Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52

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Her conflicted hesitation made Damon impatient, his hot, heavy gaze winding around her, threatening to ensnare her in its sticky web. After a long moment of mental preparation, she mustered her courage, rising to part her legs and straddle his lap. Her hands rested against his rising and falling chest, and through the relatively thin fabric, she felt the warm, solid muscle beneath. The air in the living room grew thick and humid, cloying and sweet, like a warm, sticky sponge cake.

Yet, her innate shyness still held her captive, preventing her from taking the initiative. She awkwardly changed the subject. “Damon,” she said, I have a question for you.”

“What is it?”

Do you think Ethan deliberately tried to drive a wedge between us?”

Damon’s gaze darkened, and his fingers tightened slightly around her waist.

“Ow!” Aubrey gasped.

The next second, he yanked her tighter against him. Suddenly, their bodies were pressed impossibly close, and she could feel his raw power and simmering intensity.

Aubrey’s breath hitched.

Damon’s brows furrowed. “You’re thinking about him now?”

Tm not thinking about him. I just want to know if Ethan is still up to his old tricks, deliberately trying to drive a wedge between us again.”

Damon sighed softly, tilting his head back to gaze at the ceiling. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he slowly quelled the heat rising within him. “He certainly wouldn’t come to me directly,” he drawled. “There’s someone else who knows my work schedule, isn’t there?”

Aubrey understood what he was implying. She slid off his lap, picked up her phone, and dialed Sierra’s number.

As soon as the call connected, she cut straight to the chase. “Sierra, has Ethan contacted you today?”

“Yeah, he did! He called me this morning to vent, saying he used some dirty tactics for your own good, and now he feels really bad about it. He wants to salvage your friendship. Bree, can’t you just forgive him this once, for the sake of your twenty–plus years of friendship?”

That’s what she’d thought before, planning to forgive him this once for the sake of their two decades of friendship. But it seemed he didn’t deserve forgiveness.

“Did he ask you what time your husband gets off work?”

“Why would he ask about my husband?”

‘Are you positive he didn’t ask?”

‘No, I didn’t actually ask him. But he asked me to go shopping at lunch, and I turned him down. I told him my husband’s been swamped lately, and it’s a rare treat for him to get off at three today, so I’m going on a date with him, and then…”

Aubrey’s fists clenched, her knuckles turning white. “I’m fine. Bye!” She hung up on Sierra before she could even finish her sentence.

She threw her phone, a furious anger boiling deep within her. Sure enough, Ethan Sterling’s methods were, once again, simply too brilliant.

He’d extracted crucial information from Sierra, then timed his appearance flawlessly, ensuring Damon would catch them. He’d even accurately predicted she wouldn’t dare expose his sexual orientation to Damon, orchestrating a heartfelt performance to salvage their friendship right there, in front of her.

Any other couple, faced with this, would undoubtedly explode into a massive argument, digging up old scars and lashing out at each other, blow by blow, until they finally ended in a bitter, messy split. It was Damon’s unwavering calm in any situation, coupled with his unconditional trust in her every word, that kept deeper misunderstandings from tearing them apart.

She’d been with Damon for four years, and all those manipulative women with their endless schemes had never managed to get their hooks in him. Did Ethan Sterling really believe he could tear them apart with such dirty tactics? It was utterly delusional.

Twice stabbed in the back by her childhood friend, Aubrey’s chest burned with a furious ache. Hearts truly change. She was beyond disappointed with their friendship of over two decades. She never wanted anything to do with him again, ever.

Aubrey turned to Damon, her gaze darkening. It felt as if a thin thread had tightened around her chest, not painful, but deeply uncomfortable. She mumbled guiltily, “I’m so sorry, Damon. I never should have trusted him, let alone given him another chance.”

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Damon reached out and stroked her head, his eyes warm, his voice soft, like a spring breeze across a lake. “My Bree, you’re loyal and true. That’s not a flaw. The fault lies with someone whose intentions were twisted, who wanted to exploit your affection and kindness.”

Damon’s comforting words eased her mind slightly. “Next time,” Damon said, “be careful who you trust.”

Aubrey nodded. “Mm–hmm.”

Damon took her hand and stood. “Come on, let’s go out.”

“Huh?” Aubrey was pulled to her feet, her other hand clutching her phone, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.

“Let’s go on a date,” Damon said, picking up her bag.

Aubrey was frustrated with her own timidity. She hadn’t dared to be proactive, and in an attempt to buy time, she’d even changed the subject to someone as mood–killing as Ethan Sterling. Naturally, that conversation couldn’t continue.

Okay, Aubrey said, following him out.

They drove to Crestview City’s most bustling downtown. They browsed through various unique shops. In tech–advanced Crestview City, robots and various advanced miniature models were abundant–precisely the kind of things Damon adored. Aubrey accompanied him, watching and learning.

