The Weight of Words (The WORDS Series) (36 page)

“Hey,” I said, turning to find Penny and Julie behind me. “Checking up on me?”

“Yes, we’re checking up on you,” Penny said. She took a moment to scan the stalls for other occupants. Satisfied that we were alone, she stood against a sink, handing me a paper towel. “Daniel was concerned. He said he thought you seemed out of sorts.”

“Yeah, I’ve got a bit of a headache starting.”

“Well,
someone
won’t be pleased to hear that.” Penny grinned.

“How many mojitos did you have?” Julie asked.

“Three large ones. Right after I finished two small ones.”

“Aubrey, you have no idea how much booze was in those drinks.”

“Oh, I know, believe me. I think I’ve gone straight from the drinking to the hangover without the fun buzz in between.”

Julie rubbed my arm. “When we get back inside, you should grab a glass of water. I’m sure that’ll help.”

“I don’t think I can go back in there. That drummer is too fond of his bass pedal.”

“Maybe you should go home,” Penny suggested.

“I don’t want to leave.”

“Listen, if you’re worried about leaving your other half behind, I can guarantee he’ll be right behind you as soon as you walk out the door. And I bet I know where he’ll be looking, too,” Penny said, patting me on the butt.

“I don’t want to miss any fun.”

“We’ll be really boring, won’t we, Julie?” Penny said.

Julie nodded. “Dull as dirt.”

Penny laughed. “I don’t know if I’d go
that
far.”

“Good point,” Julie conceded. “I’m sure there’s never a dull moment when you’re around, Penny.”

“Oh, you know I’m harmless, right? I hope I didn’t frighten you earlier. I’m always game for a bit of fun, that’s all, and you two are right up my alley.”

“You didn’t give
me
the gears like that,” I said.

“Oh, I seem to remember making you squirm a little,” she claimed. “I was particularly interested in your relationship with a certain hunky fella you happen to live with.”

“Ah, yes, you’re right,” I said.

“So, honestly now, there’s nothing between you and Matt?” she asked.

I had no doubt that whatever I said would get back to Daniel. Her loyalties were abundantly clear. This was my chance to put his mind to rest.

“Listen, Penny, I won’t deny that we’re close. We’d do anything for each other. There’s definitely affection, but certainly nothing
close
to what Daniel seems to think is going on.”

With the exception of Valentine’s Day when he slipped me the tongue and attacked my hip with his hard-on
.
Yep, we’re just really good friends.

“Don’t take my nosiness the wrong way, Aubrey. I just don’t want him to get hurt. He’s such a fantastic bloke.”

“I have no intention of hurting him, Penny. You have my word on that.”

“Good. Let’s go back in, and then you can get a move on if you want. I’m sure Daniel won’t mind. If Julie’s okay with being left with us, that is. I know Jeremy would be thrilled.”

“No kidding,” I said, grinning at Julie. “He’s so into you.”

“He talks about me all the time, you said?” Julie asked.

“Non-stop,” Penny confirmed.

“I
suppose
I could stick around for a while,” Julie said with a coy smile.

Penny laughed as she pulled open the door. There was no need to return to the table. Daniel was standing against the wall outside the washroom, already wearing his coat, his ball cap pulled low over his eyes, my coat in his hands.

“Hey, you okay? You weren’t looking well there a few minutes ago. I thought maybe you’d want to bail,” he said.

“Would you mind?” I asked as I pulled my coat on.

“Not at all. You go on out and wait for me. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.” He didn’t want to be seen leaving with me. That was understandable.

I hugged Penny and Julie. “Say goodbye to Brad and Jeremy for me,” I said.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Julie assured me.

I squeezed her arm and gave Daniel a quick smile before making my exit. I pulled my hood up and waited for him at the far corner of the building. A few moments later, he pushed his way through the doors and scanned the deserted street. We met at the pathway leading to Vic’s quad and walked along quickly and quietly, staying a safe distance apart.

The weather was brutal—cold and a bit drizzly—not exactly conducive to moonlight strolls. The upside of the nasty weather was the fact that we didn’t see a single person on our trek.

We passed the men’s residences and were about to turn a corner when I impulsively grabbed his arm and pulled him into the recessed entryway of Burwash Hall, pushing him toward the large oak door and leaning into him so I could rest my forehead against his shoulder.

“I need a hug, Daniel,” I pleaded.

“Are you all right, poppet?” He lowered my hood and looked at me, genuine concern in his eyes.

“I’m okay. But a hug would make me feel better.”

“I think I can manage that.” He wrapped his arms around me tightly. His jacket was cold and damp, not the best conditions for a warm and comforting hug, but it would have to suffice.

“Better?” he asked.

“Not really. Honestly? I don’t want you to go home.”

“We can’t stay out here. It’s freezing. I should get you home and find myself a cab.”

“Can’t I come with you?” I hated the neediness in my voice.

He sighed and jammed his hands into his pockets.

“I just want to see where you live,” I said.
Liar
.
More like I just want to see your bed. And lie in it. Naked. With you.
“Let me come with you in a cab and then you can send me right back home, I promise.” I
had
to spend some time with him alone. Somewhere warmer than this.

He scanned my face, the muscle in his jaw twitching crazily. He pulled my hood up, tucking my hair inside the fur, then pulled his hoodie up over top of his ball cap.

“Something tells me I’m going to regret this, but—okay, let’s make a run for it. Bay Street. You ready?” he asked, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.

“Absolutely.” My heart was racing—I was actually terrified.

