pressed a kiss to it “Let’s go home,” he murmured, “and catch up on sleep.”

The first blush of dawn broke, and morning dew draped Cloudbreak Heights in a shimmering golden veil.

From the seventh–floor balcony, the community spread out below, a a vibrant ses of

ses of green.

Co–living with her ex?

Aubrey figured only someone profoundly unhinged would even consider such an absurd arrangement.

But on second thought, as long as they didn’t bring up the past, they could still coexist pracefully

Damon leaned back against the sofa, his head tilted up, sprawling out with his arms and legs spread wide, his eyes closed in rest

Perhaps he hadn’t slept all night, had just flown back, and then immediately run into an “intruder. He must be utterly exhausted.

Aubrey sank into the armchair, a turbulent mix of emotions churning inside her. Yet, her voice was perfectly steady, going nothing away already paid six months‘ rent,” she said, “so from now on. I’ll just pay my portion of the rent and utilaties duectly to you

Damon, simply gave a low, noncommittal Jum

e’re sharing the apartment, we need to lay down some ground rules

“Anything you want to addr

Aubrey fell silent

The living room fell

Finally, Damon pushed himself up, büstün

1. bu. I’ll help you unpack later

“No, I’ve got a” Aubrey ato

“Min bois,” he muttered, walking into his room and cho

Aulsory let out a long, slow brath, then hurried ba

Slur grabbed her bimus ular

Just across the street, only a few dozen yards away, was the Taylors‘ living room

drant. Timgoing in

< Chapter 18

Through the binoculars, Aubrey could clearly see Caleb’s mother, Madison, practicing yoga in the living room.

Claim 15 Cons By Checkin

Madison wasn’t young, in her fifties, but she knew how to dress. Her heavy makeup accentuated a seasoned allure that still clung to her.

If they could find evidence of illicit affairs between Madison and those three witnesses, it would completely discredit all the testimonies from five years

ago.

Two o’clock that afternoon.

Damon woke up, showered and changed, then emerged from his room.

The living room had already been meticulously cleaned by Aubrey.

He headed into the kitchen, pulled a bottle of cold water from the fridge, and drank from it as he made his way to the living room, where a document lay on the table.

Titled “Roommate Agreement,” he picked it up and casually flipped through the pages, a frown deepening on his face.

A simple agreement, huh?

Inside, there were dozens of rules, meticulously categorized and thoroughly outlined, spanning a full five pages.

And finally, it required a signature and a fingerprint, turning it into a formal, legally binding roommate contract.

Damon set the water bottle down and settled onto the sofa, meticulously reviewing each and every rule.

When he finished, he picked up the pen and signed his name, then pressed his thumb onto the red ink pad waiting nearby, leaving his print beside his signature.

Aubrey walked back in, two large bags heavy in her hands.

She looked up.

A and her gaze snagged on Damon’s deep, dark eyes, a momentary disorientation stealing her breath.

Five years of living alone, only for her home to suddenly contain a man–her ex, no less.

It was definitely jarring, and she knew she’d need time to adjust.

200

Her gaze skittered away as she slipped off her shoes and into her house slippers, stepping further inside. “Did you sign it?”

Signed,” Damon confirmed, pulling out his phone. He walked over to her, his screen lighting up to reveal a QR code.

Aubrey glanced down at his phone. “What’s that for?”

The mutual assistance and shared expense clauses in your contract,” he said. “How exactly are you going to pay rent if we don’t have each other’s contact info?

A shared living arrangement did necessitate exchanging contact information.

Everyday things–like taking in laundry before a storm, or remembering to turn off the stove, or even just sending rent payments–all required a way to reach each other.

She hesitated for a beat, then set her bags down. With a sigh, she pulled out her phone and scanned his code, adding him to contact

Once the connection was established, Aubrey then sent him her phone number.

Damon looked down at her message, and a sudden silence descended, heavy and unexpected.

It was as if they had been through so much, only to be back at square one.

Aubrey said, “I already gave Sierra this month’s rent. I’ll give it to you starting next month.”

“Hmm,” Damon acknowledged conlly, putting away his plane. He gestured to the two bags beside her. “Need a hand?”

“No, I’m good,” Aubrey replied, grabbing the bags. She carried one into her room and the other into the kitchen

Damon followed her into the kirchen, asking from behind her, “Did you have lunch?”

“I are” Aubrey said, puiting away the groceries she’d bought “I just grabbed some pork and the outside.”

As the words left her mouth, she paused, turning to him “Did you just wake up?”

Damon pressed his lips together and nodded.

Aubrey rummaged through her bag for tomorrow’s breakfast, pulling out a bottle of pre–made astmeal. “Want some!” she offered.

<Chapter 18

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify