Page 28 of Keys

“At your service, though some people just choose to call me Aubrey.”

She earned a chuckle for her sarcasm and quick wit. “Aubrey the only name you have?”

“Nope. Aubrey Sarah,” she hesitated for a moment and looked away before tacking on “Snowden”. It made me curious if that was her real name or not. Normally, a person’s name rolled right off their tongue as easy and effortless as breathing air. Still, the last name - the one she hesitated on - didn’t take up as much space in my head as it might have under other circumstances. Instead, it was her middle name that intrigued me.

What the fuck kind of twisted world did we live in where I was hung up on one Sarah and being hit on by another? Of course, this one was a middle name so it’s not like I’d have to call her that. Still, the coincidence and the uncanny resemblance were throwing me for a bit of a loop.

“I can see you’re not interested. Maybe next time then.” The woman started to walk away, but I caught her hand in my own and she spun back.

“Sorry, I’ve had a crazy month and I’m a bit off my game here. How about you give me that number and agree to dinner with me tomorrow?” A knot formed in my stomach even as I asked, but Keys had already moved on. I needed to as well. Granted, this woman would probably end up just being a hookup. I wasn’t sure I could handle all the coincidences linking her to the woman I’d lost.

“I could do dinner tomorrow.” She wrote her cell number down on my receipt and handed it over to me. “Just make sure you call, and I’ll send my address to you. You can pick me up.”

I nodded my head and had to put myself in check a few times so I wouldn’t run away from the situation before I made it out to the parking lot and my bike. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was going to be sick, especially when I thought of putting another woman on the back of my bike. I didn’t know how I was going to get around that unless I borrowed a vehicle from someone since my truck needed some work and was out of commission.

~*~

Despite my many misgivings about the situation, I decided that I needed to go on the date with Aubrey. If for no other reason, there was the fact that I’d seen Keys out on a date the night before. It was obvious that there would be no fixing that situation and that I needed to get over everything once and for all. That wouldn’t happen if I sat around my room at the clubhouse moping about shit that couldn’t be fixed.

So, I borrowed Walker’s truck and headed out to go pick up Aubrey from one of the apartments that were mostly used for student housing at the local university. I didn’t go in and instead sent a text telling her that I was out in the parking lot. I did at least wait outside of the truck to help her in. Half-assing my way through a date wasn’t the norm for me, but my heart wasn’t in it yet, so she would get what I could give and if that wasn’t enough, she could move on.

That’s what I kept telling myself as she approached. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail while wispy bangs covered her forehead and angled down further on the sides to frame her face. Her makeup was way overdone compared to what I liked to see on women - mostly because I didn’t want to end up wearing it or having that shit staining my pillowcases. Still, it would do. She would do. For now.

“I wore jeans and a jacket because I thought we would be on your motorcycle.” Her admission made me cringe a bit.

“Sorry, sweetheart. Only women I’m serious about ever get on the back of my bike.”

“I see. So, I’m not serious material?” She bit her lip, trying to appear innocent but the question rubbed me the wrong way.

“We only just met yesterday and tonight’s our first date. I’d say it’s a bit early to be thinking about that, yeah?”

She didn’t answer, and instead studied me for a minute before pasting a bright smile on her red-painted lips as she rushed me and wrapped me up in an awkward as fuck hug. When I didn’t reciprocate, she pulled back and pouted. “That’s okay. One day soon, you won’t be able to get enough of me. I have a good feeling about you.”

Either the woman was delusional, or she truly was one of the most optimistic people I’d ever met. Then again, maybe I was just flipping shit inside because she seemed to be the total opposite of Keys in every way, except their appearances. I didn’t have to fight for affection where other people could see it. This woman was ready to be with me now. That was a dangerous thought.

“Let’s go get some food and try to get to know one another.”

“We could hop on over to The Wing House. It’s just over-”

I cut her off. “No. I’m not in the mood for that. We’re going to head to Blairsville. There’s a place I’ve been dying to try over there.”

“Well, if you’re excited about it, then it sounds perfect.”

“You don’t even want to know what kind of food they serve?”

She shrugged her shoulders. It’s Blairsville, I’m sure I can guess. Most likely it’s southern comfort food. If not, then maybe Italian or Mexican. That’s pretty much all they have.” Her light giggle mixed with the chuckle I couldn’t contain. She wasn’t wrong about the food choices. I had always thought Cedar Falls, West Virginia was a small-town. In comparison to Sierra High, Georgia it was downright metropolitan.

“I guess you’re not wrong about that. Isn’t it supposed to be part of the small-town charm?”

“What? Not having choices?” She teased.

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I have plenty of choices. Even when the same thing is offered everywhere you go, there’s still the difference between top and bottom shelf.” I winked at her and watched as a blush stole across her cheeks.

“I’m definitely top shelf,” she muttered as we both got in the truck. I don’t think I was supposed to hear her, and truthfully, I wasn’t sure which shelf I would put her on just yet. Aubrey was still a mystery.

Once we got to the restaurant and were seated, we played the usual dating twenty questions. “So, where are you from originally?” She asked.

“Another small town, different state. Originally from West Virginia.” I laughed when she made a face of distaste. “Don’t worry my daddy is only my cousin, not my uncle.” It was a joke, but it fell flat for her until I laughed.

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