Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 64

Chapter 64

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Damon hesitated for a moment. Tracy quickly cut in,“If my brother loses, he has to call Aubrey ‘Sister‘ and Logan Lewis ‘Dad‘ Conversely, if Aubrey loses, she has to call him ‘Your Highness. Any objections?”

Veronica’s expression instantly darkened as she glanced at Damon’s dwindling stack of chips. This practically guaranteed he’d have to call Aubrey

‘sister.‘

Though it was just a game, it was harmless enough. But Veronica felt she needed to assert herself before marriage. With Damon’s ex–girlfriend here today, she could test his character and intentions, to see if he truly cared about her or more about his ex.

She forced a smile and asked Damon, “If I object, will you stop playing this game?”

Damon frowned, staring at her, his dark eyes instantly deepening.

Everyone in the room stared in shock.

What was happening? Was she already trying to call the shots before they were even married? Forcing her fiancé to pick sides at a friend’s gathering, refusing to follow the game rules and going back on her word? This was forcing Damon to make a choice: his friends or his fiancée. What an obedience test. This move left everyone in the room speechless.

Damon paused for several seconds, then responded nonchalantly,“Of course, if you don’t want me to play, then I won’t.”

Veronica pursed her lips and smiled with satisfaction, a sweet feeling blooming in her heart. She felt utterly triumphant. Her fiancé, true to form, hadn’t disappointed her. He was indeed a good man, worthy of her lifelong trust.

Tracy seethed, rising to her feet, fists clenched.“Damon, isn’t that a bit much? You’re practically losing, and now you’re just going to quit? Seriously?” Veronica quickly interjected, “Tracy, don’t be mad. I was just kidding around with Damon. Of course he can keep playing, I don’t mind at all.” She then turned to Damon, her hands gently pressing his arm, adopting a sweet, understanding expression.“Damon, you guys go ahead and play. I just wanted to see your reaction.”

Damon offered no reply. Tracy’s face darkened with frustration, and she bit her lip as she slumped back into her seat.

Aubrey lowered her gaze and took a deep, shaky breath, a tight knot forming in her chest.

Without a word, she flipped over the Dealer’s cards.

Alex looked at Aubrey’s excellent hand and chuckled.“This round is a definite win. We’re going to totally crush you guys…”

Before he could even finish the word “easy,” he watched Aubrey pull out a Four of Clubs and his jaw dropped, utterly stunned. That hand was a guaranteed win, a total wipeout for the two ‘players‘ on the other side.

Even Tracy didn’t understand.

It wasn’t until Damon played an Eight of Clubs that Logan, who hadn’t even played yet, heard Aubrey call out, “Pass.”

That single word-“Pass“-silenced every card player at the table, their eyes fixed on her. Logan even forgot to play his hand. Wasn’t this clearly throwing the game?

Damon paused, his gaze dark and unreadable as he stared at Aubrey, then played his smallest card.

“Pass.” Aubrey went easy again.

Tracy understood now. She crossed her arms, leaned back in her chair, and glared coldly at Veronica, her jaw tight. Both her brother and Aubrey were going easy because they were worried about Veronica’s feelings. Unbelievable!

‘Pass… pass… I’ve got nothing…”

That’s all Aubrey said for the rest of the game, consistently passing on Damon’s cards.

Damon threw down two bombs. Seeing Aubrey about to concede, Logan tossed out all the bombs in his hand as well. As a result, Aubrey was completely swept, unable to play another card, and with the added bombs, her losses multiplied sixfold. The chips she’d won back weren’t even enough to cover her debt.

Everyone fell silent. Only Aubrey seemed to sigh in great relief, offering Damon a soft smile as she placed her chips in front of him. Then she placed more chips in front of Logan.“I concede,” she said, “but I want to be a sore loser about it.”

Logan chuckled awkwardly.“Actually, you won, sis.”

“It’s late. I’m heading back now. You all have fun.” Aubrey feigned composure, picking up her bag and standing up. No one dared to make Aubrey

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honor the bet. Everyone could see she’d deliberately thrown the game, allowing Damon to maintain his dignity. She understood the delicate situation and knew better than to interact with her ex–boyfriend in front of Veronica.

Yet, Veronica, with a sly gleam in her eye, couldn’t resist twisting the knife.

Miss Pierce,” she began, a smirk playing on her lips, “you lost the bet, so why aren’t you honoring your promise? You still have to call him “Your Highness.

The room instantly fell into an awkward silence. A stunned silence hung heavy in the air….

Damon’s gaze dropped to the chips Aubrey had placed in front of him. A shadow fell over his eyes, his jawline tightened, and his fiars clenched inconsciously.

Aubrey, adopting a joking tone to cut through the awkwardness, said, “My apologies, Miss Pierce. I’ve always been a terrible sport and quire the cheat, o I really don’t feel like saying it.”

With that, she offered a brief nod to everyone present and turned to leave.

Tracy rushed over, grabbing Aubrey’s hand.“Aubrey, it’s so late. Why don’t you let my brother drive you home?

No, really,” Aubrey quickly refused.

Tracy ignored her and turned to call out, “Damon, why don’t you drive Aubrey home?”

No, really, it’s fine…” Aubrey’s heart hammered. This was far too inappropriate. Even if Damon didn’t have a fiancée, she didn’t want any lingering ties. Especially not with his fiancée standing right there.

Damon leaned back languidly in his chair, his voice flat as he countered, “You want me to drive her home? Do you really have no regard for my fiancée?”

Tracy was instantly silenced.

