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A Week Later
I sat in the corner, watching as everyone turned up celebrating the new year, bringing in 2025. Music blasted through the venue, drinks were flowing, and the whole atmosphere screamed excitement. But I wasn't feeling it.
Hitting my hookah again, exhaling a slow cloud of smoke while staring out at the view below me.
I leaned back into the cushion chair, sighing to myself. I wasn't even in the mood to be out right now. Honestly, I just wanted to be cooped up in my condo, away from everyone.
But of course, my boys weren't trying to hear that. They dragged me out tonight, acting like they were doing me a favor.
I heard someone smack their lips, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced to my left and saw it was Ant, coming over with that look on his face like he was tired of my energy. He plopped down into the seat next to me, shaking his head.
"You still over here looking sad as fuck?" he asked, his tone edged with frustration. "You been in this funk for a week, bro. Why?"
I didn't say anything at first. I just reached for my glass and took a sip of the fruity drink I'd been nursing all night, I could feel his eyes on me, waiting for an answer, but I wasn't about to give him one.
Because the truth? The truth was heavy. Ever since I told Onika about my past, about everything I did to Sophie, she said she needed space. Space to think. Space to process. I gave her that.
We haven't talked since Christmas.
It's funny, though. I'm in New York now, her city because of some brand deals, and yet, I feel further away from her than ever. Just knowing she's out here, probably doing her own thing, made me feel even worse.
Ant sighed beside me, clearly annoyed that I wasn't talking. "Man, whatever it is, you gotta fix that shit, Aubrey. You been on mute all week. It ain't even like you."
Still, I didn't respond.
Instead, I leaned forward, picked up the hookah hose again, and hit it slow, watching the smoke curl up toward the ceiling. Ant didn't say anything else after that. He probably realized he wasn't gonna get anything out of me tonight.
The noise of the party fading into the background. I was here, but my mind? My mind was still on her.
That shit was eating me alive.
I watched as Ant got up, shaking his head like he was done trying to pull me out of whatever funk I was in. I didn't blame him. I was over it, too.
A bottle girl walked up to me, with a bright smile cutting through the dim lights of the lounge. She leaned down a little, "You want another refill?"
