Page 6 of Falling for Autumn Again

Lie.

Never have I ever mentioned what’s-his-name, the sapling truck driver guy.

I elbow her back.

“Really?” Kip’s stupid grin is back.

“Yes, and I was just saying,” Meg starts and while that woman may be five inches taller than me, I slap my arm around her—lightning-fast—stretch onto my toes, and clap my hand over her mouth.

“She says a lot of things,” I say with a small, delirious laugh. “You might be here all day if Meg decided to tell you what she was just saying and you don’t have time for that.” I send my own obnoxious smile his way and start to move. “Okay, thank you. Bye. Bye.”

I charge toward the office, dropping my hold on Meg’s mouth but looping my arm through hers—making sure the girl comes with me rather than staying to chat it up with Kip.

But Kip decides to follow.

Why Kip? Why? We are all finished up here, buddy.

“Um, Autumn, wait,” he says—apparently not finished. “I was actually… I was hoping to talk.”

I glance back at him, but I do not stop my trek to the office. The safe, small, secluded office.

“Talk? Uh, I’m busy this morning, but—”

“No, I just mean… Well, I was hoping you’d go out with me, sometime…Maybe.”

All at once, I am jerked to a halt. Meg and all of her kindergarten strength yank me to a stop. “Autumn,” Meg whispers. “You’re being rude.”

I grind my teeth into a grin… and peer first at Meg and then over to Kip.

"Um." I squeeze Meg's arm in mine, doing my best to cause her a little pain. She needs it to bring her back to reality. Look what she's got me into! This is all her fault. I'm not sure how—but it is. One second she's talking to me about having fun, and the next, Kip the bare root driver is asking me out. "Gosh, that's really—that's just so…"

“She’d love to,” Meg says.

I may or may not pinch Meg’s skinny little side.

“Eep!” Meg yelps for only a second before nodding at Kip. “Yep. She would love to go on a date with you!” Somehow my nip has only made the girl grow stronger in her conviction.

Kip’s awkward smile suddenly turns sweet and way too bright. “Yeah?” He looks at me.

But it’s Meg who says, “Yes. She accepts. When?”

“Next Friday okay?” Kip glances from me to Meg—as if she’s allowed to answer for me.

"Friday is perfect," Meg tells him. Huh. Apparently, she is allowed.

Still, I pinch her again.

Chapter Three

Ezra

I pickup my phone from the small counter in this gas station restroom and read an incoming text.

Phil:You there yet?

Me: Just made it.

Phil: Have you seen her yet?

---