Page 88 of All Autumn
Dylan’s gaze swung between us as if he were watching a tennis match, his eyes filled with amusement. “You two are hilarious. Makes me wish—” His phone played “I Just Called to Say I Love You.”
I grinned. “Dude, seriously?” And although I was razzing him, my heart beat faster knowing it was Jenn and that Autumn was with her.
The smile on his face at hearing the song was that of a man in love. He put the phone to his ear. “Hey, Red.”
Adam’s attention was as focused on Dylan’s conversation as mine, and I knew he was listening for Savannah’s name. I clamped my teeth together to keep from asking how Autumn was—or better yet, demanding to talk to her.
“If she doesn’t want your help, Jenny, there’s nothing you and Autumn can do at this point.”
I glanced at Adam, who was frozen in place, his gaze on the phone Dylan had pressed to his ear. I hated that after all this time, he was still in love with Savannah, still hurting. It was an unwelcome reminder that being in love sucked.
“How was the rest of your day?” Dylan said into the phone.
“Beer?” I asked Adam.
He blinked as if coming out of a trance. “Yeah, sure.”
I went inside and got three beers from the fridge. By the time I returned, Dylan was off the phone.
“How’s their trip going?” I asked, handing him a beer, then giving one to Adam.
“Good and bad. The good, they had a great time doing some sightseeing. The bad, they only got to see Savannah for an hour, and they’re more worried about her than ever.”
“Why’s that?”
“She wouldn’t open up to them, but they both think she’s extremely unhappy.”
Adam had remained silent, but I could tell that every bone in his body wanted to get in his car and go get her. I knew the feeling. I wanted to do the same thing—get Autumn, bring her to my house, and never let her go.
We were a pair, Adam and me, falling in love with women who were determined to break our hearts. Whoever saidlucky in lovedidn’t have a clue. Never again. For me, anyway. I hoped Adam felt the same.
“When are they coming home?”
“They have a flight out in the morning.” Dylan studied me for a moment, then said, “Any idea why Autumn was crying last night?”
I sat up and pointed at myself. “Me? How would I know?”
Adam gave me one of his you’re-too-stupid-to-live looks. “You didn’t send that text, did you?”
I shook my head. I’d lost count of how many times I’d put my finger on send but had chickened out, still afraid that telling her how I felt would backfire.
“You’re an ass,” Adam said.
“Thanks, bro. Love you, too.” Why was she crying, though?
All three of our phones buzzed with an incoming text. That usually meant a call had gone out for the search and rescue team, and we each grabbed our cells. It was from Mary, however.
Heroes of Blue Ridge Valley calendar meeting tomorrow Town Hall at 2:00
The three of us groaned in unison.
“If Mary’s doughnuts weren’t the best thing this side of the Mississippi, I’d run her out of town for this,” Dylan said.
“We would’ve helped,” Adam and I said at the same time.
Later that night, the urge to go down to the river came on strong. I slipped on a lightweight jacket and grabbed a flashlight. When I reached the water’s edge, I aimed the light on the other side, and sure enough, there was Adam. We’d each put benches down here, and Adam was sitting on his. I rested my crutches on my bench, sat, then turned off the flashlight. There was enough moonlight to see Adam’s outline.
“Hey, brother,” I said. He didn’t answer, and I settled in to wait. When he was ready, he’d talk. I spread my arms along the back of the bench and looked up at the midnight sky, remembering the night I’d wished on a falling star. All I’d wanted was to kiss Autumn. Now I wanted a lifetime with her.
