Page 240 of Summer Heat
“I’ll be in Chicago next weekend, okay, baby?” he says softly as he pulls my body against his to hug me.
“Okay,” I whisper. I feel unshed tears in my eyes, and I silently pray that I don’t cry because I’ll feel so stupid if I start crying over this.
“I’ll be there every single weekend. And if I can’t go, I’ll fly you to me, okay? If that’s what it’s going to take to keep you from freaking out on me, I’ll sell everything I own and buy a damn jet.” He backs out of our embrace and looks at me with a serious expression to make sure I’m still with him. I nod sadly. “Not letting you go, baby.”
I laugh lightly. “I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m not a teenager anymore, Cole.”
He grins widely and leans in to take my lips in his one more time. He moans when I slip my tongue into his mouth and suck on his.
“Fuck...I hate that you have to go,” he pouts.
“Are you fucking done, Romeo?” Aubry asks, turning around. “This flight isn’t going to leave my ass. I’m not about to pay a hundred dollars to get on the next plane, and I kinda wanna get laid tonight.”
I roll my eyes at him as Cole laughs and bumps fists with him. We kiss one last time and sadly say our goodbyes before I get on the airplane to head back to Chicago.
When Aubry and I get back to our apartment, I check the stack of mail and find a white envelope with my name on it. I notice it’s missing a return address and grab it along with my bills before heading to my room. I place my suitcase on the bed and stare at it for a while. I hate unpacking and doing laundry. If I could pay somebody to do it for me, I would. I know staring at it won’t get the job done, though.
“Aubry,” I call out loudly. I haven’t locked my bedroom door, so he comes in and stands in the threshold with one hand on his hip and the other holding his phone.
“Hold on, Aimee,” he says to the phone. “What?” he asks annoyed.
I laugh. “What?” I ask with faux attitude and snap my fingers in front of me as I sashay my body. “Let me just tell you. You have me to thank for hooking you up with princess over there. Anyway, do you wanna do my laundry? I’ll pay you.”
Aubry laughs and shakes his head as he tells Aimee what I asked him to do. She laughs loud enough that I can hear her when Aubry extends his arm to move the phone away from his ear.
“Sure, I’ll wash your shit. Do you have underwear for me to wash? Or did Cole rip them all?” he asks laughing. Bubbled laughter escapes me as he walks away, because I’m pretty sure Cole did rip them all.
I hadn’t considered that Cole was going to meet Aimee soon. I’m sure Aubry is already trying to set up a double date for next weekend. The thought of a double date makes my heart speed up. I’m really going to do this. No fear this time. No fear. I’m not going to lose him. I love him, and I’m not going to lose him. I open the white envelope with no return address. The letter doesn’t even have a header. That’s odd.
August 14, 2011
Ms. Blake Brennan,
We are interested in buying a plot of land that is under your name. The address of the land is 600 Rockwell Street. We would like to offer you $400,000 for it. Please contact us when you are ready to sell.
Best,
O’Brian Investment Group
I dismiss the letter and put it away. How’d they get my address? I guess it’s a public listing, and they found my name. That’s the problem with living in a world of technology. Google can make anybody a stalker in two clicks. I sort through the rest of my mail, and pay a few bills online. My phone rings as I’m looking for my PJs, and I smile when I see Cole’s face on the screen.
“Hey,” I say, grinning like an idiot.
“Hey, baby,” he replies, and I can hear his idiotic smile, too.
“Miss me, already?”
“I always miss you,” he pouts.
“Aww, I always miss you, too,” I coo as if I were talking to a puppy.
“Is it too soon to come see you?”
I laugh. “Cole Murphy, you have lived without constantly seeing me for the past seven years. I’m sure you can survive five days.”
He sighs noisily into the phone. “No, I can’t. I didn’t want to not live with you for seven years. I was dying a slow, agonizing death without you. You just didn’t know it.”
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. “I’m so sure you were dying when you were with Erin…and Kim…and Taryn…and Rita…and Sandra…and Jessica…and Sasha…and Ana…and Meredith.”
