Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49

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Ryan looked utterly wronged. His eyes, wide as saucers with shock and innocence, he choked out, pointing at Sierra, his chest heaving. He looked from Aubrey to Damon. “I mistreated her? Did I mistreat her? She’s the one who cheated first! When I grabbed her phone, she fought back, even pushed me to the ground and started throwing punches at me. So tell me, who’s mistreating whom now?”

Damon listened, saying nothing.

Aubrey didn’t think Ryan was lying, and her brows furrowed as she turned to Sierra.

“Who told you to grab my phone?” Sierra lifted her chin, her defiance a thin veil over her apprehension. “You didn’t respect me, so you got what you deserved.”

Ryan let out a long breath, his hands on his hips.

Having grown up together, Aubrey naturally sided with Sierra, but when it came to matters of principle, right and wrong still needed to be determined. Seeing how enraged Ryan was, he looked like he’d suffered a massive injustice.

Aubrey whispered, “Did you really cheat?”

Sierra shook her head. “No.”

“Then explain it to him!”

“I can’t explain it.”

The two girls were whispering, but Ryan naturally overheard some of it. He fumed, “Of course she can’t explain it! She followed dozens of thirst trap streamers on TikTok, even tipped them, and added them on WhatsApp for private chats. She’s absolutely emotionally cheating. As for whether she’s physically cheated, I haven’t found any evidence yet.”

The term “thirst trap streamer” was something Damon had never heard before. He was a little bewildered.

Aubrey was shocked, narrowing her eyes as she looked at Sierra.

Sierra stepped forward, her chin lifted in defiant righteousness. “What’s wrong with me watching thirst trap streamers? You should take a good look at yourself! Damon, busy as he is, still manages to hit the gym three or four times a week. You? You finish work and just go home to sprawl on the couch, doing nothing but eating and sleeping. You’ve gained ten pounds since you got married a few months ago!”

Ryan glanced down at his own soft belly, then turned to his side, where Damon stood looking trim in his clothes. That perfect jawline, carving out Damon’s chiseled features, made Ryan feel a stark pang of inadequacy.

He felt a pang of insecurity, his voice faltering. “But… but that’s no excuse for watching those suggestive male streamers. You even tip them, DM them, Sierra. You’re practically on the verge of cheating.”

‘Who isn’t watching suggestive male streamers these days?” Sierra shot back, pointing at Aubrey. “Even girls as poised and intelligent as Aubrey like watching them. So what’s wrong with someone like me enjoying it? Honestly, which woman doesn’t watch them? Those guys go to such lengths, outting themselves out there for us for free online. Is it really too much for me to send them a little tip?”

Aubrey was speechless. Another ‘best friend‘ who always threw her under the bus, always pushing her out to take the heat first.

Ryan scoffed, “Aubrey is nothing like you.”

Sierra glared at him, then pulled out her phone, opened TikTok, and handed it to Aubrey. “Bree, look at this. Do you like watching stuff like this? How s watching something like this casually considered cheating?”

The moment the suggestive music kicked in, with its dynamic rhythm, the screen showed a guy in a black mask, shirtless. His broad shoulders tapered to

narrow waist, his muscles sculpted and defined. His black pants were slung low, hinting at a visible Adonis belt. His handsome hand traced down from his sexy Adam’s apple, caressing his muscles as he moved his hips, all set to that alluring music and hazy, sultry atmosphere. It was a complete visual feast for any woman.

It was Aubrey’s first time watching this kind of short video. She couldn’t suppress the smile playing on her lips, lightly biting her lower lip. A hint of awkwardness colored her bashful gaze, and her ears flushed a faint red.

Bree, you tell him, don’t all women like watching these?”

Aubrey didn’t speak; she just kept nodding. The video finished playing, then looped again.

Damon, initially an outsider, had no desire to get involved in the couple’s marital issues.

But then, the situation took a sudden turn. He watched Aubrey, her smile threatening to break free, her eyes utterly captivated, her face Blushed with a

< Chapter 49

mix of shyness and slight embarrassment. Panic seized him. He turned to Ryan, “What video is that?”

