Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 259

Claimed

By the time Aubrey finished sorting through her father’s files, secured the maximum state compensation, and split the relocation payout with her brother, it was already May.

It had been twenty days since she’d last seen Damon.

Even with the daily video calls and messages on the Grid, she still missed him like crazy.

Aubrey didn’t try to pull a surprise like Damon had. Once she booked her ticket, she just told him exactly when she’d be back.

May in New Haven City was beautiful. The weather was perfect.

Her flight was scheduled for Sunday at noon.

Damon spent the morning making the place spotless. He changed the bedding to a fresh, light set and picked flowers from the garden to put on her vanity.

Around noon, he got cleaned up, grabbed a bouquet he’d put together himself, and headed out to pick her up.

He was walking through the living room when he ran into Tracy coming in.

Tracy dropped a large bag onto the coffee table. “Damon, Mom told me to bring this over.”

“What is it?” He glanced at the bag.

It was filled with bread and pastries.

“Mom’s been obsessed with baking lately. There’s so much food at the house we can’t even finish it. I just dropped some off for our brother, and now here’s your share. Don’t let it go to waste.” Tracy sat on the sofa and looked him up and down, her eyes widening. “Wait, look at you. All dressed up and holding flowers? Where are you going?”

Damon couldn’t hide his excitement. He beamed, his face lighting up. “Aubrey’s flight lands at noon. I’m going to pick her up.”

Tracy’s eyes lit up. She jumped to her feet and moved toward him, playfully messing with his perfectly styled hair. “No wonder you’re all dressed up,” she teased, a wide grin on her face. “New haircut, expensive cologne… You’re looking sharp and smelling even better. It all makes sense now–your little wifey is finally coming home.”

She leaned in closer, sniffing his arm with a mischievous smirk.

Damon took a step back, glancing at the bouquet in his hand. He felt a bit self–conscious and cleared his throat, trying to look serious. “Knock it off,” he said. “I’m going to the airport to pick up your sister–in–law.”

“I’m coming too,” Tracy said, following right behind him.

Damon stopped in his tracks and frowned at her. “I’m going alone. Don’t come with me and get in my way.”

*

“I’m going too! I haven’t seen her in forever. I miss her so, so, so much. Besides, you already got to see her when you went to Crestview City.” I’m bringing her back here. You’ll see her soon enough.”

I’m coming.” Tracy hurried out, pulling her phone out to make a call as she walked.

ut a soft sigh. He should have

no winning with her.

e never

told her.

reached the car, Tracy was already buckled into the passenger seat.

no choice but to toss the flowers into her lap. He started the engine and sped off.

pent the entire drive on her phone.

om Aubrey’s coming back today. Her flight lands in New Haven at noon…

Hey, Aubrey’s coming home today. The flight’s at twelve. Are you free?…

“Grandpa, Aubrey’s back in the city today…”

Damon drove, a look of total resignation on his face.

Was she planning on telling the entire world?

When they got to the airport, Damon was in for a shock. As he waited for Aubrey, his older brother and his wife showed up. Then his parents. Even his grandfather had made the trip.

The whole family was there. Tracy must have said something to her sister–in–law, because the woman was holding a massive, hand–painted sign.

It was covered in big, bright, colorful letters: [WELCOME HOME TO THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL, AUBREY‘}

< Chapter 259 Aubrey Gets Claimed

Cringe. That sign was definitely Tracy’s idea. No doubt about it.

st after noon, the plane finally touched down.

brey dragged her suitcase into the arrivals hall. She spotted the massive, flashy sign from across the room and couldn’t help but grin. ce when did Damon get this cheesy?

he looked past the sign. It wasn’t Damon holding it–it was Tracy and Olivia.

Then she saw the rest of them. Grandpa, Mom, Dad, his older brother… and then, Damon.

Every single one of them was beaming, waving at her with pure excitement. Aubrey froze, her heart swelling with a mix of shock and total warmth.

She never expected the entire family to show up just to bring her home.

Her heart swelled with warmth, the raw love from her family hitting her all at once. Tears blurred her vision, but she kept a soft smile on her face as she walked toward them.

Damon’s gaze was intense, burning with a gentle heat. He didn’t wait, clutching a bouquet as he hurried toward her.

Aubrey looked back at him, her eyes shimmering like water. Their gazes locked.

He was inches away from her when a figure suddenly lunged between them, nearly knocking him back a step.

Tracy shoved past Damon and threw her arms around Aubrey. “Aubrey! You’re finally home! I missed you so, so, so much!”

Aubrey hugged her back, her smile softening. “I missed you too, Tracy.”

Olivia squeezed through the crowd, still holding the sign. “Welcome home, Aubrey.”

Aubrey pulled back from the hug and glanced at the giant sign in Olivia’s hands. She laughed. “Thanks, Olivia.”

Damon stood there, completely blocked by the two girls. He tried to sidestep them, but Victoria, Chase, and Grandpa swarmed in before he could move.

They kept pushing him further and further back.

Victoria spoke up first. “Aubrey, you’re finally home. Congratulations on clearing your father’s name. We’re so proud of you for winning that

case.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Aubrey said softly.

Old Mr. Blackwood gave a hearty chuckle. “Aubrey, you’re finally home. That was a hell of a win. You handled that case beautifully…”

Aubrey nodded politely. “Thank you, Grandpa.”

Chase chimed in right after him, offering his own praise.

The group swarmed her, everyone talking at once. After the initial greetings, they moved straight into small talk, treating the airport terminal like their own living room. It was never–ending.

Damon had long since been shoved to the sidelines. He stood there, shoulder to shoulder with Zach.

He kept his over locked on Aubrey, but he couldn’t even get close. She’d been back for a while now, and he hadn’t managed to say a single word

her the flowers he was holding.

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