A bitter pang went through Aubrey, yet a small, relieved smile touched her lips. This was the Damon she knew. His moral compass was even straighter han his handsome face. Not a jerk. Not bad at all. From Damon’s perspective… If the first time she’d dumped him, he’d harbored regret, resentment, and couldn’t let go for years. Then the second time she’d dumped him, he had truly given up hope, fallen out of love, and finally let go. A portion of his assets, enough to secure her future, had been the final act of decency he could manage. Once the definitive goodbye had been uttered, he vowed never to be entangled again.

Alex quickly snatched up his car keys.“Aubrey, I’ll take you.”

‘No, it’s fine. I’ll just get a ride–share on my own,” Aubrey said, declining.

‘It’s on my way anyway,” Alex insisted.

Tracy scoffed.“Do you even know where she lives? How can it be ‘on your way‘?”

Alex grabbed Aubrey’s wrist, pulling her forcefully toward the exit.“It’s on my way, anyway,” he insisted.

The game room instantly fell silent.

New Haven City’s nights pulsed with an extraordinary, dazzling vibrancy.

The neon lights blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors, mesmerizing Aubrey as she sat in Alex’s passenger seat, quietly gazing out at the passing night. Alex stole glances at her as he drove. He wanted to break the silence several times, but couldn’t find the right words. Aubrey’s quiet, introverted demeanor, tinged with a melancholic coolness, made him hesitate, catching the words in his throat.

As her B&B came into view, Alex slowed the car. He cleared his throat.“Aubrey, I remember you’re my age,” he said,“almost thirty.”

Aubrey immediately corrected him.“I just had my birthday,” she said, “I’m only twenty–nine.”

Alex chuckled softly.“Still almost thirty,” he countered.

“A whole year to go.”

“We’re at prime marrying age, you know. Another couple of years and we’ll be past the age when everyone expects us to be settled down. Haven’t you ever thought about…”

“I haven’t.” Aubrey cut him off, her gaze dropping as a faint smile touched her lips. “I’m perfectly fine on my own. Life isn’t complete only if you’re married.”

Alex immediately swerved the steering wheel, pulling the car abruptly to the side of the road.

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Aubrey turned to him, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Warm yellow lamplight from the streetlamps cast a soft glow over the car, filtering through the windows to illuminate the hazy interior. Alex gripped the steering wheel, his fingers tightening slightly, as if summoning every ounce of courage. He abruptly turned to face her, his voice earnest.“Aubrey, I still really like you. Will you give me a chance?”

Aubrey felt no ripple of emotion “We just met,” she said, “and you’re already coming in so strong?”

“You’ve always been my ideal, Aubrey–the one that got away. Not being able to win you over back then has been the greatest regret of my life.” Alex offered a bitter, shallow smile, sighing. “I dated a few women after that, always searching for a piece of you in them. But they were never you, and nome of them ever lasted.”

Aubrey felt a fresh wave of awkwardness wash over her. She tried to lighten the strange atmosphere with a joking tone.“You were quite the player, weren’t you? I feel those girls deserved so much more.”

“That’s because I was so in love with you,” he countered.

“The unattainable is always the most alluring,” Aubrey analyzed coolly.“If we’d been together back then, I wouldn’t have been your unattainable ideal anymore. I probably would’ve ended up just like all your ex–girlfriends.”

“How can you be so sure without even giving it a try?” Alex countered.

I’m not interested in trying. Just drive. We’re almost there, just around the bend.”

Alex gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, his voice firm.“Aubrey, I’m not giving up easily this time. I’m going to pursue you.”

The adult world was just this straightforward, and Aubrey found she didn’t care either way. Aubrey didn’t pull any punches.“Go ahead, but don’t harass me. Otherwise, I’ll file for a restraining order.”

Alex managed a bitter smile, driving forward.“You’re still just as sharp and unforgiving as you were back then. We were friends, after all.”

“I consider you a friend, and you’re trying to get with me?”

“I want to pursue you,” Alex clarified, his eyes wide, protesting in disbelief.“How did that translate to me wanting to get with you?” “Being pursued by someone you like, that’s happiness. But being pursued by someone you don’t… that’s harassment. It’s torture. It’s a cruel joke.”

Alex let out a short, exasperated breath. He’d pulled up to the rundown guesthouse, his eyes scanning the building outside the window before he turned to gaze at her beautiful profile.“You’ve got me there,” he conceded, “but I’m not giving up on you. I hope you’ll give me one chance, let me prove it to you. I will make you the happiest woman in the world.”

What was her measure of happiness? She didn’t even know. Alex hadn’t changed. He was still just as arrogant. Aubrey offered a small smile, unbuckling her seatbelt. “Thanks for dropping me off,” she said, opening the door and stepping out. Standing by the roadside, she gave him a small wave before turning and heading inside.

Alex opened his door and got out, propping his elbow on the roof of his car. He yelled after her, “Aubrey, I’ve liked you for over ten years, and I’m not giving up! No matter what, whenever you’re ready, please look back at me. I’ll always be waiting right here for you.”

Aubrey quickened her pace, heading into the guesthouse.

‘Waiting for her right where he was,” she scoffed internally. His ‘staying put‘ meant constantly dating women who resembled her, searching for her reflection in innocent girls. That kind of “love” was a complete turn–off for her. No wonder he was Skylar’s brother. Both siblings had twisted values and questionable morals.

Damon rested one hand on his forehead, slowly closing his eyes as he leaned back against the sofa. His face was grim, dark as ink, and he remained atterly silent.

‘Damon, what’s wrong?” Veronica asked.

“Nothing,” Damon replied, his voice flat. He turned his head, his gaze finding his older cousin across the room.“Cousin, I’ve had too much to drink to drive. Could you give Veronica a ride home?”

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