Page 35 of Break Out

“You okay?” I whisper, putting a hand on her thigh.

“I’ll survive,” she says, blowing out a breath. “But Mother told me a bunch of Clara’s friends are going shopping downtown and some of the guys are going to play golf. I told her we’d pass. I hope that’s okay with you.” Her shoulders sag, and she studies my face.

“Of course.” I’m not a big fan of golf. A lot of the guys on the team love it, though, and anytime we have a day off while we’re traveling, they’ll find a course. Occasionally, I’ll go with them, but it’s not my favorite thing to do.

“Want me to make you a plate?” I ask because Aubrey looks exhausted. Whatever happened while she was with her mother really took it out of her.

“That would be great.”

“I’ll be right back.”

I make my way to the buffet and grab two plates. On one plate I add a fresh waffle and a scoop of berries, then pour some syrup over top. On the second plate I add some eggs, bacon, and melon. I walk back to the table and set the plates in front of Aubrey.

“I’ve gotta go get utensils,” I say before leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. That’s the second time I’ve kissed her here, and I try to tell myself it’s because we’re with her family and we want to make it believable, but there’s a part of me that knows that isn’t true. I push the thought out of my head, going back to the buffet, making myself a second plate, and grabbing utensils.

“How did you know? Thank you,” Aubrey says with a grin as she takes the fork I hand her as I sit back down with my own food.

She pulls the plate with the waffle closer. I bite my lip to keep from laughing. If there’s a waffle that’s the first thing she’s going to eat. No matter what the other food options are.

“I’ve always wanted to go snorkeling off the reef here,” she says a few minutes later, pushing her empty plates away.

“That sounds fun. I’m sure we could do that this afternoon. Anything else you’d like to do? Or see?”

“You’re not coming shopping with us?” Clara asks, interrupting our conversation, her eyes trained on Aubrey. When did she show up?

“No, I’m going to pass.”

Clara pouts. “I was hoping we were going to get to spend the day together. Now both of my sisters are abandoning me.”

“Clara, we’re going to be together all day on Thursday when we go to the spa,” Aubrey says.

Clara crosses her arms. “Fine,”

Good grief. She reminds me of a petulant child who got told no in the toy store. I don’t know how Aubrey puts up with Clara and her mother.

Maybe that’s why she moved to Gainesville.

Aubrey shakes her head at her sister and turns her attention back to me. I raise my eyebrows at her, silently asking her if everything’s okay—feels like I’m doing that a lot today—and she gives me the slightest of nods. I lean back in my chair and slip my arm around her, pulling her closer to my side.

“I’m ready to go whenever you are,” I whisper in her ear. She shivers and it doesn’t escape my notice.

“We should probably hang around for a little while longer,” she whispers back.

I nod although I hate that answer. If it was my family and they treated me the way her mom and sister treat her, I wouldn’t have even come to the wedding. She has a lot more patience than I do.

Finally, after what feels like forever but is really only an hour, the ballroom starts clearing out, and Aubrey finally stands and beckons me to follow her.

We say our goodbyes, and with my hand on her lower back, I guide her toward the elevators. I’ve found myself touching her more and more as the day has gone on.

It’s fine, right?

We’re supposed to be in a relationship, so this is what a boyfriend would do, right?

I have no clue because it’s not something that’s been on my radar in a long time. The last girlfriend I had was in high school. The only relationship I’ve been in for a long time has been with hockey.

Aubrey leans against the wall of the elevator, closing her eyes, and it takes everything in me not to wrap my arm around her and pull her against me. I tuck my hands in my pockets instead.

“If you’re tired, we can stay here and relax. Nap. Sit by the pool. Have a few drinks.”