Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 246

Chapter 246: Sibling Rivalry

In the kitchen, the housekeeper was spread thin. Liv went in to help, and Zach followed right behind her to play assistant.

Victoria was busy prepping crabs and jumbo shrimp for a seafood feast, while Chase stood by her side, grating ginger and cleaning green onions for the dipping sauce.

Aubrey cleared the table and set out the silverware. Damon was like her shadow, never leaving her side as he helped.

Damon pulled out a bottle of vintage wine he’d been saving for a special occasion. He leaned in close to Aubrey and asked softly, ‘Bree, you want a glass of this?”

Aubrey set the silverware down on the empty plates and glanced at the bottle in his hand. “What’s that?”

I’ve been saving a few vintage bottles,” Damon said. “I only plan on opening them for the big milestones.”

Aubrey gave him a small smile. “Like what?”

Damon’s eyes were bright, a warm glow radiating from him. “Getting married. Having kids. Watching our kids get married… or

oday.”

‘It’s just the Winter Gala,” Aubrey said, unimpressed. She went back to setting the table. “I wouldn’t exactly call it a ‘major nilestone‘.

Damon leaned in, his voice a low murmur against her ear. “It’s the day you proposed to me, Aubrey. How is that not a milestone?”

Aubrey’s cheeks burned. She turned to look at him, stunned, but Caleb just kept smiling as he focused on opening the wine. “I heard that recording loud and clear,” he said. “You want to marry me. You don’t even have to try and seduce me, Aubrey. All you have to do is crook your finger.”

Aubrey’s heart swelled, and her eyes grew misty. She felt a little embarrassed as she tried to explain. “The threats in that recording… was just bluffing to your uncle. I thought I could use your career to pressure him, but I didn’t realize he didn’t actually have your >est interests at heart. He doesn’t care about your career at all–it’s all about Veronica. I was so shocked. I never meant for you to Ictually quit…”

Right then, Tracy marched over and wedged herself right between Aubrey and Damon. “Aubrey, let me help you with that.”

Damon stumbled back a couple of steps, his brow furrowing in annoyance. “Go help our brother and his wife. Why are you always breathing down our necks?”

Our brother is way too serious,” Tracy grumbled. “That death stare of his is terrifying. I’m not going anywhere near him.”

Then go find Mom and Dad, Damon said, sighing in defeat.

No way. Mom’s currently butchering lobsters. It’s a total massacre in there.”

Okay, but you can’t just stick to us like glue,” Damon pleaded, trying to reason with his mischievous sister. “Give us some space, will you?

Tracy shot him a defiant grin, hooking her arm through Aubrey’s and resting her head on her shoulder. “Nope. I like hanging out with Aubrey better.”

Damon felt a pang of frustration. He’d been too soft on her over the years–that was the problem. She wasn’t even a little bit afraid

of him.

If it were their older brother and his naturally intimidating aura, she wouldn’t dare be this bold.

Once the utensils were set, Tracy started pulling Aubrey away. “Come on, Aubrey. Let’s squeeze in a quick game before dinner. I’ll carry you to a Chicken Dinner in PUBG.”

Damon set the opened wine down, looking totally confused. “A chicken dinner? What chicken?”

“Battle Royale!” Tracy tossed back over her shoulder, dragging Aubrey toward the living room.

77 19

< Chapter 246

Damon whipped out his phone and followed right behind them.

The two women plopped down on the sofa.

Damon squeezed in right next to Aubrey.

As they logged into the game, Damon quickly googled: “What is a Battle Royale game?”

After skimming the description, he opened the App Store and hit download.

Claim 50 Coins By Check in

Aubrey was already in a match. Damon leaned in, his arm draped across the back of the sofa behind her, intently watching her ingers fly across the screen.

Tracy poked her head around Aubrey and shot him a look. “Damon, you don’t even know what’s going on. You don’t know how to

lay, so why are you hovering? Go do something else.”

Damon suppressed his irritation and forced a smile, enunciating every word. “Tracy, listen carefully. She. Is. My. Wife.”

Tracy didn’t back down. “And she’s my sister–in–law.”

Damon corrected her logic. “She’s my wife first. Being your sister–in–law comes second.”

