Aubrey (Axis Rising)

001:Aubrey

         

AUBREY: AXIS RISING

Book Three

Aubrey :

I heard the front door click open, and felt the warmer summer air waft into the kitchen where I leaned against the counter, watching my smoothie in the food processor as it wended its lovely tannish/ strawberry way into being. The noise of it soothed to a leveled froth, and I stopped it with the press of a button. I expected my husband coming in from his run on the beach.

Instead, I found Ben, his best friend, dressed for some weird reason in saggy butt skinny legged jeans, his boots (which he never wore), and a long sleeved, buttoned up, red and blue plaid blouse. He click-pounded through the tiled hall, I heard his customary sniff--he had a perpetually runny nose, and as he came fully into view, I put on my happy Ben smile.

He was undoubtedly going through some of the hardest times of his life. I felt slightly responsible; if it wasn't for me, and me marrying his best friend, he'd still have all of Rafe, all to himself. After a year of me being in the picture, I'd have thought he'd get over his insecurity and jealousy, and maybe to some extent he had. But there were times I knew the adjustment was still taking its toll.

"Hey, Au-ber-rey." He came right over to me, dropped whatever was in his hands on the counter and literally pinned me to the backsplash-- front on-- at this stage of the pregnancy it was hard to do a front on hug, but he pressed against me-- out of character, I might add. His funny kiss on the corner of my mouth was positively unprecedented, and his left hand on my swollen belly was even more so.

I knew without a doubt, my jealous husband was about to come gliding through our back patio glass doors.

I pressed him away and he laughed oddly, still rubbing my tummy. I didn't want to kick him-- which due to my taekwondo training was my first inclination, because contrary to whatever he was up to-- he was Rafe's best friend and I had learned to trust him. I loved him like a valued brother. And I had plenty of those to choose from.

"Ben!" I managed to laugh, pushing against his chest with both hands. You'd have thought if this was a rather unorthodox but emotional morning greeting he'd have left off by now. A few seconds was ample time. I heard the patio doors.

"Okay, yeah!" Rafe's startled voice caught Ben by surprise. Which was also weird seeing as Ben usually-- always-- mostly-- no, for sure always--came to see Rafe--not me! But I felt the tremor of instant recognition and surprise run through him. And that was embarrassing too, since I shouldn't be able to feel Ben tremor in surprise ever.

Rafe, dark hair cut very short, trimmed to match the startling contrast of facial hair against his paler than tan skin tone, let his piercing blue eyes light on the little tableau in front of the counter. I now had my hands up in a surrender gesture, and my eyes were wide showing my innocence and discomfort.

Ben had only slightly moved, he'd left off the unusual fondling of my baby bump, and our bodies were no longer pressed together, but he stood close enough I could smell his after shave--- or cologne--- or deodorant. He wiped his thick, straight, shoulder length golden blonde hair off his forehead where it had fallen, and swayed backward by a few inches, not enough to appease my husband's well-known proclivity for jealousy.

"Just saying good morning to this lovely lady." Ben said, and his breath was minty fresh in my face, disturbing the thought that he might be drunk.

"Then get the f--- away from my wife." Rafe wasn't about to pull any punches, Ben was in my space, it was clear he wasn't moving out of it quick enough. He came around the counter into the kitchen, hot, sweaty, ripped and ready.