Slow Grind (Men of Mornington Book 1) (17 page)

Clicking on the light, I survey the place, not sure where to start. In the end, I grab a backpack I find in the kitchen pantry and start with the bathroom, throwing a handful of products that look like they could be Aubrey’s. They’re girly enough, but then again, they could just as easily be Max’s.

Walking into her bedroom, I flick on the light and begin throwing clothes into the bag. I sit down on the edge of the bed to grab a pair of shoes peeking out from under the base when something next to my arse moves. I jump up, cursing, ready to protect myself from whoever—or whatever—it is.

“What the hell?”

A petite, blonde chick about the same age as Aubrey literally jumps out of the bed. Her American accent is strong, so right away I know she has to be a friend of Aub’s from the States—Jacey. She picks up a random duster from beside the table next to her and holds it in front of herself menacingly.

“Who the hell are you?” I ask, wanting to confirm she’s who I think she is and not some crazy stalker intent on living in Aubrey’s life. I’m both embarrassed and annoyed that Aubs didn’t mention anyone was staying with her. It would’ve been nice to know before I scared the life out of her friend.

“Who am I? Who are
you
?” she gasps, her eyes wide with fear. “Get out or I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” I laugh. “Dust me?” She throws it at me in disgust and bolts from the room.

“I’ve got my cell and I’m calling the police!” she yells from the kitchen.

“Calm down, okay? I’m a friend of Aubrey’s. I’m Drew.” I stalk back into the kitchen, wishing I had my wallet or something to prove who I am. “She’s at the hospital with her brother, so I thought I’d pick up some of her things for her.”

“
You’re
Drew?”

“Yes. How’d you know?”

“Oh, I know things,” she responds with a wink. “Aubrey sent me a picture of you guys in the car, but it didn’t do you justice.”  As if nothing happened, she moves into the kitchen and starts putting together things for a pot of coffee. “Anyway, how’s her brother? When she let me in yesterday, we were supposed to catch up, but she rushed out quickly. I hope it’s okay I made myself at home.”

“Max is in a coma, and Aubrey refuses to leave his side until he wakes up. And I’m sure she won’t mind about you making yourself comfortable. Max would actually be upset if you didn’t.” I think back to all the times one of us tried to crash on the couch and he’d make a big deal about sleeping in the guest room. He’d say he didn’t spend all that money to make it a room away from home for us to leave dents in his sofa.

“Oh gosh. Can you tell me how to get to the hospital? Or maybe even give me a ride?”

“I’m just here grabbing some things for Aubrey. I’m not sure how long he’s going to be unconscious, and I want to make sure she has everything he needs. Actually, if you can help me gather some things for her, that would be great.”

“She was right about you,” Jacey says under her breath, but I make out every word.

“And what, exactly, did she say?”

“That you’re pretty amazing. A good guy would check in on her at the hospital, ask her if she needs anything. A great guy will actually go and get those things for her without even having to ask. You’re a great guy, Drew.”

“Well, what can I say? I am amazing.” I try to hide my blush by turning my back. I had no idea Aubrey was talking about me to her friend, let alone giving enough detail that this stranger would know the kind of person I truly am, not just what I portray.

“Here. Give me that backpack and I’ll get her stuff together. You fill some mugs with coffee for the road. If you don’t give me caffeine, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”

I like this girl.

On the drive back to the hospital, Jacey and I stop at a small café and pick up a few different things Aubrey might be able to stomach. I doubt she’ll be able to eat; I just want to make sure the option is there in case she decides to try. I know she has to be starving. Jacey kindly picks out some of Aubrey’s favourite breakfast foods.

Who knows … maybe when we do get back to the hospital, Aubrey will be in a better mood and Max will be awake, and we can give him shit for giving us the scare of a lifetime. Wishful thinking and all that.

Chapter Fifteen
Aubrey

For the love of God.
I gasp as I sit upright and curl my hand around my neck, massaging it slowly. My head throbs, probably from sleeping the whole night on a chair. I glance around the darkened room, letting my eyes adjust to being open. Easing myself out of the chair, I walk over to the curtains, cracking them open slightly. Drew’s not here. Disappointment fills me, and I realise how much I liked having him with me last night. He was the last person I saw before I fell asleep.

“Finally awake, huh?”

I jump and spin around, the croaky, hoarse voice scaring the hell out of me. Max smiles at me and reaches out his hand. I race over and clutch it, my eyes welling with tears I promised I wouldn’t let fall.

