If That's All There Is

10. Need to know

Wiping his sweaty palms on the thigh of his jeans, Bobby willed himself to knock on the metal door. He glanced around, head snapping back at the sound of the lock scraping against the metal. A pair of green eyes peeked through the gap, chain still attached to the inside.

Scratching the short stubble of hair on his head, he stepped back and planted his hand on the side of the building. "Audra Wilkes?" His brows scrunched, eyes squinting through the sliver of space in the doorway.

The figure disappeared for a second before returning, gaze trained on the man outside. "Who wants to know?"

"Bobby." He tapped his chest and moved closer. "I'm a friend of Jay's." He tried to smile, his lips twitching and failing to convey the friendly face he wanted to portray.

The door shut and re-opened, Audra stepping halfway outside. "Jay's not here." Her hand clasped the handle, knuckles turning white as her grip tightened.

"I wanted to talk to you." He rushed out his words, boots scuffing against the gravel as he moved out of Audra's personal space. The t-shirt she wore hung from her shoulders and swamped her thin frame. He blinked, eyes focusing on the coffee shop logo plastered over the top.

"You're talking." Audra's clipped tone left no room for movement. Her gaze darted all over his body as if sizing him up.

Clearing his throat, Bobby stepped back and allowed more space between them. He relaxed his clenched jaw and kept his hands in plain sight. "I'm here to talk about Jay. Can I come in?" He stayed rooted to his spot, fingers tapping against his denim-clad thigh.

Audra blinked, mouth parting deep in thought. "Sure, is Jay okay?" She walked into the studio, sparing him a glance over her shoulder.

Bobby nodded in reply, the dark hallway leading to an open space bathed in sunlight. He remained standing, Audra sinking into the velvet sofa full of cushions. The awkward silence made the wait for him to elaborate on his arrival painful, Audra fidgeting in her seat.

"I'm just going to cut to the chase. Don't lead Jay on. Your brother's done enough damage already." The mention of her brother dripping with venom, he couldn't look at her.

"I'm not leading him on. I've told Jay where he stands." Audra leant forward and rested her arms on her knees, head tilting at Bobby's outburst. The cushion in her lap was the only source of comfort, fingers digging into the smooth fabric. "I understand that you want to look out for your friend, but I don't want to get involved in drama."

He scoffed and shook his head. "You're already the drama." He pointed to Audra and flicked his hand in the air. "Wait till your brother notices how pally you two are. I don't want Jay getting the hit for that." His nostrils flared at the thought, fists curling by his side.

Audra rose from her seat, the cushion falling from her grasp. "I don't know what happened between them, but it has nothing to do with me. I doubt Drew will care what I do." She was finding it hard to navigate the situation with her and Jay, the cons outweighing the pros. The conversation with him being one of them.

"Look, shit happened, and you being around Jay puts him in your brother's way again. If you care about Jay, don't hurt him. Don't set him up like that. It's not going to end well." Bobby nodded his head, mouth dry now that he'd got his point across. A shiver travelled up his spine, the whole situation pushing him out of his comfort zone.

"I get where you're coming from, but that's all there is, a drunken fling." Audra tidied the cushions on the sofa, avoiding his gaze. She didn't want to admit the butterflies twisting her stomach at the statement.

Bobby prided himself on being upfront, the girl in front of him hard to read and hostile. He toyed with the notion of stirring things up, wondering if this was his chance to get the truth out. "I'd say ask your brother what happened, but he'll lie through his teeth."