“I didn’t think you had other clothes available in your closet,” I mused as I dipped my coffee slightly in her direction. Beside me, Violet was eating the waffles I made her and she giggled at what I said. She met Audrey yesterday and I could tell that my niece would turn Audrey into her new BFF in the short amount of time she was here.
Audrey flashed me a tight-lipped smile as she slid on the available counter chair beside Violet. She rubbed my niece’s back and then turned her attention to me. “Considering that you’re planning on taking her to Disney, I thought I could take the day off since I never took one since I began working as your assistant.”
I guess letting her have a day off wasn’t a bad idea. I didn’t want to give Audrey more ammunition to hate me. Before I could tell her that was fine, Violet butted in on the conversation. “Then you can come with us to Disney if you won’t work for Uncle Jules for the day!”
She sounded so excited and Audrey stared at her wide-eyed with surprise at the words. “Err, I don’t think your Uncle Julian would be on board with that idea, Violet.”
So maybe Violet hasn’t completely won over Audrey yet because Audrey was flashing me a look. Although I liked annoying Audrey and I honestly didn’t mind having an extra pair of eyes to watch over Violet if Audrey wouldn’t be able to get herself out of this situation. Plus, I just like teasing her.
“Hmm, well, I don’t really mind so it’s really up to Audrey…”
In a flash, Violet turned to Audrey with puppy dog eyes no one could ever resisted and I stifled a laugh as Audrey tried not to look. They’ve only met a few hours ago when Audrey and I picked Violet up from the airport but it was clear that Violet liked having Audrey around. Last night, she told me that it was crazy how pretty Audrey was and she wished she could be that pretty.
I didn’t really agree with her.
“Oh, please, Audrey! It’ll be so much fun! And I would really love to hang out with a girl for once.”
I made a face. “I didn’t bring you here to LA for you to replace me with my assistant, Vi.”
She turned to me quickly and flashed me an apologetic look. “I still love you, Uncle Jules, even when you won’t have tea with me and my dolls.”
Audrey laughed at that and Violet turned her attention to Audrey again, looking expectant. “Please, Audrey?”
She pursed her lips and looked thoughtful for a moment. I was certain that Audrey would decline but then again, Violet was flashing her puppy dog eyes and no one had ever been able to resist Violet when she did that. Finally, Audrey sighed and nodded her head. “Alright, I’ll come.”
“Yey!” Violet cheered and then hopped out of the counter stool. “You’re also going to have to wear a matching sweater like us!”
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. I hadn’t been informed of a matching sweater but Violet had already ran off to my room, Julio following close behind. “I was not informed of this.”
Audrey made a face that told me she seemed disgusted with the idea of having to match sweaters with me. “I’m already agreeing to spending an entire day with you and not as your assistant. There’s no way I’m getting in that sweater thing too.”
But Violet was already on her way back to us, wearing a white Minnie Mouse sweater and looking at the both of us with wide blue eyes filled with excitement. “Mom got matching sweater for the four of us but since they couldn’t come, she told me to convince Uncle Jules to wear it.”
I grimaced. Megan knew I hated the idea of wearing clothes that wasn’t my style and that Mickey Mouse sweater was nowhere near the style of Julian Hudson. I was pretty sure that Megan had Violet brought it here because she knew I couldn’t say no to my niece.
“I think that’s only something family should wear. I’m sure your uncle would be on board with that,” Audrey said, staring at the bigger version of the Minnie Mouse sweater that Violet was wearing.
“Actually, Vi, I think you should save it for when you get back here again with your parents and Atlas. This is meant to be a family thing.”
“But we would look really good in the pictures we’ll take.”
“But I’m your uncle and Audrey’s your friend and…”
Violet took the sweater from Audrey and with dropped shoulders, she slowly made her way back to the stairs while muttering something under her breath. I inwardly groaned and looked at Audrey for a moment who looked slightly guilty as she stared at Violet. With a sighed, I said, “and that’s why Audrey and I are willing to wear it as long as we make it on your wall of pictures, alright?”
She turned back to look at me excitedly and handed me my shirt and Audrey the other one who stared at it with slight disdain that she quickly hid from Violet. “Great! You two can change now. I’ll go get my bag. C’mon, Julio.”
Without saying anything, I stripped off my shirt and I heard a small gasp that made me look up at Audrey who had a faint blush on her cheeks. “You really have to stop stripping off in front of me.”
I couldn’t help but smirk as I hopped off the stool and approached her slowly. She was trying to turn her head away from me and focus on her phone. “You know you want to look at my body. Most girls always do.”
She scoffed and then looked at me with narrowed brown eyes. “Jesus, Julian, I’ve seen bodies better than yours.”
“Then why can’t you stare?” I asked, my voice lowering in a hushed whisper as I held her gaze. Something flickered in her eyes as her eyes travelled down from my face and to my body. I knew Audrey was trying to prove a point that she didn’t mind but there was something about the way she stared at me.
There was something about the slow descent of her eyes as she travelled her gaze from my face and lowered to my body that made me feel like she was stripping me even more. It was as if her brown eyes were peering into my soul and it spread warmth all over me. I caught her fingers twitched, as if she was resisting the urge to touch me.
“Are we leaving now?” Violet yelled from upstairs and whatever trance that Audrey and I were in broke as she quickly hopped off of the stool and pushed past me. I still caught the blush that had painted her cheeks though as she rushed to the comfort room downstairs to change into the sweater that Violet gave us.
I stood there for a moment, trying in vain to calm my rapid heartbeat. I wasn’t sure why my emotions were all over the place whenever it was with Audrey. I would want to tease her and annoy her and if she retaliated, I would be the one exasperated by her but then she could leave me flustered when she wanted to.
She turned me into a puddle of mess when I was the one who was meant to do that to her.
“We’re using your car,” I informed Audrey when she walked back in the kitchen. I had already put on the sweater and was making sure I had my wallet with me. Violet was waiting for us by the door.
Audrey held a hand against me and shook her head. “Oh no. I’m meant to be a guest on this trip.”
I closed my eyes. My heart still hasn’t recovered from the moment we shared earlier. “I told you, Audrey, my brother and his wife would kill me if I take my niece on my motorcycle or in my car.”
“Had Violet not invited me, what was your option?”