Page 9 of Let Me

“He saved me from drowning,” Luna says.“He and his family were staying at the same hotel as me and mine.We were actually going to the same wedding, but didn’t know each other.Anyway, the night before, I decided to take a dip and, somehow, I passed out.He pulled me out and held me until the paramedics arrived.That was seven years ago.”

“Wow,” I say at the realization of how long he’s known these women.

“What’s your story, Autumn?”

Okay, now we’re back to my story…

I say, “I was coming out of the ice cream shop and my ice cream hit the ground.He gave me his.”

Luna’s mouth opens.“Ah…he’s such an angel.Mmm…” she hums.“Have you ever seen an angel before, Autumn?”

“I believe angels are invisible.”

“Well, you know, in the figurative sense.Judah is one.I can feel his spirit.He’s high vibrational.He radiates positivity and a strong sense of inner self and calm.”

“Luna, shut the freak up with all that mess,” Tabitha tells her.

I’m so tickled, tears come to my eyes as I laugh.

“I will notshut the freak up.This man saved my life.I’m going to sing his praises every chance I get.”

Moriah says, “Look, Autumn.Luna’s trippin’.We came over here just to warn you.Do not make the mistake of falling for Judah.Trust me, we all did, but when Judah says you’re just a friend, that’s what he means.You’re just a friend.He doesn’t date.”

“And he’s firm on that,” Luna tacks on.“I tried.”

“Yep,” Tabitha adds.

“Oh, okay.Thanks for the warning, but I wasn’t looking for anything with Judah.He just asked me to come hang out with y’all.”

I lied to save face.Who wouldn’t want to be with a man like Judah?He’s a pure gentleman.I would love to date a man like him – a man who gave me his ice cream without a second thought.I’m bummed that this probably won’t be a love connection, but facing the facts, he passed on some beautiful women.Who am I to think that I’ll be the exception?

“Why doesn’t he date?”I ask just to satisfy my curiosity.

“He won’t tell us,” Luna says.

Tabitha says, “I overheard him talking to Nico one day and I want to say I heard him say something about cancer.Don’t quote me.I don’t know for sure.”

My heart is beating ferociously in my chest at the thought of him having cancer.It can’t be.A beautiful man with a heart just as beautiful should have the world in his hands.This can’t be true.Perhaps she overheard him talking about somebody else.

“We think that’s why he doesn’t date,” Moriah says.“He doesn’t want to burden anyone with everything that comes with all of that, you know.But he’s a kind soul—a good person to be around.It’s why we’re still here.Whenever you’re with him, it makes you want to be better because he’s just that phenomenal.”

“Facts,” Tabitha adds.

I look across the firepit, my eyes searching for Judah.His eyes connect with mine immediately.Now that I know what I know, or at least what the rumors are, I feel like his eyes are telling me that some of what they’re saying is true.Has to be.However, I do not know to what extent and now, I’m not sure if I want to be entangled in his web.For all I know, the women could be lying.Maybe they’reallhis and they don’t want me joining their weird situationship.Perhaps that’s why they’re all sticking around.

Something just ain’t right about all of this.

Bummer.

Here I was thinking that Judah invited me here to get to know me.Like this could’ve been one of those meet-cutes that people brag about after they’d been married for twenty-some years and somebody asks how they met.

This ain’t that.

I’m one of the women he’s adding to his roster offriends.Of thegood peoplehe likes to surround himself with.He met us all in ways in which he reached out to show kindness.He’s a kind person.I’ll give him that much.However, I don’t know whatthisis.

Time flies like embers rising from the pile of wood.For the last hour, I’ve been entertained by his female friends.I noticed he stayed pretty distant from me which, after hearing what the rest of the women said about him, I’m not mad.At the same time, I didn’t come here to be entertained by his friends, either.I have friends already – one good best friend, which is really all a person needs.Yeah, I think I’ve had enough of this.

I stand up and say, “Well, ladies, I’m going to head home.I’ve smelled enough smoke for one night.”

---