don’t remember them.”
“I’ll try.” They’d be hard to forget. “Talk to you later.”
“Bye.”
Ben left and couldn’t help but smile. She might cringe at the memories, but he wouldn’t.
A short commute later and Ben was home. Kip’s truck was still there. He’d hoped the bugger had left for work.
“Good news,” Kip said when Ben walked inside.
“You’ve found an apartment?”
“Better.”
“You’re moving back home?”
“I asked Hanna to marry me.”
“What?” Ben said stunned.
“She said yes.”
“Holy shit.” Hanna wanted nothing to do with Kip for three months.
“I know. That’s what I thought too.”
“You’re going to marry her?”
“Hell yeah. I might have fucked up once, but I won’t be doing that again. She’s the best thing that’s happened to me.”
“So good you screwed around on her...”
“Mistakes happen. I’m not perfect.”
“This has mistake written all over it.” He stopped himself from continuing. That meant Kip would move out. Why was he discouraging him? “What am I saying? I should be congratulating you. Congrat’s bud.”
“Thanks.” Kip smiled. “I’ll be out by tomorrow.”
“I’m gonna miss you.” That was a lie. He’d have the house back, no more frat boy roommate. Hanna could have him. He was one of his best friends, but he couldn’t live with the man.
“Oh, I’ll miss seeing you in the morning in your skivvies too, but I’d rather see Hanna.”
“I’d rather see Hanna in her skivvies too,” Ben joked.
“Easy man.”
“Have fun.”
“Oh ya.”
Ben dropped onto his bed. He hadn’t slept well, but didn’t mind. Aubrey could lay on him every night, he could deal with the sleep deprivation.
*****
Aubrey turned on the cold water in her shower. That damn rug burn stung like a menacing bee and all she could smell was alcohol. After showering, she crashed and crashed hard until her alarm clocked beeped at 7:00 p.m. Damn, seven rolled around quicker than she intended. Her phone had a text message from Ben earlier in the afternoon.
They brought Tiffy home this morning. She’s in good spirits and said she’d call you later. She’s worried about you. What a girl. - Ben
She’s quite the girl. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll ttyl. - Aubrey
By the time Aubrey got to work all that remained of her drunken night was a dull headache and bad memories.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A few days later.
“Aubrey, are you busy next weekend?” Tiffy asked.
“Hmmm, what are you plotting?” Aubrey dressed for work as she fought with the phone.
“It’s my birthday, I’m turning the big ten-oh. We’re having a party. Can you come?”
“I’ll try. When is it?”
“Next Saturday.”
“What time?”
“Four.”
“I have to be to work by six, but I’ll pop in on my way by.”
“Awww, do you have to work?”
“Unfortunately I do.”
“Uncle Ben will be there.”
“You’d never forgive him if he didn’t show up.”
“No I wouldn’t! So you should stay too.”
I should stay because Ben is there? What is this little devil up to?
“I’ll do the best I can. How are you feeling?”
“Mmm, I’m okay.”
“Are you telling me the truth?”
“Yes. I’m okay. I know I can’t ride, but can I still go to the horse show with you?”
“Have you talked to your parents about it?”
“Um, no...”
“If they are okay with it, I’ll bring you to show.”
“Great! They’ll be okay with it. Hold on, I’ll ask. And Uncle Ben has to come too.”
Aubrey expected as much.
“Hi Aubrey,” Joanne answered. “It’s fine with us if you want to take her to the show, but if you have plans don’t feel obligated. We can take her, but she’s telling me right now if you’re available she’d rather you do. Thanks Tiff.”
“I’ll try.” They’d be hard to forget. “Talk to you later.”
“Bye.”
Ben left and couldn’t help but smile. She might cringe at the memories, but he wouldn’t.
A short commute later and Ben was home. Kip’s truck was still there. He’d hoped the bugger had left for work.
“Good news,” Kip said when Ben walked inside.
“You’ve found an apartment?”
“Better.”
“You’re moving back home?”
“I asked Hanna to marry me.”
“What?” Ben said stunned.
“She said yes.”
“Holy shit.” Hanna wanted nothing to do with Kip for three months.
“I know. That’s what I thought too.”
“You’re going to marry her?”
“Hell yeah. I might have fucked up once, but I won’t be doing that again. She’s the best thing that’s happened to me.”
“So good you screwed around on her...”
“Mistakes happen. I’m not perfect.”
“This has mistake written all over it.” He stopped himself from continuing. That meant Kip would move out. Why was he discouraging him? “What am I saying? I should be congratulating you. Congrat’s bud.”
“Thanks.” Kip smiled. “I’ll be out by tomorrow.”
“I’m gonna miss you.” That was a lie. He’d have the house back, no more frat boy roommate. Hanna could have him. He was one of his best friends, but he couldn’t live with the man.
“Oh, I’ll miss seeing you in the morning in your skivvies too, but I’d rather see Hanna.”
“I’d rather see Hanna in her skivvies too,” Ben joked.
“Easy man.”
“Have fun.”
“Oh ya.”
Ben dropped onto his bed. He hadn’t slept well, but didn’t mind. Aubrey could lay on him every night, he could deal with the sleep deprivation.
*****
Aubrey turned on the cold water in her shower. That damn rug burn stung like a menacing bee and all she could smell was alcohol. After showering, she crashed and crashed hard until her alarm clocked beeped at 7:00 p.m. Damn, seven rolled around quicker than she intended. Her phone had a text message from Ben earlier in the afternoon.
They brought Tiffy home this morning. She’s in good spirits and said she’d call you later. She’s worried about you. What a girl. - Ben
She’s quite the girl. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll ttyl. - Aubrey
By the time Aubrey got to work all that remained of her drunken night was a dull headache and bad memories.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A few days later.
“Aubrey, are you busy next weekend?” Tiffy asked.
“Hmmm, what are you plotting?” Aubrey dressed for work as she fought with the phone.
“It’s my birthday, I’m turning the big ten-oh. We’re having a party. Can you come?”
“I’ll try. When is it?”
“Next Saturday.”
“What time?”
“Four.”
“I have to be to work by six, but I’ll pop in on my way by.”
“Awww, do you have to work?”
“Unfortunately I do.”
“Uncle Ben will be there.”
“You’d never forgive him if he didn’t show up.”
“No I wouldn’t! So you should stay too.”
I should stay because Ben is there? What is this little devil up to?
“I’ll do the best I can. How are you feeling?”
“Mmm, I’m okay.”
“Are you telling me the truth?”
“Yes. I’m okay. I know I can’t ride, but can I still go to the horse show with you?”
“Have you talked to your parents about it?”
“Um, no...”
“If they are okay with it, I’ll bring you to show.”
“Great! They’ll be okay with it. Hold on, I’ll ask. And Uncle Ben has to come too.”
Aubrey expected as much.
“Hi Aubrey,” Joanne answered. “It’s fine with us if you want to take her to the show, but if you have plans don’t feel obligated. We can take her, but she’s telling me right now if you’re available she’d rather you do. Thanks Tiff.”
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