Whatever. You’re ruining our vibe,” Tracy muttered.

Damon felt a headache coming on. He pressed a hand to his forehead, staring at Aubrey’s screen, completely at a loss for how to deal

vith his sister.

Ever since he and Aubrey started dating in college, Tracy had been trying to compete with him for her attention.

Aubrey was locked into the game when she suddenly got blasted into a loot crate.

Ugh! I’m dead.” Aubrey put her phone down, her face dropping in frustration.

Jamon grinned. He immediately opened the game he had just finished downloading. “Bree, squad up with me. I’ll carry you.”

Aubrey turned to see him still registering a new account. “Do you even know how to play?”

I watched you for a minute. It’s not exactly rocket science.” Damon gave her a confident smirk.

He wasn’t a gamer by choice, but that didn’t mean he lacked the skills.

Aubrey shifted closer, leaning her body against his. The smile on Damon’s face only grew wider.

racy knew her brother too well. When it came to talent, they weren’t even in the same league.

ven as a total newbie, he picked it up instantly. His movements were fluid, sharp, and calculated.

As it turned out, Damon was a natural. He was so good he was basically a cheat code compared to the average player.

n the beginner lobby, winning wasn’t the point for Damon. His mission was to wipe out every threat near Aubrey. He led her to all he best gear, making sure she had the best experience possible.

Every time he knocked an opponent down, he’d step back and let Aubrey take the finishing shot. He gave her all the kills and all the ¡lory.

Tracy watched them play as a team, feeling totally left out. Playing by herself was boring as hell, and seeing her brother look so lamn smug just pissed her off even more.

Damon, Tracy spoke up, “didn’t you used to say gaming was a boring waste of time?”

Damon didn’t even flinch. “Depends on who I’m playing with.”

Aubrey couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Her heart felt light, sweet as honey.

Tracy snorted, totally speechless.

14 12

7

< Chapter 246

Her brother was such a hypocrite. Talk about double standards!

Lunchtime.

Claim 50 Coins By Check in

The table was loaded with a massive feast–seafood, beef, lamb, and a mix of dishes from both the North and South. Dumplings and sweet rice balls were center stage.

Everyone picked up their glasses and stood up for a toast.

Chase finally cracked a smile. “Happy Winter Gala, everyone.”

His wife, children, and daughters–in–law all raised their glasses. “Happy Winter Gala!”

Cheers!” Tracy added at the end.

Wait, don’t down it!” Chase cut in quickly. “Take it easy. This stuff Damon brought is strong.”

Tracy gave a playful grin and took a tiny sip. “Got it. Just a sip then.”

Everyone took a drink and sat back down to eat.

Damon grabbed a huge crab. He cracked it open, expertly picking out the meat and the rich roe, and started filling a small bowl with

1. t.

He used the tools to pick out a small bowl of crab meat and roe, then naturally slid it in front of Aubrey.

No matter how many times he showed her this kind of silent care, it still touched her heart every time. “Thank you,” she whispered. She stopped focusing only on her own plate and reached out, dropping a piece of tender chicken into Damon’s bowl. “You should eat, too. You don’t have to spend the whole time taking care of me.”

Damon gave her a knowing smile. He was just about to pick up his own fork when Tracy held out a crab and a small plate. She gave him a cheeky, playful grin. “Hey, Damon. Since you’re already at it, one crab or two doesn’t make a difference, right? How about helping your sister out, too?”

Damon let out a helpless chuckle and sighed, pretending to be annoyed. But his eyes were full of affection as he took the crab from her. “Fine. I guess I have to look after my sister, too. I’ll get it for you.”

Since their mother didn’t like crab, Damon looked over at Olivia. “Olivia, do you need a hand with yours?”

Olivia looked up, startled. Before she could even turn him down, Zach set his fork down and grabbed the crab. “No thanks,” he said coolly. “Her husband is right here.”

Olivia’s face turned bright red instantly, and the whole family couldn’t help but laugh.

The vibe at the table was perfect.

Everyone was genuinely enjoying themselves.

The smile vanished from Chase’s face. His expression turned stone–cold and serious. “Aubrey,” he said, hi