We dashed out onto the sidewalk and started jogging. It was freezing, and the drizzling rain made it feel colder. God, I was in terrible shape. I berated myself for being such a couch potato. After one block, I started to get a stitch in my side, and I couldn’t see where I was going with my hood in the way and rain hitting my face as I ran.

“Can we slow down?” I asked, panting a little. “Your legs are like three feet longer than mine.”

We slowed to a speed walk. The anticipation of getting into the back seat of a taxi with him was eclipsed by the pain in my side and all the blood in my body surging through my temples.

“Okay, here we are,” Daniel said, coming to an abrupt halt and pulling me to his side at the corner of Bay Street. He waved his arm at an approaching taxi. When it stopped at the curb, Daniel opened the back door and ushered me inside.

“Mill Street in the Distillery District please.”

The cabbie set the fare and pulled out. I pushed my hood back, afraid to think what I must look like. Daniel reached over and ran his thumbs under my eyes.

“Is my makeup running?” I asked. I was gradually regaining my breathing.

“A bit,” he said, gently rubbing my cheeks again. “There, that’s better.” He took my hands and kissed my fingers gently, sending a thrill straight through me. “Your fingers are freezing!” he exclaimed, breathing on them to warm them up.

“I know. I had gloves earlier. You must have left them on the bench at Brennan Hall.”

“Oh, shit, I did. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry. They weren’t expensive. I’m terrible with gloves anyway. I’m always losing them,” I admitted sheepishly.

“I do seem to recall another glove losing incident not that long ago.” He looked at me with a secretive smile.

“Oh, please don’t remind me. I can’t believe you caught me crying. I felt like such an idiot.”

“Hey,” he said softly, “don’t say that.” He pulled me into his arms and tucked my face into his wonderful-smelling neck. I sighed contentedly. “I didn’t think you were an idiot. I thought you were amazing. I still think you’re amazing,” he whispered.

Unable to find the right words to return his sentiments, I snuggled in even closer, sighing happily. Loosening the zipper on his jacket and hoodie, I ran my hand across his chest. “I love this T-shirt on you. Smells good, too.”

A gentle laugh rumbled in his chest. “I guess that’s a compliment,” he said as he trailed his fingers tenderly through my hair.

“Definitely. You know what? I’d love one of your shirts. I’d sleep in it. If I can’t have you in bed with me, I need something that feels and smells like you.”

“That’s a bizarre request.”

“I don’t think so,” I said defensively. “You don’t understand women at all, do you?”

He looked at me somberly. “I guess maybe I’m out of practice,” he admitted. Suddenly he looked like an adolescent boy, opening his heart to a girl for the first time.

“We’ll have to work on that, then, won’t we?” I whispered.

I trailed soft kisses along his jawline, moving gradually toward his chin. His head fell back against the seat, and he sighed. Was this my chance to snag a kiss? His lips were slightly parted. It would be so easy. But then he rolled his head to the side, lips out of reach. I kissed my way back along his jaw to his ear and nibbled on his earlobe. My hand on his chest registered the quickening beat of his heart. I breathed gently in his ear, and heard his sharp intake of breath.

“Daniel?”

He moaned quietly.

I spoke softly into his neck, “I want you so badly. I don’t think I can wait. I’m not just saying that. I mean, I
really
don’t think I can wait.”

He lifted his head and shifted in the seat, frowning as he looked at me. “Maybe we need to stop doing this to each other. It’s obviously getting difficult for both of us.”

Well, shit. This was definitely
not
the answer I was hoping for. I wanted him to crumble. We were on our way to his apartment. No one needed to know. Again, I tried to avoid sounding desperate.

“‘
O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?’”
I said, resorting to the safety of Shakespeare’s words.

He smiled. “‘
What satisfaction canst thou have tonight
,’ crazy legs?”

“If you need to ask, then you
are
out of practice,” I said. “And it’s kind of ironic that I’m quoting Romeo and you’re quoting Juliet. Aren’t you supposed to be the one who can’t control himself while I frantically fight off your advances?” I was trying to keep the tone light, but I was genuinely amazed at his self-control. Any other guy would be ripping my clothes off by now, back seat of a taxi or no.

“Don’t fool yourself into thinking I’m a paragon of virtue, Aubrey. I’m not. And
please
don’t question how desirable you are. You know how much I want you. You also know why we have to wait.” He sighed in exasperation. “I don’t want to rehash this.”

I extricated myself from his arms and settled back against my seat, not only frustrated but also irritated by the whole situation. Daniel rubbed his face, equally aggravated.

“I don’t know what to say anymore, Aubrey. I’m sorry you’re annoyed. I thought the night was going well. We were having fun, and you get along so well with everyone. Things worked out with Julie and Jeremy. That’s truly all I was hoping for this evening. I’m sorry if you thought there were other things on the agenda.”

I looked at him in disbelief. “Well, that makes me sound like some sort of a sex-obsessed freak. Thanks a lot.”

“Come on, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that we can’t keep pushing the envelope like this. It’s not fair to either one of us. I genuinely
did
try to behave tonight. I think we need to rein things in a little. Don’t you agree?”

I avoided his question. “Are we nearly there?” I needed him to get out of the car. I was afraid I was going to say something I’d regret.

“Yes, a couple more minutes,” he said.

“Good.” I resolutely kept my mouth closed.

“Aubrey, please don’t be like this.”

“Don’t be like what?”

“Unreasonable,” he said.

I bit my tongue. Counted to ten. Tried not to fly off the handle.

“Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not cut out for this. I warned you I wasn’t a patient person, and now you see for yourself what I meant. I’m sorry to have disappointed you so thoroughly.”