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Ryan pulled out his phone, opened TikTok, searched for Sierra’s favorite male creator, and handed the phone to Damoni. “This guy,” Ryan said, “he’s one of the dozens my wife has saved in her favorites. These guys are online every day, stripping down to flex and gyrate. Every video is the same routine, just different music and moves. I don’t see the appeal.”

Damon watched, his brows drawing tight, his face darkening. He shoved the phone back into Ryan’s hand, took two steps forward, and snatched Aubrey’s phone away. “You shouldn’t watch this.”

Aubrey, still clearly captivated, watched his hand as he returned the phone to Sierra. His tone with Sierra was grave. “Watch that stuff on your own time,” he warned. “Don’t corrupt Aubrey.”

“I…” Sierra said, feigning innocence. Seeing how tense Damon was, she deliberately needled him. “Bree, I’ll send you the link to this creator’s account later.”

Aubrey pursed her lips, a slight smile playing on them. She didn’t have time to waste on suggestive videos like these, but watching them occasionally, as a harmless distraction, wasn’t a bad thing.

She neither responded nor refused. Instead, to help smooth things over for her best friend’s marriage, she advised Ryan, “There’s really nothing wrong with watching these videos. Women enjoy them, so you shouldn’t take it too seriously.”

Women all enjoyed them?

Aubrey’s words grated on Damon’s ears. He let out a quiet sigh, his expression growing even darker.

Ryan: “She tipped him three thousand dollars.”

Sierra: “That’s a year’s worth of spending, and a lot of it was tipped before we even got married.”

Ryan’s surprise turned into a cold scoff. “You were doing this before we were married?”

Aubrey took Sierra’s hand. “Promise Ryan you won’t tip them anymore.”

“Alright, I promise. I’ll just watch, no more tipping, ever.”

“And you were DM’ing the male streamer?”

“He was the one who added me! He said he’d send exclusive content to fans who tipped over a thousand. I only checked out the content; it’s not like I met him in person, and I never sent him money privately.”

“You still-”

”

”

The quarrel was growing louder…

Aubrey had been on her feet all day, and now a weariness settled deep in her bones. She sank onto the sofa, letting them continue to bicker.

She pulled out her phone, checking her Whatsapp for messages. Finding none, she unconsciously opened TikTok

Damon’s eyes had been on her, watching. He strode over, and with a swift, decisive move, he plucked the phone from her hand, shutting down TikTok without a word.

Aubrey tilted her head back, her gaze meeting his. A bewildered expression flickered in her clear, intelligent eyes.

“Unless you absolutely need this app for work, delete it.”

“Don’t delete it…” Aubrey raised a hand in protest. “I occasionally need to go live on my account to give legal advice to people online.

“Fine.” Damon closed the app and handed her phone back, his voice grave. “But you can’t pick up bad habits like these from Sierra.”

“What’s wrong with that?” A playful grin touched Aubrey’s lips. “Don’t you guys also love watching pretty girls dance on Tik Tok?”

Damon stated flatly, “I don’t.”

“It’s not illegal to look, and if it’s posted, it’s fair game,” Aubrey muttered, adding, “Don’t be such a prude.”

Damon’s temper snapped, his voice tightening with irritation as he bit out, “Aubrey.”

His sharp tone cut through the air, stopping the two bickering behind them mid–sentence. Their argument abruptly ceased, and they both turned to stare at Aubrey and Damon.

Aubrey managed a tight, awkward smile, her eyes meeting Damon’s stern, unyielding gaze. A sudden wave of guilt and apprehension washed over her

23.43

< Chapter 49

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Sierra sensed an undeniable tension between them, especially Damon. His jealousy was so potent it practically suffocated the air in the living room. She walked over, positioning herself between them, glancing from one to the other, her own earlier frustrations completely forgotten. “You two… are you back together?”

Aubrey tried to hide it. “No.”

Damon blurted out, “Yes.”

They spoke at the exact same moment, but their answers clashed.

