Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

As their gazes lingered, the air around them began to thicken, growing warmer. Both of them felt the undeniable shift. Quickly, they broke eye contact. Damon grabbed his beer, tilting his head back to take a long, deep gulp, his Adam’s apple bobbing prominently with the swallow.

Aubrey stood up, flustered, her hands instinctively fumbling for pockets that weren’t there on her pajamas. “I… I’ll go back to my room to tie up my hair. She hurried into the room, found a hair tie, and pulled her hair back behind her head.

When she re–emerged, Damon was leaning against the back of the sofa, his elbows propped up. His long, handsome fingers were idly tracing the condensation on a beer can, the other hand holding his phone, eyes on the screen. The previously heated atmosphere had cooled.

Aubrey settled back onto the carpet, cross–legged, sipping her beer and eating the skewers. Damon remained absorbed in his phone.

Aubrey glanced back at him. “Aren’t you going to eat something?”

Damon looked up, lowering his phone. “A beef skewer.”

Aubrey picked up a beef skewer and offered it to him. Damon took it, leaning forward, and slowly ate it.

Is something at work bothering you?” he asked suddenly.

Aubrey stiffened, the frustration she’d been bottling up finally spilling out of her. She let out a soft sigh, picked up her beer, and took a long, fortifying gulp. She figured getting it off her chest would make her feel better; otherwise, it would just weigh her down, slowly eating at her until she finally processed it, and that was just too painful.

Yeah, she began, her voice tight. “I took on a case. This absolute bastard, he painted himself as this poor, unfortunate, helpless guy. Claimed he got a work injury, didn’t get compensated, and was fired. I felt so bad for him, I even got him legal aid, free of charge.”

Turns out, he’s this total slimeball. He actually kept it from me that he was out soliciting sex workers during work hours, got hit by a car on his out, and that’s why the company fired him.”

way

A scumbag like him, wanting compensation from the company? He should just drop dead! And then he hid the truth, tricked me into helping him with he lawsuit. When he lost, he called me useless, said I had a woman’s brain, told me to just get married already. I honestly wanted to slap him silly right

hen and there.”

That shameless ass! Not only was he a dirty pig, but he had the nerve to ask me, all high and mighty, ‘What man doesn’t mess around?‘ I swear, I wanted o kick him right in the balls…” Aubrey punctuated her rant with angry fist pumps, verbally tearing into him.

Damon couldn’t help but chuckle. “You must have been dying to let loose back then, weren’t you?”

God, it was awful,” Aubrey admitted, her cheeks still puffed with anger. “But I couldn’t stoop to his level and curse back. An unreasonable scumbag like hat, anyone who tangles with him just gets dragged down into his filth. But after finally letting it all out, I feel a lot better.”

Damon listened intently, then lifted his beer in a silent toast. Seeing this, Aubrey picked up her beer can too and clinked it against his. They both tilted heir heads back and took a long swig.

Aubrey lowered her beer and continued, “I’ve handled so many cases, and I often encounter clients who hide the truth. But someone as utterly

hameless as him? That’s a first.”

Jamon comforted her earnestly. “Getting angry over an asshole like that isn’t worth it. He’ll end up with an STD sooner or later. You won’t even need o lift a finger, the universe will sort him out.”

Damon’s words were spot on, resonating deeply with her. Her anger deflated in an instant. She picked up her beet again, tilting her head back happily fer smile, already softened by the alcohol, was especially sweet as she raised her drink to him “You’re right,” she said. “He’s a total asshole, and the universe will definitely get him in the end.”

Damon’s lips curved into a smile, and he linked his bottle against hers once more. The beer went down, sip by sip. Three rounds in Aubrey was feeling Spray

Another surge of anger bubbled up inside her, and she couldn’t help but let it out “And then there’s my brother He showed up at my door first thing his morning, telling me his girlfriend is pregnant and they’re getting married before the holidays. And he wants me to fork over twenty seven housand dollars to help cover his wedding expenses and start his new family

Damon frowned, his expression darkening

Aubrey let out a bitter laugh, her seemingly casual tone brimming with sorrow I just don’t understand! Was I born owing him? Why should I be

xpected to fork over money for his wedding?

Just because I’m his older sister, when we were kids, no matter what we did or ate, I always had to give in to him. When he messed up. I was the one

11.51

< Chapter 35

Claim 15 Coins By Check in

Menu

who got yelled at. Anything he wanted, whether it was mine or not, I had to hand over to him. Everything always revolved around him.”

“My mom was incredibly biased. When I was little, she constantly drilled into me the idea that I had to support my brother when we grew up. My dad was alright, but he was good–natured and honest, yet completely spineless. He had no say in anything when it came to my mom. Many times, he wanted to protect me, but he was always powerless.”

“I’ve been afraid of my mom since I was a kid. When I was little, I was scared she’d hit me. Now I’m not afraid of her hitting me anymore, but I’m terrified of her constant talking, yelling, nagging, and threatening in my ear! It drives me absolutely insane.”

“It was ‘your brother, your brother, your brother‘ with every single word out of her mouth… Every conversation revolved around her precious son. We were both her children, so why did she favor him so much? Didn’t she love me at all?”

Aubrey poured out a torrent of the bitterness she’d been holding inside. When she finished, she drained the beer in her hand, shook the empty can, and slammed it to the floor in frustration before grabbing another.

Damon snatched it from her hand, wiped the lid with a tissue, opened it, and held it out to her.

Thank you,” Aubrey said, looking up at him with a smile, her clear, big eyes glistening.

