3D: Freebie

Aubrey made plans to leave early one particular Friday night. With Dayanna’s improved performance, she felt comfortable letting her fly solo. She planned meetings, completed inventory, and paid invoices before lunch. The day passed without a hitch. Just as Aubrey strode toward the door, a food critic walked in with a bright smile. Everything would be great. Critics reviewed J. Pruett’s Grill many times. The team was well-trained, and everyone strived for excellence. But even so, something inside wouldn’t allow Aubrey to leave.

When the critic left finally, she said goodnight to everyone and hurried home to shower and dress. Why didn’t she work from home? Now she was late and stressing out.

Aubrey wasn’t a fashionista, but she had a style and wore it well. But, whenever the sisters hung out more effort was required to ward off Maya’s judgemental eyes. Choosing the right dress delayed her even more.

Maya moved in with Ranveer earlier in the week and planned a celebration between the four of them to commemorate their new life together. The hoopla surrounding this event was a bit much, honestly. But, what else should one expect from two party animals? They’d take any excuse to get people together and drink.

As if she could make herself less late, Aubrey raced toward Club State; luckily, it was just 10 minutes away. The booming bass beat against the door like an angry mob attempting to escape, nearly trampling her when she opened the door. She waded through a throng of buzzed dancers as she searched for her party. Bright pink lights swinging back and forth blinded her. Nightclubs were too chaotic and not her idea of fun.

A hand gently grabbed her wrist. She jerked around to see who accosted her, but it was only Julio.

Soft lips on her cheek distracted her for a second. “You look great.”

His smile always eased her anxiety, but she still scolded herself. “I’m sorry I’m late. A food critic came in just as I was leaving!”

“How’d you do?”

Julio was a precious gem. When they spoke, he listened and stayed in the moment. He understood what was important to her and never got upset with her work life.

“We did great!”

With her head on his shoulder, he lead her to their private corner where Maya and Ranveer cackled and tussled with each other.

“Are they drunk already?” she asked in disgust.

“They were here when I got here.”

“Ugh! She’s so obnoxious when she’s drinking. I can’t deal with this tonight!”

Maya ran toward them with open arms. “My sisteeeeeeeeeer!”

Aubrey almost lost balance when their bodies collided. She stepped backward to keep leverage, but the alcohol on Maya’s breath could have knocked her out for good. “H-hi. You, uhh, you got started without us,” she said, glancing at Julio.

Maya released her. “You know us! Gotta get the party started! What are you drinking? First round’s on us!”

Her smile, brighter than the sun, outshined every flashing light in the room, and her eyes twinkled like stars. Happiness was now her default state, and she had a reason to celebrate; Aubrey didn’t disparage that. All their lives, she wanted Maya to be happy. But, she also wanted her behave responsibly.

“I’m ok, thanks. Right now, I just need to sit.”

“BOOOOOOO! I hope you don’t plan to be a drag tonight,” Maya said and sashayed back to Ranveer. “Look who I found!”

“Hey, Aubrey,” he said too loudly. “Glad you could make it. Get yourself a drink! We’re buying.”

“I’m-“

“She’s a party pooper,” Maya interrupted.

Heat rose through her cheeks like a thermometer in Oasis Springs. Aubrey hated how quickly her mood changed when Maya pressed her buttons. When she drank, she taunted her even more. If only Aubrey worked from home, she’d be prepared for these drunken shenanigans. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t drink! I meant I’m not ready yet.”

Julio’s hand on her back beckoned her to sit with him.

“OH,” Maya shouted. “Before you got here, we were talking about our favorite celebrities. Your hubs here is quite boring.”

If Maya wanted to rag on her, fine. As the little sister, she was used to it. But to start on Julio? Oh, no. That was a line Maya better not cross.

Julio, however, was a great sport and simply smiled. “What’s wrong with Venessa Jeong?”

Maya swatted at him. “She’s not even a real celebrity! I’M more famous than she is, and I’m not even an actress!”

“But, she was good in that one movie,” Julio said.

Everyone laughed while Aubrey seethed in anger. Why did she give Maya so much power? It wasn’t even that serious. 

“So, Aubrey,” Maya said. “Who’s your favorite celebrity?”

Those judgmental eyes glared, daring her to say something lame for another opportunity to tease.

But, Aubrey was no one’s puppet. Sure, she would love it if Maya considered her an equal and approved of everything she did, but Aubrey wouldn’t dance because she said so. Maya had permanent membership to the cool kid’s club, and Aubrey did not. That dynamic would probably never change. So, she took a cleansing breath and stated her truth unashamed. “Kymber Hawke.”

Maya and Ranveer’s faces scrunched as they went through mental contortion trying to place this mysterious person.

