Page 63 of Fall I Want
“What’s this for?” I ask, allowing myself to relax.
“Because you looked like you needed it.”
“Thank you.” I hold her tighter, not sure if she knew I was building mental walls. When I inhale the sweet scent of her shampoo and close my eyes, the light clicks off.
“Friendly ghosts,” she whispers, burying her head into my chest with a laugh. “I’m still scared.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” I tell her, then lead her back to the kitchen. I shove the carving tools and some markers into the mixing bowl, then we wash our hands and return to the backyard.
As she moves to the picnic table covered with newspaper, I start the fire in the pit that I prepared for tonight. The wood immediately catches and cracks and pops into the night.
The string lights cast a warm glow against the soft, stubby grass. Autumn smooths her hand over the top of the table. “I’m starting to believe you really are a pro.”
“Time will tell,” I say, sitting across from her. I hand her a carving knife and a scoop.
She removes the cap to the marker and begins drawing. I try to steal a peek of her design but she’s fast and twists it so I can’t.
I pick up my beer, taking a swig. “Why’d you and Sebastian break up?”
I notice she tenses.
“You don’t have to talk about it right now, but one day I want to know.”
“Oh, it’s fine. He came up with this wild idea that we both wanted to see other people. And told our friends that the breakup was a mutual agreement.”
“Was it?”
She sarcastically laughs. “What do you think?”
“I’ll have him fired,” I state. “Tomorrow.”
She stops drawing and glances at me. “He’s one of the greatest instructors in the country.”
“And?”
“A lot of business is brought to the resort because people want to ski with him.”
I blink a few more times. “There are other celebrity snowboarders I can hire who are ten times better with less of an attitude. He’s extremely replaceable.”
“No. No.” She reaches forward. “The best revenge is him thinking he lost me forever.”
“Would you take him back?”
“Honestly?” She hesitates. “No. And what about you?”
“I don’t give second chances once things are really over. It’s a rule of mine. It ends for a reason.”
“Who was she?”
“Celine Madison.” I meet her eyes.
“Thesupermodel,” she deadpans.
“You’ve heard ofher, but not me?” I ask. Celine was obsessed with the spotlight; it’s why she got with me. To use my connections to further her career. Good for her, it worked. “Actually, that checks out.”
Autumn grows quiet.
“Why are you putting up walls?”