Sierra gasped, her eyes wide, staring at Aubrey with utter disbelief.

Damon’s eyes darkened at Aubrey’s answer, his tone growing serious. “Say that again.”

Aubrey slowly lowered her head, nervously scratching her forehead. Her voice came out a mumbled, “Um, I want to give us another try.”

Sierra took a deep breath, thinking Aubrey was utterly insane. A mix of heartache and fury churned inside her as she gave Aubrey’s shoulder a firm shove. “You’re actually insane.”

Damon couldn’t quite grasp Sierra’s meaning, his brow furrowing with displeasure. “How is she crazy?” he demanded. “Am I so terrible? Am I not good enough for her, or not worth giving a second chance?”

Sierra finally caught on, stammering out a meek apology. “I’m sorry, Damon,” she said, eyes wide. “It’s not about you. It’s her… her problem.”

“What’s so wrong with her being with me?”

“She-“Ryan started to say, but Sierra suddenly reached over and clapped a hand over his mouth. Grinning cheekily, she began dragging him out. “My best friend is a hot mess, I’m worried you’ll get hurt, hee–hee… Anyway, it’s really late, so we should let you two get some rest.”

Ryan was dragged out of the living room.

Once outside the door, Ryan pushed Sierra’s hand away. “They’re back together now, why didn’t you tell me?”

Sierra let out a soft sigh, glaring at him. “This is Aubrey’s private business. If she wants to tell you, she will. If she doesn’t, don’t you dare go running your mouth. If you tell Damon, I swear, I’m done with you.”

Having made her point, Sierra headed for the elevator.

Ryan followed close behind her. “This is clearly going nowhere. What’s the point of getting back together? It would be better to tell Damon sooner and let him cut ties cleanly.”

“My best friend is in a dead–end relationship with him, basically letting him get a free ride. Now my best friend is getting the short end of the stick, and Damon is making out like a bandit.”

“If Damon is serious, who’s playing whom is still up in the air. Sometimes, free comes at the highest price, and hurts the most.”

“Shut your mouth! If you dare breathe a single word, I’ll divorce you.”

“You’re just like Aubrey, both of you are heartbreakers.”

“Ha! Men don’t fall for women who aren’t a little bit of a handful.”

“What has the world come to? Everything’s gone upside down,” Ryan muttered, shaking his head.

Back inside, in the living room.

After Ryan and Sierra left, the living room fell instantly silent.

Aubrey sat on the sofa, her head bowed. Her slender fingers lightly scraped against her jeans, a knot of guilt and unease tightening in her stomach.

If her best friend hadn’t stopped him, Ryan would have certainly blurted out the truth about her father being in jail.

This reunion was likely doomed from the start.

Yet she still held onto a desperate hope for an appeal, unable to let go, and too afraid to tell him the truth.

Sierra had called her a mess, and she knew it was true.

Before they even got back together, Damon had made it clear: she wouldn’t owe him anything. Not his emotions, not his body. She could use him, play him, or just have fun–it was entirely up to her.

If nothing comes of it before he leaves, they’ll part ways peacefully and move on

< Chapter 49

She had every reason to feel unburdened, but her heart was overflowing with guilt. Suddenly, Damon’s gentle voice, laced with a hint of resignation, came from above.

“Bree, don’t you dare take after Sierra, you hear me?”

“Huh?” Aubrey snapped out of her thoughts, looking up at Damon.

“You’re not to watch suggestive male streamers.”

“But-”

You hesitated?” Damon was shocked.

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Aubrey couldn’t help but press her lips together, stifling a laugh. She hadn’t expected him to still be stuck on that.

She didn’t usually watch those mindless short videos; she’d only said those things to defend her best friend.

‘Fine, I’ll dance for you.” Damon took her wrist, pulling her off the couch.

Aubrey’s heart skipped a beat, startled. She looked up at him, nervous and flushed. “What? You’ll dance for me?

You just want to see something provocative, don’t you? Let’s go to our room. I’ll dance for you.”

You can dance?”

‘Nah. Just those two or three moves, I’ll just wiggle a bit.”

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