“Come on, guys,” Aubrey yelled. “She’s like one of the most famous authors there is!”

“An author?” Maya sucked her teeth. “When have you ever known me to read?” She pulled out her phone. “Besides, if I do read, it’ll be Octavia Moon’s books! SHE is the best author on earth. Full stop!”

Maybe later, after sobering, she’d realize how ignorant she sounded.

She searched for something and handed the phone to Aubrey. “Is this her?”

“Yeah. Her stories are SO dramatic; you’d like them. Oh! Her latest series, Noble Doubt, kinda reminds me of our family.”

Her eyebrows went lopsided. “Yeah?”

“She’s on book seven now, and it’s about this one family and all the stuff they go through. They all write in this one journal that gets passed down generation after generation. Doesn’t that kinda sound like something a legacy family would do?”

“Could you imagine? Like, what if someone wrote about us? Like, that guy over there! He’s been staring at us all night. He could be gathering material for his next book!”

Ranveer wrapped his arm across her waist. “Nah, he’s just looking at you, babe, cuz you’re so hot tonight.”

Maya swooned and rewarded him with her lips…and tongue. He enjoyed the reward, caressing her body and making her moan like animals in heat. People watched. Didn’t they care? This always happened and was yet another reason why Aubrey hated hanging out with them when they drank. Why did they never have self control? Julio ignored them as much as he could and stared in the opposite direction.

She cleared her throat extra loud to stop them for she feared they’d begin undressing. “So, what about you, Ranveer? Who’s your favorite celebrity? Everyone knows Maya is completely obsessed with Octavia Moon and Bailey Kay.”

They pulled away from each other, finally.

“Looks like the warden wants us to behave,” Maya said.

Ranveer chuckled. “Be nice to your sister. Wait, are we naming celebrities we like or celebrities on our list?”

Maya gasped so dramatically Aubrey thought something was wrong. “OOOOOOH! The list! Let’s do the list!”

“What list?” Aubrey asked.

“Duh! Your freebie list!”

She glanced at Julio who shrugged in response.

“Come on, guys! You don’t know about the freebie?? Every couple has a freebie list!”

Aubrey tempered her breaths through closed eyes to keep her emotions under control. “Just tell me what’s on the list so we can make one,” she yelled through gritted teeth.

Maya threw herself backward in disbelief.

“It’s a list of celebrities you’re allowed to sleep with,” Ranveer said. “You have to agree to everyone on each other’s lists.”

Aubrey’s jaw fell into her lap. “You want to sleep with other people?!”

Ranveer laughed. “No. Not really. But, if the opportunity ever comes up, you’re allowed. The other person can’t get mad or jealous. It’s a freebie!”

Aubrey glanced at Julio but couldn’t read him. “This is crazy. You two are crazy! And drunk! This is not a thing!”

“It’s a thing, Aubs,” Maya yelled, rolling her eyes.

“I bet our parents don’t have a list,” she said daringly.

Maya sucked her teeth, rising to the occasion. “I bet you the next three rounds of drinks they do!”

“Bet!”

Jonathan and Skyla wouldn’t dare take part in such foolishness. A no harm, no foul affair? He loved Skyla too much to let anyone else have her. And, she probably never heard of a freebie.

Maya grabbed her phone and dialed. “Heeeeeey, Daddy,” she said way too loud and overly obnoxious. “I got you on speaker phone! Say hi, everyone!”

“Hey, Daddy.”

“Hey, Jonathan,” the boys said.

“Sounds like you guys are having too much fun. I’m out with Derek. What can I do for you?”

“We wanna know who’s on your list,” Maya said, speech slurring already.

And she expected three more rounds? How irresponsible!

“My list?”

“See,” Aubrey shouted. “He doesn’t even know what the list is!”

Maya swatted at her. “Your freebie list!”

“Oh.” He chuckled nervously. “Ummm … Eden Sweeney. She’s at the top of my list.”

“Oh, mine too,” Ranveer yelled.

Maya’s eyes shot open as her head jerked back to yesterday. “WHAT?! That spoiled bitch??”

“MAYA,” Aubrey yelled.

“What’s wrong with Eden?” Jonathan asked. “She’s gorgeous!”

“Yeah! Why can’t she be on my list?” Ranveer whined.

As the trio argued over Eden’s list candidacy, Julio leaned in and whispered, “Who’s Eden Sweeney?”

Aubrey searched Simstagram. “She’s a self-absorbed fashion icon with a hot temper and green eyes to match her jealous rage. Here.”

Julio scrolled through the latest entries. “Hmmm. She is pretty.”

Aubrey looked askance. “Don’t you start!”

