50 Shades of Drake 5 and 6

More Life: Chapter Twenty-Five

    The music video shoot wrapped, and that was one less thing Aubrey had to worry about. He announced to his team that he needed a few days to himself.

    "Because?" Chubbs prompted.

    Aubrey pulled him aside. For the past few days, he'd wrestled with whether or not to tell his friend what was going on with Destiny. But Chubbs was a stone wall, a certified vault of information. He already contained so many secrets he was taking to his grave. As much as Aubrey wanted to honor his woman's wishes and not bring anyone else into the fold, Chubbs was an exception. So he filled his longtime friend in while they walked along the beach. 

    It took a lot to shock Chubbs, but he looked genuinely surprised. "That's who you chased after the first night of filming?"

    Aubrey nodded, squinting towards the ocean. "I thought I was imagining her, until the director started yelling at her to walk towards me."

    "And she's really okay?"

    "I saw her with my own two eyes. My baby's a fighter."

    They walked in silence for a few moments. Then Chubbs murmured softly, "Bless up."

    A smile flashed on Aubrey's face.

    "You didn't think you could let me know these things?"

    "Can you admit that it sounds crazy as shit? At a level way beyond my usual crazy?"

    Raising one shoulder in a half-shrug, Chubbs said, "No doubt about it."

    "Before I came to you, I wanted some kind of proof."

    "Now you're wanting time to yourself for...what? You're going to try to see her?"

    "I have to."

    "Even though she's being shadowed by federal agents?" Chubbs asked doubtfully. "Can't you just feel relief that she's okay and wait this out?"

    Aubrey gave him a look.

    Chubbs chuckled. "Of course you can't. You're...you."

    "Like you'd be able to resist seeing your woman again after so long apart," Aubrey muttered, feeling a bit defensive.

    "I'd have to resist it," Chubbs stated matter-of-factly. "The safety of too many people are involved. You know I love you, and I've come to love Destiny. I even understand the need to see her. But if those federal agents catch sight of you, that's it. They move her and then you don't see her again until whatever case they're working on is completely closed. There's no telling how long that would be."

    "All the more reason to see her," Aubrey maintained. "Because I don't know how long that could be."

    Chubbs sighed and stopped walking. He turned and looked towards where the film crew was breaking down the set and the talent was still mingling. "If you're going to see her, will you at the very least wear more than just a damned baseball cap? That shit does nothing to hide who you are."

    "Could we have one of the girls go to a local beauty shop, maybe grab a couple of things? Give me a makeover, maybe?"

    "I thought these crazy makeover days were behind us," Chubbs said, rolling his eyes heavenward. "But of course. I'll put the request in." He was already pulling out his cell phone and accessing his text messages.

~~~~~~

    With Carlos fully immersed in whatever he had going on with the model from the video shoot, Aubrey was able to make plans solo. The makeup artist who'd worked with everyone on the music video went to a local beauty supply shop and bought an array of wigs. She already had a trunk full of makeup.