Damon gazed at Aubrey’s reddened eyes for a long moment. His gaze deepened, a subtle hint of pity softening his eyes. All his emotions finally melted into a barely audible sigh as he slowly reached out, placing a hand on Aubrey’s shoulder for two gentle, restrained pats.

Aubrey felt his comfort and feigned calmness, but her voice was laced with resentment. “I’m fine,” she insisted. “I’m not indulging him one bit now. If he has the nerve to ask me for money, I have the nerve to ask him for a house. The house our parents built has three stories–why should he get it all, and I don’t even have a single room?”

‘Dealing with my brother? I can handle it, no problem,” Aubrey said, taking a sip of her beer, her tone casual, but her smile was painfully rigid. The next second, her smile vanished. Her mouth flattened, and she visibly struggled to hold back the pain, her lower lip trembling slightly as tears of injustice welled up in her reddened eyes.

Damon noticed something was wrong. He leaned in to see her pained expression, his voice tender as he carefully asked, “Why the sudden tears?”

‘I’m not crying.” Aubrey quickly lowered her head, secretly wiping away tears, and took a deep swig of her beer. Her voice came out faint and fragile. ‘He won’t get anything from me, so he’ll definitely go back and get my mom involved. Just thinking about it, my mom will come looking for me at the firm, and she’ll come to my apartment. As long as I don’t agree to her demands, she won’t give up. She’ll relentlessly scold me, harass me, pressure me until I finally give in.”

‘She’s always pressured me like this, ever since I was a kid. Sometimes, I just want to die and be done with it.”

Damon’s pupils constricted. He clamped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, turning her face to glare into her tear–filled eyes. His voice was grim. “Aubrey, there’s no problem in this world that can’t be solved. You absolutely cannot have such terrible thoughts. If money can solve it, it’s not a problem. And if your mom will stop bothering you once she gets the money, then I’ll pay for it.”

Aubrey angrily pushed his hand away, demanding, “Why? Why should you pay? Do you think money grows on trees?”

Even if you’re loaded and don’t care, I do.”

When I was a kid, I couldn’t fight back, and that’s why I let her get away with those twisted ideas for so long. Now, besides my rightful contribution, he won’t get another dime from me. Lend it? Maybe. But directly ask me for it? Not a chance.”

If she wants to cling, let her cling. If she wants to make a scene, let her make a scene. I, Aubrey, am not afraid of her.”

After finishing her furious rant, Aubrey drained the beer in her hand again, shook the empty can, and pouted as she threw it forward. With a clatter, the tan landed under the TV cabinet.

Her hands then swept over the table, rummaging for empty cans. She searched around, only to find she’d emptied every single one. A soft burp escaped her as she turned toward Damon, her hands settling heavily on his thighs. Her head then flopped sideways, resting there.

Damon’s body stiffened, his thighs going rigid beneath her touch. His gaze dropped to Aubrey’s flushed, wine reddened face. She just closed her eyes and settled onto his lap, drifting off to sleep, her voice a hazy murmur as she mumbled, “I won’t give in Not one step not even an inch

Damon leaned back against the sofa, unmoving, his gaze fixed on Aubrey’s beautifully flushed face, unblinking. He still held the unfinished can in his hand. As the minutes ticked by, Aubrey’s breathing became even, calm, and deep

Only then did Damon lean forward, setting the can aside before his large hand gently rested on Aubrey’s head, stroking it tenderly, Was this why she’d never mentioned her family in their four years together? Had she grown up in a family like this, unloved, disrespected, and unfairly treated, and that was why she was too ashamed to speak of them? He knew he had no business interfering in her private family matters.

Damon gripped Aubrey’s shoulders and gently shook her twice. “Aubrey, wake up Aubrey didn’t stir, still deeply asleep. Damon slid his hands under

< Chapter 35

Claim 15 Coins By Check in

her armpits, gently lifting her pliable body and repositioning her so she was sitting upright on his lap. Then, with a subtle shift, he scooped her up into a bridal carry. He carried Aubrey into the dark room, guided by the dim light spilling from the doorway, and gently lowered her onto the large bed.

He turned on the bedside lamp, and a soft orange glow instantly enveloped the entire room, creating a hazy, warm ambiance. Aubrey kept her eyes closed, her mind hazy with drink. Her hands wandered, her palms brushing Damon’s chest, then his shoulders, his neck, and finally his cheek. She mumbled, “Where’s the drink? Give it to me.”

Damon’s breath hitched. He caught her restless hands, pinning them to the bed. He pulled the comforter up, tucking it around her. “No more drinks. Just sleep, he murmured softly.

Aubrey felt her hands were stuck. She forced open her heavy eyelids, but her vision was blurry, and she couldn’t quite make anything out. Everything swam into a hazy focus, but Damon’s handsome face coalesced before her. His beautiful, almond–shaped eyes, usually so sharp, were softened as they gazed down at her.

She offered a soft smile, her voice a low murmur. “Damon, you’re here again?”

“Again?” Damon asked, confusion lacing his voice as he released her hand and pulled the quilt up to her neck. “Are you completely out of it from the alcohol?”

Aubrey’s eyelids fluttered shut, her delicate brows furrowing in frustration, as if trying to lock away all her turmoil and embarrassment deep between her brows. Her mind was a whirl of Damon. It was all so unreal, something that would vanish the moment she woke up tomorrow. So why did he keep coming back? Every time she woke from the dream, her heart felt utterly empty. She yearned to see him in her dreams, yet paradoxically, she wished he wouldn’t come at all.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify