Page 64 of All Autumn
“Hey, yourself. What’s up?”
“I’m going to invite Adam over tonight. How would you like to have pizza and a movie at my place with us?” I’d actually like Adam to spend some time around us, let him see that we were just having fun together. That there was nothing serious going on.
“Wouldn’t you rather have a night with just the two of you?”
“Nope. In fact, I’ll call Dylan, see if he wants to join us. Jenn can come over when she gets off.”
“Sounds like fun. What time should I come over?”
“Five if you’re free. You can ride with me to pick up the pizzas.”
“That works. See you then.”
“Oh, and bring Beau.” I was going to try to talk her into spending the night, which would be easier to do with her dog there. Besides, I liked the silly boy.
On the way home I called Adam and then Dylan, inviting them over, but didn’t mention to Adam that Autumn was coming, too. They were both up for a night of pizza and beer. Then I stopped at the store and loaded up on beer, sodas, and snacks.
After getting back to my house, I put the beer and sodas in the fridge, then went to my office and worked on a new offer for Humphrey’s land. Adam and I badly wanted that place, so I made it for the most we’d pay and hoped that was enough. I signed it, scanned it, and then e-mailed it to him.
As soon as I hit send, I rubbed Luke Skywalker’s head for good luck. He’d been my hero as a boy, and my parents had given me all theStar Warstoys one Christmas. I don’t know what happened to the others, but Luke was a permanent fixture on my desk.
That same Christmas Adam had gotten his first tool chest, loaded up with everything a boy could want to build shit. I smiled, remembering my parents’ laughter as their sons screamed with excitement over their presents. It still hurt to think of them, but the good memories were there to help take away the pain of losing them.
“Miss you, Mom and Dad,” I said aloud, then headed for the shower. By the time I heard Autumn’s car in my driveway, I’d showered, shaved, and dressed.
Beau pranced up the sidewalk with his yellow tennis ball in his mouth. He dropped it at my feet, then expectantly looked up at me. “You bring me a present, Beauregard?”
He barked once.
I tossed the ball inside, then glanced past him at Autumn. “Did he just tell me I can’t have his ball?” She had on a pair of black skinny jeans and a pink T-shirt that saidBadass. She sure was.
“Sounds like he did.” She handed me a bottle of wine.
“Thank you, but you didn’t have to bring anything. Only yourself.” I pulled her to me. “Come here and give me kiss, badass girl.”
She put her hands on my shoulders, lifted onto her toes, and put her mouth on mine. “You taste like cherries,” I murmured. We’d kissed before, but each time I discovered something new about her, and always something I liked.
“That’s . . .” She lifted her head. “That’s cherry-flavored lip gloss.”
“Delicious.” I slid my hand around her neck and pulled her back to me. She sighed into my mouth when our tongues met and tasted each other, and, damn, I loved those sighs of hers.
I was seconds away from not caring that we had company coming over and hauling her to my bed. Before I got so lost in Autumn that Adam and Dylan arrived to find us naked on my living room floor, I pulled away from her mouth and kissed her nose and then each eye.
“We have to go get the pizzas,” I said. “But we’ll get rid of everyone as soon as we can and continue this.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” She snapped her fingers. “Let’s go for a ride, Beau.”
Beau barked, grabbed up his ball, then spun in circles. I took her bottle of wine inside and set it on the counter. We loaded up Beau, then set off to get the pizzas. On the way I almost told her about the land Adam and I were making an offer on, and that we’d like her to design the interiors of our three model homes, but thought better of it. I didn’t want her to be disappointed if we didn’t get the property.
“You still interested in redoing my house?” I asked after we’d picked up the pizzas.
She pulled her seat belt away from her chest and twisted to face me. “Definitely. I brought some pictures and samples to show you later.”
“No doilies or girlie figurines, right?”
“I do not do doilies. Jeez, Connor.”
“Just checking.” I winked, getting a punch in return. That was one of the things I loved . . . that I liked about Autumn. Her sass. It made me want to kiss her silly.
