Page 51 of Again, In Autumn

His eyes caressed my face, thinking it over. “If that means I get to have some part of you all the time and you’re always in my orbit, then yeah.”

I remember shuddering from his breath just as much as his touch. I tried to understand what that meant.

“You mean, like, after the summer?”

He shook me a little and said, “Yeah.” His perfect mouth tilted into a smile. “I mean, like, after the summer.”

A leaf falls on my shoulder.

“Okay,” I tell Francesca, brushing it off and swallowing my memories. “It’s no big deal.”

She settles, and I step around the back of the car. I walk across the woods. When I approach the blue sedan with Diego at the helm, the backseat window rolls down.

“Howdy,” I begin.

“Partner,” Adam finishes. His face is passive. He looks tired. “Can we help you?”

I swallow, focusing away from his eyes. “Yeah. Can I ride with you guys?”

Maggie turns in her seat. “Of course! We’ve got plenty of room! Ads, move those long legs. I hope you don’t mind the dog.”

Copper reaches his face out of the window, but Adam pushes him back down.

“No problems here,” I say. “Thanks.”

Adam glances at something beyond me and rolls the window back up while I move to the other side of the car. Copper tries to stand, but Adam keeps him restrained in the center seat.

“Definitely cleaner in here than the mom mobile,” I comment, running my hands through the dog’s smooth fur.

Maggie says, “My husband’s the cleanest man alive.”

The subject twists to look at my attire. “Are you going to be warm enough, Vienna?”

“Oh sure.” I tug the covered arms under my fleece-lined vest. “It’s warmer than it looks. Plus, I always have sarcasm to keep me toasty.”

Adam mumbles something, and Maggie insists, “What was that?”

He clears his throat. “She doesn’t know how to dress for outdoor activities.”

“I go outside,” I reply. It comes out quiet, forced, uncomfortable. Every time I have to address him, I’m reminded of water trying to run through frozen pipes.

“You’re not adventurous. It’s fine,” he says. A lock of hair falls over his crinkled eyes when he stares back out of the window. Copper climbs onto his lap.

I exhale. “My idea of adventure might not be the same as yours, but that doesn’t make me…not adventurous.”

“Just surprised you’re here, is all.”

Maggie remembers, “That’s right, you said you’re not a big fan of hiking.”

“Yes,” I agree, “but that’s not a personality trait.” My voice warms up. Copper reaches for me, sticking his tongue out for a lick.

I add, “I came out to be with my family.”

Adam’s eyes cast my direction, not at my face. “Look, I didn’t mean – ”

“Forget it,” I whisper.

In the corner of my eye, I catch the sight of something red parked beside the detached garage, its windshield covered in brown leaves. I shift in the small backseat as Diego drives forward and my knee moves past the thin middle seat.

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