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Her eyes were brighter than yesterday. What the fuck? I don’t think about girls’ eyes like that.
I shook off my thoughts and went back out front to see if anyone else needed help. I really just needed to get out of Aubrey’s space and get a grip on myself. I barely know this girl. I don’t call women beautiful or think about the different shades of their eyes. What the hell kind of shit is that? Something is seriously wrong with me.
“Hey, are you going to be able to join us for lunch?” Aubrey asked as she walked out from the back. I didn’t even realize she had come out. She startled me, but I don’t think she noticed— otherwise, she would have made fun of me. She seems to be very sassy like she’s not afraid to break your balls…it’s fucking hot.
I kept myself from saying what I really wanted to say; what I really wanted for lunch was Aubrey. I cleared my throat. “Unfortunately, someone has to slum it and stay here for all these customers.” I gestured to the empty store. I smiled to let her know I was sort of joking. “But feel free to bring me something delicious. I’ll gladly take anything you’re willing to give me.” I said with a wink. I meant it exactly how it sounded.
Her head went back, and she laughed loudly. Her laugh was contagious. I started to smile as soon as I heard it.
“Is that so? I’ll have to think about it a little.” She winked right back. She had some sexy sass, I’ll give her that.
Pops was making his way back to the front where we were standing.
“Sorry about that,” he said, putting his arm around Aubrey’s shoulder. For some reason, I felt a flutter in my chest, almost like I was jealous or something. “Did you tell Link the news?” he asked.
My eyebrows went up in confusion, and I gave them a questioning look. Aubrey looked up at Pops, and she was beaming.
“Oh, no. I figured that was your news to share.”
“It’s our news,” he said excitedly.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy before. Pops looked at me as he pulled her in even closer to himself and spoke. He looked right at me as if he was about to drop some serious news.
“You have a sister,” he said with a huge grin.
A what? “What?” Aubrey and I both said simultaneously. We were both looking at him like he was crazy. I saw her stiffen in his arms, and her cheeks became flushed.
“Link, this is my daughter. She came all the way here to find me from Connecticut.” He was beaming at her once again. “Can you believe this? I have a beautiful daughter.” He pulled her in and hugged her tighter.
“That doesn’t make her my sister,” I said curtly. Then I looked at her and could tell by her face that she was having the same thoughts. At least, I hoped she was.
“Well, no, not biologically but theoretically. You are my son, are you not?”
“Yeah, I guess, but that still doesn’t make Aubrey my sister. She can’t be my sister. She’s too—”
He started to understand what I was talking about because he held her tighter and gave me a look like I was doing something wrong.
“Don’t even think about it, Lincoln Matthew. This perfect girl is off-limits. She will not succumb to your bullshit charm.”
She chuckled and tried to cover her laugh with her hand, but I saw it. I’m going to get her for that one day soon. Her genuine smile was showing through again. It was the kind of beauty that not everyone noticed right away. It wasn’t that ‘oh my god, she’s fucking hot’ look. She is pretty and doesn’t know it, making her even more attractive.
Pops cut off my thoughts, “Let’s talk about this later; she and I have some catching up to do and lunch to eat. We will bring you back something, okay Link?”
Then I looked over at Aubrey. Although she was still smiling, she looked just as uncomfortable with being called my sister as I felt.
“Uh yeah, let’s go eat, I guess. See you later, Lincoln Matthew.” She smiled again when she enunciated my middle name.
Pops laughed his hearty laugh.
“That’s my girl. You fit in already,” he said.
I’ll get Aubrey for that later, too.
AUBREY
August and I walked to a cute sandwich shop just down the road from the music store. The town had all kinds of shops and quaint little places to stop and hang out. I even spotted the cutest little bookstore on our walk. I would have to tell Brie about it. It was totally up her alley, mine too, depending on what they had in stock. I like reading music theory and romance novels. I have quite a few book boyfriends since I’m not having any luck finding a real one. I’m obsessed with the happily ever after I will probably never get.
On the walk over, I texted Callie to tell her everything was going well. She asked again about the run with Link, and I sent my signature kissy-face emoji, then silenced my phone. I knew that would piss her off.
