Page 20 of Autumn's Coming

Chapter Eight

Cody

Autumn Jenkins.

I couldn’t get her off my mind. She was a gorgeous girl, even if she was a little shy.

But that was a line I couldn’t cross. Being attracted to a student was one thing.

Pursuing it was another entirely.

Definitely a breach of ethics.

Which, considering the subject of the class, was ironic.

But it was strange. Yesterday had been her first day in class. I knew that for sure. But something about her was familiar.

I couldn’t figure it out.

I was thankfully distracted from my thoughts when Dylan walked into my office. He was still a little ragged around the edges, eyes half-open and ringed with dark circles. But he smiled, leaning into the door of my office.

“Hey man, night two is tonight.”

“I don’t know about that, Dylan.” I looked him over. “You look like you’re still suffering from last night.”

He shrugged. “I’ve had better days. Worse ones, too. It’s all good, man, just part of the party. Pick you up at nine?”

“I think I’ll sit tonight out.”

“What? C’mon, it’ll be fun. Like last night.”

“Right—last night. When you tried to fight a security guard at the strip club.”

“Okay, that was stupid. You’re right. But I won’t do it tonight.”

I gave him a skeptical look.

He smiled at me. “Pick you up at nine?”

“Fine. I’ll go out again tonight. But that’s it. I can’t do every night.”

“All right. Do tonight and I won’t ask again.”

“Tonight, then. I’ll be there.”

* * * * *

Starting in upscale bars was nice, at least.

I sat at the table, enjoying the last of another bourbon. Dylan was drinking hard already, as were some of his friends.

I was only letting myself have one tonight.

I had something in mind.

I’d be setting off on my own, most likely, but that was fine. Preferable, honestly.

Because I was going back to Bounce.

---