Chapter 5: Enter Aubrey

Natalie had mentioned Aubrey plenty. Her tone always mixed admiration and exasperation.

If Natalie was gentle as water, Aubrey was fire—swagger in every step, never afraid to take up space.

Her boldness was pure American—she dropped her bag on the couch, boots thudding against the hardwood. She grinned, wide and wolfish. “So this is the guy? Not bad, Nat. I’d have swiped right, too.”

After eating Natalie’s bland cooking, suddenly the air was spiced with Aubrey’s energy. The whole place felt charged.

The first time we met, Aubrey snatched my bag from my hand, eyes sharp, sizing me up. “You’re Ryan Carter, right? Nat’s told me about you for ages. Now I finally get to see your true face—sure enough, a handsome guy. If Nat hadn’t gotten to you first, I definitely wouldn’t have let you go.”

Her first words stunned me. I tried to laugh, but only managed a nervous cough.

I barely had time to react before she pushed me toward the dining room, her hand firm on my back, steering me like she owned the place.

She pressed me into a chair, her perfume—warm, spicy, a little dangerous—filling my nose.

She bent down, her hair brushing my ear, saying today I was lucky—the two of them would cook so I could taste whose was better. She winked, her lips inches from my cheek.

I didn’t know if she was just that bold or hinting at something more. Either way, my heart thudded.

I tried to keep my eyes on the table, counting forks just to steady myself.

Afraid that if I looked at her, I’d fall into a bottomless pit. I’d never met a woman like her before.

Natalie came out, easing my embarrassment. She wore an apron, hair tied back, looking more at ease than ever.

She told me not to mind—Aubrey just liked to joke. They hadn’t seen each other in a while, so Natalie invited her for dinner.

It was to let her two most important people meet. Natalie smiled, eyes shining, looking between us like she couldn’t believe her luck.

I nodded, trying not to let my eyes wander. My pulse raced as I tried to play it cool.

But out of the corner of my eye, Aubrey was boldly sizing me up, her lips curled in a smirk. She wasn’t shy about it.

That night, we opened a bottle of red wine. Aubrey poured heavy glasses, toasting to old friends and new beginnings.

Natalie couldn’t hold her liquor, so it was mostly me and Aubrey drinking. We swapped stories about college, work, life in Boise. There was an undercurrent I couldn’t ignore.

Aubrey said she planned to settle in Boise and asked Natalie if she’d take her in. Natalie hugged her, eyes shining with excitement.

Natalie agreed, glancing at me and squeezing my hand under the table, her silent way of asking if it was okay.

Of course, I said yes—there was a spare room, she could stay as long as she wanted. I tried to sound relaxed, but inside, I was buzzing.

Aubrey, tipsy, said, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll steal your boyfriend?” She looked right at me, daring me to answer.

Natalie giggled, “What’s mine is yours. If you want him, just take him.” Her words were light, but there was a challenge in her eyes.

The two girls teased each other, leaving me red-faced, picking at my food.

After dinner, they cleaned up, and I went downstairs to throw out the trash. I needed a moment to clear my head.

I lit a cigarette and sat on the cold concrete steps, the glow of her cigarette matching the neon from the 7-Eleven across the street.

A couple of kids skateboarded in the lot, their laughter echoing. I wondered if Aubrey’s arrival would change everything. She was a wild card.

Just then, Aubrey came down too, standing in front of me. She wore a long cardigan over her jeans, arms crossed, eyes searching.

I greeted her. She said she came to walk and sober up, her words slurring a bit, but her gaze steady.

She sat beside me and asked for a cigarette. I handed one over, flicking my lighter open. She leaned in, letting me light it for her. Her fingers brushed mine.

She took a deep drag, exhaling slow. The smoke curled around us, blurring the world.

“I broke up with my boyfriend and have nowhere to go now. I’ll be staying for a while.”

She suddenly confessed. The admission caught me off guard, the vulnerability in her voice real.

I was surprised. Her personality was so different from Natalie’s, but sometimes, the ones you least expect get you through the worst.

I nodded. Anyway, Natalie had just quit her job, so it was good to have company. Two friends starting over, together.

“Ryan, I know you’re not a good guy.”

Her next sentence made my heart skip. I was about to say she was drunk.

“I’ve seen a lot of men. I can tell at a glance. I won’t tell Natalie, but you better not mess around outside. If you really can’t control yourself…”

Aubrey blew smoke into the night, her eyes locked on mine. Her smirk said she already knew the answer.