Torn Desires (Drake)

Chapter Fourteen

                               ~𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯~

Waking up to the sound of the shower shutting off brought the events of last night crashing back into my mind. I had almost forgotten about Aubrey's drunken arrival, but the sight of him emerging from my bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist was a stark reminder. Despite his actions, part of me couldn't shake off the memory of him basically saying he loved me.

"Good morning," he mumbled, breaking the silence.

"Morning," I replied, still trying to process why he chose my bathroom instead of the guest one. I watched as he moved around my room, grabbing his clothes from my closet. It was 6:30 am, and while I didn't have to work today, Aubrey's presence made me uneasy.

"You want to get breakfast?" he asked, his voice cutting through my thoughts. He was now on his phone.

"Uh, no, that's ok," I replied, not really in the mood.

He paused from scrolling through his phone and looked up at me. "Are you working today?" he asked.

"No, it's my day off," I said, my gaze drifting away from him.

"I... uh... I'm taking some time off work. Just a couple of weeks. A lot is going on, and I need to get my mind right," he explained, his voice trailing off.

I nodded, understanding but not fully comprehending the depth of his troubles. I looked away, unsure of what to say next.

"Can we talk later? Also, I apologize for last night," he added, his eyes searching mine for a reaction.

I nodded again but remained silent. His phone rang, and he excused himself to answer it, giving me a moment to gather my thoughts.

In the bathroom, I couldn't help but notice his clothes from last night in my hamper. He had become so comfortable in my space, and I realized that I had let him. Thoughts of past mistakes and the dangers of getting involved with a married man, even one in the process of divorce, swirled in my head.

When I emerged from the bathroom, Aubrey was now seated on my bed, phone in hand. "Everything ok?" I asked.

He looked up with a look of uncertainty, nodding. "For now. Can I come back later?"

I hesitated, torn between my feelings and the complexities of his situation. "Yes, that's fine. But you aren't staying over. I want you to take your clothes home. We've moved too fast and... Just please do that," I said, my voice hesitant.

He seemed a little shocked but didn't argue. He simply nodded and collected his bag from my closet. " What is a good time for me to return?" He asked.

I looked away in thought, not knowing what time to give him. " I'll call you.." 

As he stood close to me, reaching up to caress my face, I felt a mix of emotions. "I'm so sorry, Beautiful," he said softly, kissing my forehead before leaving.

Once he was gone, the emptiness of my condo felt overwhelming.

~~

Some hours later, Rhea and Zuri arrived with lunch, bringing some much-needed distraction.

"So how many other bitches has he slept with at work?" Zuri asked bluntly.

"Just Yanna, as far as I know. No one else has said anything at work," I replied, picking at my club turkey sandwich.

"At this point, is he really getting a divorce?" Rhea questioned, her eyes full of concern.

"It seems like it, but who knows? It's taking so long, and he blames Joelle," I said, shaking my head.