Doomsday Revenge: Payback Time (Josie) novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

With Sierra and Ryan at the dinner table, there was no chance of a lull in the conversation.

Ryan talked animatedly, and Sierra never let his words hang in the air.

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The gloom that had clung to Aubrey for ten days now slowly began to lift. She ate her meal quietly, listening to Ryan recount details of his business trip.

When she heard Ryan talk about working non–stop for days, so exhausted he felt like he was about to drop dead, she couldn’t help but wonder if Damon was doing the same, burning the midnight oil on critical assignments.

He must have been so exhausted back then.

She wondered if he ever got to catch up on sleep.

“It was freezing in Gold City,” Ryan commented. “Luckily, I have a great wife who packed me a ton of warm clothes. Damon, though, he had it rough–the moment he got off the plane, he was shivering from the cold…”

Aubrey’s hand, poised over a dish, froze. She looked up nervously at Damon.

Damon was looking down at his phone, his face serene, completely at ease.

December in Crestview City isn’t overly cold. One or two warm base layers and a thick coat are usually enough to get through the entire winter.

He was currently wearing only a white knit sweater, its sleeves rolled up slightly to reveal strong, toned forearms. His black jacket was draped over the back of his chair.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, he slowly lifted his head from his phone screen and looked at her.

When her eyes met Damon’s, Aubrey’s heart gave a slight clench. She quickly averted her gaze, picking up a piece of bok choy and looking down to eat.

Sierra chuckled. “Bachelors are just different. No woman around to remind him, he doesn’t check the weather before he travels, and he certainly doesn’t think to pack enough warm clothes.”

Damon gave a faint smile, slowly set his phone down, and picked up his fork to take some fish.“It’s true,” he said casually.“Why don’t you introduce me to someone, Sierra?”

Aubrey felt like the greens were suddenly catching in her throat, and she swallowed hard.

Sierra looked surprised.“You’re Damon! You need me to introduce you to girls?”

Damon nodded.“Mm-hm. I do.”

‘But isn’t Skylar your girlfriend?”

‘No, she’s my mom’s best friend’s daughter. Not related by blood, just like a sister.”

‘Oh, I see.” Sierra beamed, setting down her fork and clasping her hands on the table, her expression turning serious. “Well, I have so many friends who would love to meet you. What type are you looking for? Southern girl or Northern? Height, looks, personality, job–do you have any specific equirements?”

Ethan listened to their conversation, a polite smile plastered on his face, but his eyes were like chips of ice. His hand tightened around his fork as he poke, his voice deceptively light, “Why limit yourself to just one gender?”

Sierra pointed a finger at him, her voice sharp.“Ethan, don’t you dare get involved.”

Ethan offered a tight, fake smile, casually picking at his meat.

Damon’s gaze landed on Aubrey.

Everyone followed his gaze to Aubrey.

Ethan’s jaw tightened.

Ryan looked puzzled.

Sierra asked, a nervous edge to her voice, “Are you looking for a Southern girl like Bree, or are you actually hoping to mend things with Bree and get back together?”

Aubrey froze, feeling a dozen eyes on her, a trickle of sweat running down her spine. She felt self–conscious, uneasy, and thoroughly mortified.

10.46

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Why did the conversation have to turn to her now, when things had been so peaceful? she thought.

She put down her fork and looked up, addressing Sierra.“Don’t…”

She’d barely uttered the single syllable before Damon’s voice cut her off, overriding her.

“Any type but Aubrey. I’m open to anything else.”

Aubrey’s heart gave a painful lurch. It was the answer she’d subconsciously craved, yet it landed with an unbearable harshness, leaving a bitter ache in her chest.

Ryan was the most excited.“Damon, I have a cousin who just graduated college this year! How about I set you two up and we become family?”

Sierra chimed in, just as enthusiastic.“Your cousin isn’t exactly a supermodel. Damon, I have a friend–she’s a civil servant, both her parents are teachers,

gorgeous,

has a great figure, and she’s only a year younger than you. Perfect, no age gap there.”

she’s

Ethan slung an arm around Damon’s shoulders.“So eager to find a girlfriend? Want me to set you up?”

Damon brushed Ethan Sterling’s hand away.“Either option works,” he said, sounding completely nonchalant.“While I’m off for the next couple of days, ust set me up. I’ll meet them.”

Ryan happily picked up his phone, texting as he asked, “Are your parents giving you some kind of marriage ultimatum? Why the sudden rush to go on blind dates?”

Damon gave a wry smile.“It’s nothing,” he said, “just seeing how in love

you

and

your

wife are…

I’m actually pretty

envious.”

Sierral and Ryan exchanged smiles.

Aubrey felt like an outsider, trapped in a deep freeze.

She didn’t want to say a word.

She suddenly lost her appetite.

Damon actively looking for dates right in front of her felt like salt being rubbed into an open wound, the agony ripping her

She just couldn’t be with him, but that didn’t mean she didn’t love him.

As long as she didn’t know, even if he were to marry and start a family, it wouldn’t matter to her.

But he just had to do it all right in front of her.

apart.

The heavens must have decided she hadn’t suffered enough, that her penance wasn’t complete. They’d sent Damon specifically to be the death of her.

< Chapter 70

Chapter 70

“Aubrey.”

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Damon suddenly called her name.