Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Damon picked up the glass in front of him and drained it in one gulp, opting for the shot as his penalty rather than accepting a dare to kiss someone.

The others laughed.

Skylar Evans tossed the tissue aside, pouting.“Damon, you’re no fun. What’s there to be shy about?”

Damon exhaled deeply, letting the rush of alcohol settle.

The game continued, spinning through several rounds. When it was Aubrey’s turn, she worried the dare would be too extreme, and she also knew her low tolerance for alcohol.“Truth,” she said.

Skylar seized the opportunity, asking aggressively,“My question is for you, Aubrey. Do you regret what happened five years ago?”

Damon’s hand subtly clenched into a fist. His gaze dropped, fixing on the freshly poured shot of liquor in front of him, his brows furrowed.

The question left everyone confused, but their gazes, full of curiosity, shifted to Aubrey.

In that instant, Aubrey’s heart felt like it plummeted into a pitch-black abyss, sinking deeper and deeper.

Five years ago, her father was sent to prison.

Damon’s aunt’s harsh, pointed words echoed in her ears:“Damon is the brightest among the younger generation in our family. His uncle and I never approved of your relationship, even if your family was respectable and you were... quite accomplished. But now, with your father in prison for his crimes, it creates a scandal. This kind of public stain would absolutely ruin Damon’s future, especially his career prospects in a sensitive field like aerospace. You’re a smart girl, Aubrey. If you have even a shred of genuine feelings for Damon, I believe you’ll make the right choice...”

A mere shred of sincerity for Damon? It was her whole heart.

“No regrets. If I had to do it all over again, I’d still choose the same,” Aubrey said, her voice firm.

Skylar’s lips curved into a faint smile, utterly pleased with the answer. Her spirits visibly lifted.“Let’s continue,” she said.

Suddenly, Damon picked up the glass of liquor in front of him, threw his head back, and downed it in one gulp.

His action stunned everyone present.

What had made him take that penalty?

“You guys have fun, I’m just going to the restroom,” Damon said, standing up and turning to leave.

Aubrey watched Damon’s retreating back, her eyes filled with worry.

The old Damon never touched alcohol and couldn’t hold his liquor.

He’d just downed two large glasses of hard liquor; he must be feeling awful.

But he had Skylar now. It wasn’t her place to worry about him anymore.

As Aubrey pulled her gaze away, her eyes collided with Skylar’s. The look was vicious, furious, and chilling.

It was as if Skylar was silently screaming at her: You ruin everything.

Just then, Sierra walked in, and the atmosphere livened up again.

The boisterous fun of the private room felt completely detached from Aubrey’s current melancholy and gloom, as if they weren’t even in the same space.

While everyone else played games, Aubrey’s mind was miles away.

Sierra noticed her unusual mood and pulled her into the restroom.

In front of a large mirror.

Aubrey let the icy cold water run over her hands, rubbing them gently.

Sierra Vance pulled out her lipstick to touch up her color, her gaze fixed on Aubrey in the mirror, who looked noticeably subdued.“What’s wrong with you today, Bree? You seem off.”

“Nothing,” Aubrey mumbled, keeping her head down.“Just tired, I guess.” She pulled out a tissue and slowly dried her hands.

“It’ll be over soon,” Sierra said softly, her eyes full of sympathy.“Go home and get some rest. Don’t push yourself so hard. Everything will be alright.”

“Mm-hmm.” Aubrey nodded. After a moment of silence, she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity,“Sierra, are your husband and Damon very close?”

“Yeah, they’re pretty good friends,” Sierra replied.“Damon’s from New Haven City. He transferred here to Crestview City from the Aerospace Research Center there about six months ago.” Her tone sharpened.“Bree, are you interested in him?”

Aubrey quickly explained,“No, I’m just...”

“I get it, I get it!” Sierra interrupted, her lips pursed in a small smile, a knowing glint in her eyes.“After all,” she added,“Damon is handsome, has a great body, graduated from a prestigious university, and he’s an aerospace propulsion engineer with a brilliant future ahead of him.”

Aubrey sighed softly, no longer bothering to explain. She dropped the used paper towel into the trash.

Sierra knew Aubrey had dated someone for four years in college, but unaware that Damon was that ex, and assuming this was their first encounter, she offered some advice:

“Bree, you’re beautiful, and you’d certainly make a good match for Damon, but he’s from a different class than us.”

“Ryan says Damon’s grandfather has a photo in his military uniform, and that uniform is covered in medals and commendations. And in their home in New Haven City, there’s a plaque commemorating a highly distinguished medal for valor.”

The very instant they were about to pass each other, Damon’s hand shot out, gripping her arm.

Sierra froze, her eyes widening in a mix of shock and utter bewilderment. She looked from Damon to Aubrey, then back again. “You two? Love at first sight?” she blurted, her voice laced with incredulity.

Aubrey’s heart felt as if it had been struck by lightning. Her whole body went rigid, frozen in place, as she stared at him, a knot of nerves and unease twisting in her gut.

As their eyes met, her heartbeat thrummed wildly against her ribs.

His eyes, dark and icy, held a piercing gaze, a faint hint of red flickering within them.

“Let’s talk,” he rasped, his voice low and husky, laced with the barest hint of liquor.

You… you two talk,” Sierra stammered, flustered and clueless, but sensing the absolutely explosive tension, practically bolting from the spot.

Aubrey hadn’t even fully processed it, watching Sierra’s panicked retreat, when Damon’s grip on her arm tightened, yanking her into the smoking area.

The smoking area was at least a public space.

But he didn’t stop there. He pushed open the fire door next to the smoking area and yanked her into the stairwell.

He shoved her hard.

Aubrey slammed against the wall.

Before she could even comprehend, Damon suddenly gripped her shoulders, pinning her, and leaned in, his mouth crashing down on hers.

The abruptness of the kiss stole Aubrey’s breath, her lungs filling with the faint scent of alcohol from him, mingled with a surprisingly pleasant, crisp ›ine.

There was no warning, no preamble, not a single word exchanged.

Damon’s kiss was a brutal assault, forceful and punishing, laced with a potent mix of desperation, coercion, and pure rage.

Mmph…” A choked whimper tore from her throat.

Her lips throbbed, swollen and raw.

‘anic surged through her, and she struggled, her fists flailing against the solid wall of his chest.

[POSSESSIVE SECOND–CHANCE ROMANCE | SWEET ANGST & FIERCE CHASE | ONLY FOR EACH OTHER | SHARP BANTER & STUBBORN HEARTS] …

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