Brand New

Chapter 59: You're Not Fooling Me

Drake walked her inside with Chubbs and Spoons following closely behind them. They entered her condo and she and Drake walked into the living room but Chubbs and Spoons stayed by the door. She wiped her tear stained face and looked up at Drake. "Thank you Aubrey!" she hugged him and he hugged her back.

Seeing her cry was tugging of his heart strings more than he wanted to admit. "Don't cry Dri. I got you. Everything is okay baby girl."

She pulled away from him again. "What were you thinking stepping in front of me like that Aubrey? He could have really hurt you."

Drake brought his hand up to up her cheek and he held her waist with the other one. "I was more worried about what he could do to you than me Dri."

She gave him a sad smile. "I really do appreciate it. But I couldn't forgive myself if something happened to you because of me."

"And I couldn't forgive myself if something bad happened to you and I could have prevented it." He wanted to say more but if he did he would be admitting to himself and her that he wanted more with her than the agreement they had and he wasn't sure if he was ready to deal with the consequences that might come with that.

She hugged him again. "Thank you. There's nothing more I can say than that. I'm so glad there was no one outside. Can you imagine the headlines this would have gotten?" She joked trying to make herself feel better.

Drake smiled and shook his head. He definitely was thankful no one was out there. But even if there had been someone, he would have reacted the same way. "Dri, what list was he talking about?" He asked her trying to steer his mind away for the thoughts that were consuming his head.

Adriana let out a sigh and then she laughed. When Jay had first said it she had no idea what he was talking about. But then it hit her. She had forgotten all about that stupid list they made. "Did you ever see the episode of friends where they put together what they called a "freebie list" people they could sleep with without anyone getting upset? Ross had a supermodel on it which he ended up cutting out to make his top five then he ends up meeting her when she's no longer in his list."

Drake grinned at her. "You have a freebie list?"

"It was stupid. I didn't even remember doing it until a little after he said it. It was his idea, not mine. It was just something we did for fun. I never would have really slept with you if I was with him."

"So I was at the top of your list?" His smile grew wider and she smiled at him.

Just like that he'd made her forget how afraid she'd been a few minutes ago outside with Jay. "Yes. We argued about that too. Him and his friends were like "He's so ugly. Why is he at the top of your list?" They kept trying to make me take you off the list all together but I wouldn't. I told him he was just being a hater!" She laughed.

"So who else was on this list?" He asked her with curiosity in his eyes.

She laughed and shook her head. "I'm not telling you that."

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't matter."

"Ah come on Dri? I wanna know." He poked his lip out at her and she laughed at how cute he looked pouting.

"I couldn't pick five, I only had three. You, LL Cool J, and Will Smith. I always had a thing for both of them growing up so I had to put them on the list. I tried to add other people but ultimately took them off because they just didn't belong. You're going to think I'm just saying this because you're standing here in front of me but the only one I really cared to put on that list was you." She laughed and shook her head. "I can't believe I'm telling you this."