Reasonable Doubt 3 by Whitney Gracia Williams Page A

from you again, Liam…” the old man’s voice brought me back to the present. “Good to know you’re well and…getting over what happened.”
    “I’ll never get over it.” I hung up and headed outside, signaling for the town car driver to open the back door.
    “Where to, Mr. Hamilton?” he asked.
    “7654 Fifth Avenue.”
    “Right away.”
    It took less than twenty minutes to get there, and when we arrived I stared at the brownstone for a while. It looked like something I would’ve purchased years ago when I lived here, something far out of budget for a ballerina, so I figured her parents were paying the rent.
    Stepping out of the car, I adjusted my coat and walked to her door—knocking five times.
    “Coming!” She yelled.
    The door swung open, but she wasn’t standing behind it. It was her boyfriend.
    “Um…” He looked confused. “Did you leave the pizza in your car or something?”
    “I’m not a fucking pizza guy. Where is Aubrey?”
    “It depends. Didn’t we just see you at the gala?” He crossed his arms as Aubrey stepped into the doorway. “Who are you?”
    “He’s no one, again ,” she said, standing on her toes to kiss his lips.
    He looked at me with his eyebrow raised as he returned her kiss.
    “My cock has been in every inch of her mouth.” I gritted my teeth.
    Aubrey gasped, her cheeks turning bright red. “I am so sorry, Brian… Can you give us a moment please?”
    He looked between the both of us, anger creeping onto his face, but he walked away.
    “What do you fucking want, Andrew?” She fumed. “ What do you want ?”
    “To talk.”
    “About what ?”
    “You and me, about us being friends again…”
    “That will never fucking happen. Is that it?”
    “Aubrey—”
    “What brings you to New York, huh? Did you need to come back and fuck some familiar women on Date-Match? Did Durham somehow run out of pussy?”
    “It’s actually starting to feel that way.”
    She started to close the door, but I held it still with my hand.
    “I miss you, Aubrey…” I looked directly into her eyes. “I really do, and I’m…I’m sorry for kicking you out that night.”
    “You should be.” Her voice was a whisper. “And if you really miss me, you’ll leave me alone.”
    “Why would I do that?”
    “Because you’re bipolar. Because the second I ask one too many questions, or suggest something outside of your comfort zone, you’ll treat me like trash again and I’d rather cut my losses now.” She wiped a tear from her eyes. “I was your only friend—your only fucking friend, and you treated me worse than any of the women you met online. If anything, I’m sorry that I ever let you do that. Please leave.”
    “Aubrey, listen…”
    “Is there super glue on my floor?” She pushed me down a step. “Is that why you’re still standing there?”
    “Please, just—”
    “Lie about one thing, lie about it all, right?” She pushed me again. “You’re still the biggest liar between the two of us. Lying by omission is still lying.”
    “Can you please calm down and let me talk about this with you inside?”
    “I thought you hated rhetorical questions.” She slammed the door in my face.

A Priori Assumption (n.):
    An assumption that is true without further proof or need to prove it.
    Aubrey
    I woke up the next morning on edge, in utter shock.
    I couldn’t believe Andrew was in New York, couldn’t believe he’d admitted missing me on my front steps last night.
    Seeing him again brought out every emotion in me, and even though I’d told Brian that Andrew and I were done, I’d spent the rest of our date last night thinking about him.
    Him and his perfect suit. Him and his perfect lips that nearly pressed against mine as we argued. And, shamefully, him and his perfect cock that I felt hardening in his pants as he dipped me on the dance floor.
    Ugh!
    I got out of bed and sent Brian a text. “Today is my one on one day with Ashcroft…Wish me luck!”
    His response came