After the electronics store, they headed to the mall. Inside an accessories store, Aubrey playfully placed a pair of bunny ears on Damon’s head, her laughter bright and infectious. Damon feigned shyness, posing for a photo to remember the moment.

The mall had an arcade, and they bought handfuls of tokens, racing cars, battling zombies, and catching stuffed animals together, completely engrossed in their fun. By the time they were done, they hadn’t managed to snag a single plushie.

Aubrey watched, her eyes wide with envy, as other couples walked away with armfuls of plushies. Before she could even protest, Damon was already heading back to the counter for more tokens. She couldn’t stop him if she tried. Stubborn to a fault, he poured countless tokens into the machine until, finally, he managed to snag a stuffed animal.

The second she had the stuffed animal in her hands, Aubrey’s face broke into a radiant smile. Thrilled, she threw her arms around him and planted a fierce kiss on his lips. Only then did a look of utter contentment settle on his face. The amount he’d spent trying to win that single plushie could have easily bought them a dozen. But that wasn’t the point. The emotional value, the pure joy, was something money could never buy.

Leaving the arcade, they grabbed a fruit tea to share, chatting and laughing their way through the streets. It felt as if they’d been transported back to their college days, utterly carefree.

As dusk settled, Damon led her by the hand into a high–end domestic car dealership.

Aubrey looked up at him, a puzzled frown creasing her brow. “Are you getting a new car?”

“My car was bought after I came to Crestview City, less than a year ago. Besides, I have a car in New Haven City. What I have is enough; I don’t need

another one.”

“Then why are we looking at cars?”

“It’s for you, so it’ll be easier for you to get around.”

Aubrey’s steps faltered, and she froze in place.

Damon, still holding her hand, turned back to look at her. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want it.” Aubrey felt a pang of guilt, not wanting anything valuable from him.

“I remember you got your driver’s license with me back then. You know how to drive, so why wouldn’t you want one?” Damon asked, puzzled.

Just then, a salesperson approached, greeting them politely.

Damon ignored the salesperson and stepped closer to Aubrey, gently cupping her face. He tilted her head up, leaning down to whisper, “Bree, our family is a little peculiar. To avoid unnecessary hassle and maintain a lower profile, people in our family usually choose domestic brands. Do you prefer an import?”

“No, I like domestic products too,” she said, “but I don’t want you to buy me a car. It’s too expensive.”

“You’re willing to spend Ethan’s money, but not mine?” Damon’s voice held a hint of displeasure.

Aubrey panicked, quickly shaking her head. “No, it’s not like that.”

Damon’s eyes darkened. “Do you know what it means to a man when the woman he loves won’t spend his money?”

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Damon’s words filled Aubrey with a pang of guilt. The salesperson, who had been watching anxiously, chimed in, “Exactly, ma’am. Your boyfriend is so wonderful, willing to buy you a car. You should feel lucky and openly accept his love, not reject it.”

Come on, let’s go pick one out.” Damon took her hand.

Aubrey’s free hand snagged his shirt again. “Damon, how about you get me a car when we get married?”

“Married?” Damon froze, his deep black eyes sparkling like brilliant stars, breathtakingly luminous. His voice, laced with a tremor of excitement, asked, “Are you saying you’ll marry me?”

Aubrey offered a soft smile and nodded. “Yeah, I want to marry you, but I need a little more time. When I feel the time is right, I’ll tell you. Then you can drive your new car, bring the engagement ring, and propose to me, okay?”

Good.” Damon couldn’t hold back the smile that bloomed on his lips, his eyes blurring with unshed tears. He swept her into his arms, holding her so ightly, possessively, as if she wasn’t real, as if this entire, perfect moment was a fragile dream he feared waking from.

Aubrey felt his hug was so impossibly tight, it almost squeezed the breath right out of her lungs.

The salesperson, watching the radiant couple, couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy, even as a wave of disappointment washed over them at the thought of the sale that had just evaporated. They quickly interjected, “Sir, ma’am, why don’t we pick out a model and color? There’s no pressure to buy today. That way, for when you do propose, ordering the car won’t feel so rushed.”

Damon loosened his embrace, his hand finding hers as they walked further into the showroom. “We’ll take a look around for now,” he said, but we’re not buying anything just yet.”

Yes,” Aubrey replied with a soft smile, though deep down, a sliver of apprehension still gnawed at her. With everything in life, nothing was certain intil the very last moment. She was a hundred percent confident her father’s case would be overturned, but until she saw him walk free from prison, her heart wouldn’t truly be at peace.

After looking at cars, they went for dinner and then caught a movie. By the time they got home, it was late into the night. They were exhausted, but happy, and each went to their rooms to wash up and sleep.

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