“You’re awake,” I whisper. He grins and nods his head slightly. “You scared me, Max. I thought you were…”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” he chuckles. He glances around, pressing his dry, cracked lips together. “Can I have a drink or something?”

“I better get the doctor. Hold on, okay?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he mumbles as I sprint from the room. I zoom past the waiting area but stop in my tracks when I see Mum curled up in a chair, asleep.

“Mum?” She sits up, startled, her eyes wide and blinking as they focus on me. “You’ve been here all night? Why didn’t you come in?”

“Because you needed time with him. I didn’t want to impose on that.”

“I was just watching him until I finally passed out. You didn’t have to sleep in this chair, Mum. I could have called for a cot or something.”

“It was you he needed, Aubrey. He’s had enough of me. I can tell when my own children are sick of my presence.”

My heart aches at her admission. We all know we don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, and we fight more than we don’t, but for anyone to feel unwelcome, especially with their own children … it’s heartbreaking. “Mum,” I whisper sympathetically, my Australian accent peeking through over my American. “Nobody is sick of you. We might not have a typical mother-daughter relationship, but I don’t hate you, and neither does Max. We just hate hovering.”

“That’s what a mother does, Aubrey. You’ll never know the strain of a mother until you become one. You’ll never know what it’s like to sit up all night and worry that the last words your child spoke may be his last. Hovering is how I prove I’m here for the long haul. It might seem oppressing to you, but I swear it’s not meant to be. I just need to be useful, however that comes across.”

I know exactly what she means. I guess, in my own way, I’m a hoverer, too. I might not helicopter Max, but in one way or another, I’m always there. I’m constantly checking on him, trying to help. My mother and I aren’t very different after all.

“I think I might stay a while, if that’s okay with you,” I tell her, not admitting that it’s not to mend our relationship, but to see Max through his treatment and find out exactly what’s going on between myself and Drew.

“I’d like that, Aubrey. I missed so much of your life, I’m scared you don’t even think of me anymore. You’re getting older, maybe you’ll get married soon, and there are so many things I don’t want to miss out on because you hate me. I want you to get to know me.”

“Maybe we can start small? A few lunches and mother-daughter date nights?”

“I’d like that a lot, angel girl,” she sighs, using the name she called me before my pre-teen years exploded in my face.

“Well, Max is awake. We should get in there. He’s going to need his girls to see him through this.” I reach my hand out toward her, helping her stand from the uncomfortable position she slept in, and keep hold of that same hand as we walk through Max’s hospital room door.

“What the fuck is this?” Max asks when he turns his head to see us coming in together.

“It’s called bonding, Max,” I tease.

“Yes. Bonding.” My mother looks over at me and gives a wink meant only for me. When I reach Max’s bed, I press the button requesting a nurse. She comes in quickly and heads out just as fast in search of the doctor assigned to the case.

Within moments, the doctor comes in, welcoming Max back to the land of the living. He explains to Max what happened in the last twelve hours or so, then informs us that as soon as Max’s lungs are clear of fluid, he’ll be able to fly. He even tossed in a few words about how amazing the experimental treatment was and the success he’d heard about it.

With everything going on, I forgot about Drew not being in the room. I pull out my phone, which is nearly dead, and place a call which goes straight to voicemail. I’m sure his phone’s out of battery and he’ll be back shortly. I can’t see him leaving me alone without even a note or something.

The doctor leaves, Mum goes to get something to eat and Max goes back to resting so his lungs can clear, all the while, I’m wide awake and staring at the clock. Deciding to head back to the apartment to shower and change, I use the last of my phone battery to hail a taxi from the app. Once I get to Max’s, I get a little nervous. There’s no Jacey.

It’s not like she has other friends on the continent, so where would she have gone? Maybe sightseeing? I didn’t have time to really explain to her what was going on with Max. She could have found Nate and is eating or shopping or whatever else it is tourists do in Melbourne. There are a hundred different possibilities, and the only thing I’m concerned with at this exact moment is taking a shower, washing off the hospital grime and changing into some clean clothes.

I take an extra-long, scalding hot shower, remembering to shave my legs and scrub my scalp. I even make the extra effort to dry and straighten my hair and apply a little bit of makeup to hide the bags under my eyes and the stress lines that are sure to be forming. When I’m presentable again, I pull out my phone and immediately kick myself in the arse for not plugging it in to charge while I was getting dressed. Refusing to let anything get me down on this beautiful, abnormally warm, late fall day, I lock the door behind and figure the doorman will allow me to use his phone to call for a taxi.

