The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller(40)

Yeah.
I feel ya, buddy.
I suddenly find myself dog-tired as the mixture of champagne and excitement from the day’s events begin to take their toll.
With the fog of lust finally beginning to clear, my mind falls back to Quinn’s departure. “What the hell was that with Josh tonight?” I ask, as a yawn works its way through my lips.
Kaeleb curls his arm around my shoulder and I nestle into his offered warmth as he exhales deeply. “No idea. That guy is a f*cking douche.”
“Agreed,” I remark as I set my head against Kaeleb’s chest.
Listening to the steady sound of his beating heart, my lids become heavy and I’m forced to relinquish all thoughts as I slowly drift to sleep.
It was the beginning of many things that should have never been overlooked regarding Quinn.
Many things that I would later come to regret.

Chapter Nineteen

“I’m very pleased with your progress, Aubrey, but I still have my concerns. For instance, while you may look like your old self, you still refuse to acknowledge the misdirected guilt that eight year old Aubrey Miller experienced. I fear that until you do, you can’t possibly move past what drove you to become Raven in the first place. And to be quite honest, I don’t feel that you are capable of handling any situation in which death, or even illness, occurs to someone you care for deeply without losing yourself again. Just because you choose to avoid them, doesn’t mean that the guilt and fear have just magically disappeared. They’re still very much there and will remain until you come to terms with them. Regardless of your appearance.”
My day pretty much turned to shit after that grand epiphany from Palmer. That’s what started it. Next, in Microbiology lab, I find out I made my first f*cking C on a lab report because my dickwad partner contaminated the media, giving us false results. Probably because he couldn’t take his eyes off my ass. Then, when I arrived home, I was greeted by Walter carrying one of my brand new Chucks in his mouth. Well, what was left of it anyway.
I’ve lost a lot of shoes over the past two weeks. Thankfully my Docs are still intact.
After first giving him a scolding, and then lots and lots of love, I brought him to bed with me where I’ve been lying ever since in my pajamas. I blame this funk all on Palmer. He’s probably just pissed. I haven’t been dropping by nearly as much, and he must be looking for a way to twist my mind into thinking I need more help. These damn conversations have worked their way into actual therapy sessions. Ones that I don’t need.
Sighing out loud, I roll over to stroke Walter’s soft coat with the tips of my fingers and laugh as he growls in his sleep. He’s most likely wrestling with my other poor, defenseless shoe.
My phone vibrates, pulling my attention to my bedside table. Picking it up, I smile at the text displayed:
K: On my way. Need anything?
Me: You.
K: I’m all yours.
K: Everything okay?
Me: It will be when you get here.
K: I’ll be there in five, Sunshine. :)
Me: K.
After setting the phone on the bed beside me, I continue petting Walter until Kaeleb arrives. Quinn and I gave him a key long ago, so it’s no surprise when I hear his backpack hit the living room floor. Soon after, my darkened room becomes dimly lit as he opens the door and steps inside.
That is until he flips on the light.
“AH! NO! Turn it OFF!” My arm immediately covers my face.
“God.” He snickers. “Quinn wasn’t joking. You really are a vampire.”
Walter barks and whines upon his arrival, the high pitch bouncing off the walls around me. “Make it stop,” I groan, rolling over and planting my head firmly in my pillow. I pull it securely around my ears to provide a much needed barrier from uninvited light and sound.
I barely make out the sound of muffled footsteps before the pillow is whisked away from my face and replaced with Walter’s tongue. I raise my hand to block his assault, but he’s relentless. So much so, I’m forced to roll back over and pull him onto my chest.
Kaeleb grins down at me, then pulls a chew treat out of his pocket, waving it in Walter’s face. I’m instantly forgotten as he slides and stretches his way over my body, landing on his paws and snagging the treat from Kaeleb’s fingers. In one swoop, Walter is lifted off the bed as Kaeleb places him on the floor.
The bed dips with his weight as Kaeleb forcefully scoots me over. I watch with feigned anger as he sprawls out on his stomach next to me.
“Seriously? There is another side to the bed.”
He reaches over and grabs the previously thrown pillow, snickering while folding it under his head. “Yeah, but this side’s already warm.”
I roll my eyes and elbow him in the ribs, satisfied with the resulting grunt. Pressing myself up, I glance over to see Walter gnawing happily before reclining back into my original position. I grab the only pillow left and tuck it under my head, twisting my neck to face Kaeleb then stare into his eyes as he does the same. The side of his mouth turns up as he reaches forward and presses my bangs away from my brows.
“There you are,” he states softly on a contented breath.
I exhale deeply, breathing out the stress of the day. “I’m here.”
“What happened? Wanna talk about it?”
Rolling onto my side, I slide my hands under my cheek and shake my head. “No, I want to just get lost in you.”
His eyebrow rises along with the corner of his mouth. “I can do that.”
He presses himself up on his elbow and strokes my cheek. His fingers trail downward until they cross over my lips, then leaning forward, his mouth hovers over mine as he inquires, “How lost are we talking here, exactly?”