6

21

"Are you mad?" Aubrey said clearing his throat after a few minutes in the car.

"Yes." I responded shortly.

"Why?" I had to swallowed the laugh that threated to leave my throat. Was he serious? He didn't know why I was mad?

"Gee Aubrey, where do I start?" I keep my eyes on the road. "We could've left last night? Really? You knew I wanted to go home. I hate being there Oh and let's not mention that you forced me to leave by basically treating me like a child. I'm 25 years old, I can make my own fucking decisions. Oh and this is my problem and if I want to go, then I'll go. I don't need you to control me and every single situation."

"I don't think it's safe Em." He sighed.

"I want this to be done with Aubrey. I'm tired of constantly worrying." I gripped the steering wheel tighter.

"I know Emerson, just now is not the time. "

"For me it is. I want, no need, to do this. We need to end this." I turned into my condo building and parked my car. "I don't want to put everyone's life on hold for this."

"You're not putting my life on hold, I'm doing this willingly." He turned his head and looked at me. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt." It was silent for a few moments when Aubrey spoke up again. "Do you trust me?"

It was a good question. I'd never really thought about it and my first reaction should've been no, but I knew that was a lie. I had put my faith in him to protect me, although he lead me through a shady neighborhood and took me on a dangerous ship, I did trust him. It was a funny thing to say. I trust Aubrey Graham.

"Yes." I met his eyes once again and ran my fingers along the back on his hand. "I do trust you."

"Then, believe me I don't have a good feeling about this." He turned his hand over and let me stroke his palm.

"Do you trust me?" I stopped running my finger along his skin and wrapped my fingers around his.

"Yes." He said without hesitation.

"Then believe me, I know this is right. This is it." He looked down at our hands then looked up at me again.

I almost lost my breath when we made eye contact, there was so much passion and desire in his eyes. The look was similar to the one he held this morning. His free hand came up to my face and ran across my cheek, then moved to the back of my head, pulling me closer. I closed my eyes and anticipated the feel of his lips on mine.

I wasn't disappointed this time. His soft, plump lips were firm and inviting against mine. It felt like they had belonged there my whole life, as if I'd been waiting for this moment forever. His hand tangled in my thick hair and he pulled me closer. A small groan escaped his lips. That was almost the death of me.

His mouth opened a slight bit and I felt his tongue against my lips. I parted my lips and his tongue snaked in. It was my turn to moan, his taste was like nothing I'd ever experienced. It was intoxicating, possibly the most addicting thing I've ever tasted. I was so last in the kiss that when we pulled away I wasn't sure how much time had passed, probably not that much, but it felt like forever.

I closed my eyes and ran a finger over my bottom lip. My eyes flickered open and looked over at Aubrey. He had a similar expression on his face. Before I could say anything he opened the car door and quickly got out. Not thinking about his standoffish behavior, I sighed and sat back, replaying what just happened in my head.

~~

I sat across from Walker with my fingers laced together. She looked down at the wood graining in my dining room table, trying her hardest not to look at me.

"Are you mad?" She said, sounding quite similar to someone else I knew. Someone that I had my lips pressed to the day before.

"Not anymore." I sighed. "Are you?"

"No." She mumbled. "I was serious, you know? I am pregnant."

"I know."

"It's his." She whispered. "I wasn't with anyone else before he died, only him."

"I know." She looked up at me, trying to fight back tears.

"It really is, Emerson. Before he..." She trailed off. "Before he died, we were talking about just being together, the two of us. So I wasn't sleeping around and neither was he. And I guess... this happened." She tried her best but the tears began spilling from her eyes. "It's not fair, I want him to be here. I want him to see his baby. I-I just miss him so much. I'm having such a hard time and with this baby, it makes things worse."

"Walker," I stood from my chair and walked around the table. When I came to the other side, she wrapped her arms around me. I wanted to ask so many questions, but now wasn't the time for that.

"I wish he was here." She sobbed into my shirt.

"So do I." I felt tears build up in my own eyes, and soon enough they were spilling over.

"I wanted to tell you, but you've just been gone." In all honestly, I should've known but I'd been wrapped up in my own grief that I hadn't noticed her shift. I felt guilt for not being here and making her feel that she couldn't come to me. I pulled her closer and buried my head in her hair.

"It's okay, we'll get though this together." I said though my own tears. "I'm sorry for not being here for you and leaving without telling you. I hate to say this, but you weren't my first thought."

"I get that you don't want to tell me and I respect that." She looked up at me. "Just promise me you'll stay safe, Em." I didn't know what to say to that. I couldn't promise that, but the look in her eyes made me want to.

"I will, Walker." I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "How long have you known?" She looked confused for a moment, until she realized what I was talking about.

"I knew before he died, I was a few weeks then." She looked down. "I was waiting to tell him, but just never go the chance. I'm about three and a half months now." She shoved her face back into my shoulder and cried more. "I should've told him when I found out. I was so stupid for waiting."

"No you're not Walker." I patted her back. "I understand, you wanted it to be special." She nodded in my shirt. "I think he would've been excited. He's always wanted children, you know? I'm sure he would've been more than happy to have them with you. He really loved you."

"He did?" She looked at me.

"Yeah, I could tell." I smiled at her. It wasn't a lie. I'd never seen him look at anyone else that way. It made me jealous, that my brother had found love before me, but I was proud Killian had found that before he died. "It'll be fine Walker."

She nodded again and I felt her hot tears seep through my thin cotton shirt. I sighed and hugged her tighter, knowing this was going to be a long night.