I get down to the lobby and wait behind one of Max’s neighbours talking to the concierge. Once he leaves, I ask the gentleman about a taxi service and without hesitation, he does some weird thing on a walkie-talkie and seconds later, a cab is out front waiting for me.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll make sure to let Max know how well you took care of his little sister.” I think that might be the first time in forever I didn’t mind being Max Rosewood’s little sister. Everything seems to be coming up sunshine and rainbows today. It’s a great feeling, and I want to live in this moment for as long as possible.

It’s a short ride back to the hospital and when I reach Max’s floor, I spot Jacey from all the way down the hall.
How the hell did she get here?
Then I see Drew come out of Max’s room, my backpack slung around his shoulder.

“There you are,” I say, grabbing Jacey in a bear hug. “I thought some hot Australian dude kidnapped you and you were never coming back.”

“Well,” Jacey drawls, winking over her shoulder at a smiling Drew. “You got the hot Australian dude part right. But I kind of kidnapped him and make him bring me here. Do you know this hunk of sexy came to the apartment at like six in the morning to find you clothes and shower stuff? How much hotter does that make him?”

“A lot hotter, I suppose,” I say with a grin.

“Okay, I need to run downstairs. I get shit service up here and I need to call my folks so they know I wasn’t taken or anything.” Jacey rushes past me and off the floor.

“So you’ve told your friend about me?” Drew’s eyes sparkle as I blush.

“I tell Jacey everything. And I do mean everything,” I slyly mention, hoping he catches the drift.

“Since you’re telling your friends, does that mean I can tell mine?”

“Is there anything to tell?”
Please say yes. Please say we’re together, whatever that means. Please say you’re going to fight to be with me, no matter what any of the guys, especially my brother, think.

“Max first, or the guys?” he asks, in turn answering all of my unasked questions. The choir of angels rejoice in my head, and I can’t hide the beaming smile on my face.

“Max first. He’s the only one that really matters.”

Together, Drew and I walk into Max’s room and we don’t get a chance to get a word out before Max starts with the questions.

“Are you guys finally going to admit you’re into one another, or do I have to keep dying for you to figure it out?” he asks with a knowing look.

“We’ve figured it out,” I say, looking to Drew for reassurance, and he nods.

“We want your blessing, I guess. Is that still a thing? Do you ask for blessings?” Drew asks, and I can tell he’s nervous. It has to be extremely awkward to ask your best mate if you can date his little sister.

“You sure as shit do if you’re talking about my sister. Are you asking me if you can date Aubrey?”

“Yeah, I guess I am. But just so you know, before you answer, even if you say no, I’m not going to stop. But to have you on our side would be great.” My heart soars. Drew’s willing to fight the closest person in the world to him, with the exception of Emma, for me. Me!

“Aubrey?” Max turns to me.

“Yeah,” I croak, all of a sudden nervous. I’d hoped I’d be strong enough to go against my brother for Drew. I think I am, but if push comes to shove, would I really be able to sever the longest relationship—and the most important—for another man?
Oh God, I hope it doesn’t come to that.

“If he hurts you, you tell me. I don’t care if he steps on your toes, you tell me, and I’ll take care of it. Understand?” Max smiles, and all of my unease melts away. This day couldn’t be any more perfect. Under the circumstances, of course, life is kind of shitty, but to have the guy I’ve loved forever and the best brother in the world by my side, it gives a girl hope.

“I wouldn’t dare…” Drew interjects, and Max cuts him off.

“Aubrey. Do you understand?”

“I do. I promise. If he steps out of line once, you’re my first call.”

“I better be. And Drew,” Max turns again, and his stare becomes unrecognizable. “I’m trusting you with her. If you fuck her over, there will be hell to pay. I’d kill for this one.” He gestures toward me, and Drew swallows hard.

“You’re not the only one.”

And in my perfect world, Jacey comes back through the door and steps right into the tension-packed room. “What’d I miss? Is Max going to kill him because he loves you?”

“No, Jace. Everything is perfect, and Max loves that I’m happy.”

“Good. Now that you have that settled, can Max get better so we can go hang out? Maybe show me some things I couldn’t see from the car or online?”

“Get out of here. Go show your friend around. I’m just gonna be here healing. I love you, baby sister. And I swear, Drew, if you hurt her, you’re dead.”