“What do you mean?” Cole asks when we get away from his adoring fans. Aubry has his back to us and is acting like a bodyguard, shielding us from everybody’s view, and effectively eavesdropping on our conversation.
“I mean what now? Are you going to get back together with Erin?” I ask, avoiding the real question on my mind.
He gives me an incredulous glare before his green eyes start twinkling and his mouth slowly turns up on one side. “Hmm...how about hell no?”
“Why not?” I ask biting my lip and fluttering my lashes.
“Let’s see,” he starts as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear making me let out a quaking breath. “You and I had amazing sex this weekend.” He slaps Aubry upside the head when he starts laughing loudly. “And quite frankly, I think it would be very stupid to let the love of my life walk out on me—again.” He raises his eyebrow and looks at me intently.
I nod my head and smile. “I’m going to agree with you on that,” I whisper.
He tilts my chin, so I can look directly into his eyes. “I’m not kidding, Blake. I’m not letting you walk out of my life again—ever.”
He places a soft kiss on my lips, and my apprehension disappears briefly. The only thoughts of running I have include me on a treadmill tomorrow because I ate too damn much in New York City this weekend.
We stand there for a while staring into each other’s eyes, not wanting time to tear us apart, even though we both know I have a plane to catch.
“I’ll be in Chicago next weekend, okay, baby?” he says softly as he pulls my body against his to hug me.
“Okay,” I whisper. I feel unshed tears in my eyes, and I silently pray that I don’t cry because I’ll feel so stupid if I start crying over this.
“I’ll be there every single weekend. And if I can’t go, I’ll fly you to me, okay? If that’s what it’s going to take to keep you from freaking out on me, I’ll sell everything I own and buy a damn jet.” He backs out of our embrace and looks at me with a serious expression to make sure I’m still with him. I nod sadly. “Not letting you go, baby.”
I laugh lightly. “I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m not a teenager anymore, Cole.”
He grins widely and leans in to take my lips in his one more time. He moans when I slip my tongue into his mouth and suck on his.
“Fuck...I hate that you have to go,” he pouts.
“Are you fucking done, Romeo?” Aubry asks, turning around. “This flight isn’t going to leave my ass. I’m not about to pay a hundred dollars to get on the next plane, and I kinda wanna get laid tonight.”
I roll my eyes at him as Cole laughs and bumps fists with him. We kiss one last time and sadly say our goodbyes before I get on the airplane to head back to Chicago.
When Aubry and I get back to our apartment, I check the stack of mail and find a white envelope with my name on it. I notice it’s missing a return address and grab it along with my bills before heading to my room. I place my suitcase on the bed and stare at it for a while. I hate unpacking and doing laundry. If I could pay somebody to do it for me, I would. I know staring at it won’t get the job done, though.
“Aubry,” I call out loudly. I haven’t locked my bedroom door, so he comes in and stands in the threshold with one hand on his hip and the other holding his phone.
“Hold on, Aimee,” he says to the phone. “What?” he asks annoyed.
I laugh. “What?” I ask with faux attitude and snap my fingers in front of me as I sashay my body. “Let me just tell you. You have me to thank for hooking you up with princess over there. Anyway, do you wanna do my laundry? I’ll pay you.”
Aubry laughs and shakes his head as he tells Aimee what I asked him to do. She laughs loud enough that I can hear her when Aubry extends his arm to move the phone away from his ear.
“Sure, I’ll wash your shit. Do you have underwear for me to wash? Or did Cole rip them all?” he asks laughing. Bubbled laughter escapes me as he walks away, because I’m pretty sure Cole did rip them all.
I hadn’t considered that Cole was going to meet Aimee soon. I’m sure Aubry is already trying to set up a double date for next weekend. The thought of a double date makes my heart speed up. I’m really going to do this. No fear this time. No fear. I’m not going to lose him. I love him, and I’m not going to lose him. I open the white envelope with no return address. The letter doesn’t even have a header. That’s odd.