“Won’t be necessary, baby Ford. I think Vixen is done for now.” Gabe smiles and heads for the stairs as I follow behind.
Thirty minutes later, we’re all heading back down the stairs to our kitchen that now smells like chocolate cupcakes. Aubrey holds a mixing bowl in her hands as she dips her finger in to taste the icing she’s just made. Her clothes hold dust marks, most likely from the flour she used in her baked goods, as well as a smear on her cheek.
She sets the bowl to the side, wipes her hands on a cloth, and looks down at her outfit with a smile. “Don’t worry, I brought spare clothes. I know, I’m a mess. I was a little distracted while baking. I’ll clean up the kitchen too.”
“It’s fine.” I wave her off. “Gabe and I will do it.”
Ellis and I have been very,verycareful not to leave any mess behind. Ever since our second disastrous dinner, where I attempted to make grilled cheese and ended up burning the whole thing. To which Veronica still forced us all to have a bite before shivering with disgust as she pulled away from her sandwich and realized I had forgotten to take the wrapper off the cheese slice.
Veronica giggles, clearly understanding why Gabe and I are so eager to cleanup, then sits down at the island with Aubrey as they start chitchatting about the rest of the gang arriving later for dinner. We never usually host here, but with our new addition to the family, we thought it would be nice to have everyone over and introduce him.
As if hearing my thoughts, Blubber comes trotting into the kitchen, stopping at Veronica’s side, and lifts onto his back paws. She leans over and collects him, kissing his head and petting his furless back over his sweater.
“Oh my God, you guys got a cat?” Aubrey looks at our little guy sweetly.
“Yeah, his name is Blubber. He’s ten weeks old.” Veronica smiles with love.
“Can I hold him?” Veronica nods and passes him over to Brey. “Aren’t you adorable?” Aubrey beams, then looks up at us. “Wow, this is a big step, you guys having a pet together. Don’t babies come next?” She laughs with a blush forming on her cheeks.
“Actually… we were talking about buying a house as well…” Veronica says with a bit of hesitation in her voice and eyes as she looks over Aubrey’s reaction.
It hits me now why she’s bringing the subject up delicately. She and Aubrey are technically roommates. If Veronica moves in with us, it means Aubrey would be living alone.
“Oh…” Aubrey frowns but then quickly replaces it with a small smile. She sets Blubber down on the ground and straightens, taking Veronica’s hand in hers. “I’m happy for you, really, I am.” Even though her smile is small, her words are genuine.
“I understand this is a lot of change for you. I’d offer you to come with us, but I know how you feel about all that.” They both laugh softly. “Are you going to be okay... living on your own?”
“Yeah, of course. I mean, if I can move back into the condo, I’ll already be alone. So, it will only give me an idea of what that will be like. But I’m fine, I promise. I want you to be happy, and I can tell that’s here, with them.”
Veronica lets out a breath. “Okay, thank you. I was a bit worried about telling you. But I did talk to Julian this morning, and he said you could move back with one condition…”
Aubrey’s eyes widen. “Which is?”
Veronica chews on her lip for a second. “He wants you to have someone with you at all times… like a personal bodyguard… around the clock.”
Her face turns red as she takes in Kitten’s words. “He would have to live with me…? I’ve never lived with a man aside from my brother before… I… I don’t know if I can do that… you know how I am.” She removes her hands from Veronica’s and bites her thumbnail.
“I know, but you would meet him beforehand, and he would be very professional. He can take up my room. It’s only until all this is over.” Veronica then smiles with a hint of mischief. “Or you could always take Shane up on his offer…”
Well, this is the first I’m hearing about it. What offer?My back is now to them as I place things into the dishwasher, listening in to their conversation. Gabe looks over at me from where he wipes down the counter, a clear question in his eyes, wondering what the offer might be. I shrug, telling him I have no idea.
“I can’t do that…” Aubrey whispers in a panic. “It would be too… no, I can’t live with him.”Well, shit. Coach offered her a place to stay… Why doesn’t he just ask her out already?
“You’re right, you two would probably be jumping each other’s bones by the end of the week.” I look over my shoulder in time to see Veronica nod as she sucks in her lips, refraining from laughing.
“Ronnie!” Aubrey’s neck and ears turn red, even her nose is taking on the shade. “We would not… That… It wouldn’t happen… He’s—”
“If you say he’s not into you one more time, I might smack you,” Veronica cuts her off.
“I second that.” Gabe laughs. “Seriously, baby Ford. Coach probably jerks off to you daily.”
Brey buries her head in her hands. “Oh God, please stop. I don’t want to think about that. He’s a gentleman, he wouldn’t do that.”
“All men jerk off, Brey. It’s second nature.” I shrug. “Gabe is right, though; that man can’t take his eyes off you when you’re in the room, he’s definitely doing it.”
The timer on her phone goes off, letting her know the cupcakes are ready. “Okay, no more talking about that. Tell Julian I say yes.”
A few hours later, everyone arrives, minus the kids since they are with their grandparents for the night, from what we were told. They all settle into the living room while Gabe finishes up preparing dinner.