Julio grinned. Sometimes she thought he enjoyed winding her up.

“Who’s on Mom’s list?” Maya asked.

Jonathan snorted. “I’d be willing to bet she’d go for Dave Roberson. She’s got a thing for chest hair, you know.”

“What??” the sisters yelled.

“Mom likes chest hair?!” Maya shouted with her nose wrinkled.

“I can’t believe Mom has a list!”

“I told you! Pay up, sista!”

“Are you guys betting on us?”

“No, I’ll tell you later love you Daddy bye byyyye!” She ended the call. “Let’s get Mom on the line, shall we?” she with a viciously victorious gleam in her eye.

“Fine,” Aubrey huffed. “But, I don’t think you need anything else to drink!”

“OBJECTION! Overruled! You already agreed!”

The phone rang once, as Aubrey expected.

“Hey, pumpkin. You ok?”

“Hi, Mommy!”

Aubrey’s eyes rolled further than ever. Could Maya get anymore obnoxious?

“Where are you? It’s so loud?”

“We’re celebrating!”

“Heh, yes, I can hear that now. This isn’t a social call, I presume.”

“Nope! We just talked to Daddy. We want to know who’s on your list!”

“Who’s we?”

“All of us! Me, Ranveer, Aubrey, and Julio.”

“Oh dear. Why do I feel like I’m on the hot seat?”

“He already told us but I want to hear what you’ll say,” Maya shouted with the giddiest smile.

Annoyance aside, Aubrey admired her exuberance. She was so carefree and easily amused. It would be cute if she weren’t compromised.

Skyla sighed. “Well … I guess I’d have to say … Dave Roberson.”

“HA!” Maya clapped like a happy toddler. “That’s what Daddy said you’d say!”

“Well … He would know what I like.”

Everything about that conversation on top of Maya’s obnoxiousness made Aubrey’s insides boil. “Mom! I can’t believe you!”

“Ugh!” Maya shook her fist at Aubrey. “Stop being such a prude! You’re married now! Don’t act like you don’t talk dirty to Julio.”

“Maya, really,” Skyla said.

She got on Simstagram again. “I can’t stand these big celebrities who don’t keep their accounts active!”

“Would you really do it, Mom?” Aubrey asked through a broken voice.

“Oh, sweetness. Of course not! It’s just fun and games.”

“Well, you sleep on your opportunity if you want to, Mom. I’m taking mine! Goodnight love you!”

“You shouldn’t hang up on Mom like that!”

Maya clasped her hands together as if to pray for strength. “Aubrey, you need several drinks. You are way too uptight for me!”

“This is stupid! Why would anyone plan to cheat on their spouse?”

Maya growled. “Aubreeeeey! You’re not listening! No one is planning anything! IF the situation arises, and IF you want to sleep with the guy, that’s between you and Julio. I’m saying if Lamont Gregory ever asks me to go into the jungle with him, you better believe I’m going! I mean, look at this beauty!” She pulled up his Simstagram account. “You can’t tell me you’d be able to resist this masterpiece.”

Ranveer snorted. “He’s a good-looking dude and all, but I still don’t understand how he’s a celebrity. He just runs around the jungle collecting ancient loot and padding his bank account.”

“BABE! He’s a phi-lan-tha-pist,” Maya yelled wringing her hands in the air.

“Oh brother,” Aubrey lamented, rolling her eyes. “You can’t even talk right, and you’re still gonna drink?”

“Yeah,” Julio said, finally. “Maybe you guys should slow down. The night’s still young.”

Maya’s head flew back so hard Aubrey thought it’d go through the wall. “Partying with my PARENTS would be more fun than this! GOOOOOOSH!”

“Why don’t we get them some drinks, babe,” Ranveer said.

“Good idea! They’re getting on my last nerve,” she shouted as they walked away.

Aubrey turned immediately to Julio. “I would never cheat on you.”

He smiled in a somewhat confused manner. “I know that.”

“But, I’m serious! This freebie thing … I don’t like it! I would never hurt you like that!”

His wrinkled forehead expressed concern. “Ok. I think the rules exist so no one is hurt, but that’s fine. We don’t need a list.”

How could anyone desire to break the marriage covenant? And, how could someone allow their spouse to? What a backward world! “I would never cheat on you!”

“I know, Sweetie,” he said, pulling her into a warm embrace. “It’s ok. Don’t get upset. I know you wouldn’t.”

Tears built up behind her eyes, and she didn’t understand why. “I don’t want to hurt you!”

“You won’t. What’s going on? You’ve been on edge all night, actually.”

“I don’t know! I just … Can we go home? I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Ok. Ok, yeah, we’ll go.”