Page 11 of The Homecoming

“Weasel wants you to come to The Bar,” Autumn said into the phone.

“So, I heard. And it sounds like you don’t need to be driving.”

“I’m notthat…” She paused, trying to consider her level of inebriation. The waiter deposited two baskets of cheese sticks on the table. “Sweet, the cheese sticks are here.” Without another word to Daniel, she hung up the call.

Daniel strolled through the door and over to the rowdy group of drunken friends in the back corner. “Hey, I heard this asshole from the parking lot.” He pointed at Weasel who laughed. They shook hands and Dan grabbed a chair, turning it around to sit backward on it at the end of the table next to Autumn. Weasel introduced Dan around the table, pouring another glass of beer and handing it to him. Daniel’s reputation preceded him, and he humbly accepted the group’s appreciation and deflected any hero talk until the conversation moved on. He reached over and grabbed Autumn’s hand before kissing it, causing her to blush and unsuccessfully attempt to bite back a smile.

Hannah shot her a knowing smile with raised eyebrows. Later, they were in the ladies’ restroom and Hannah took the opportunity to question her childhood friend. “So, that’s how you got Dan here so fast,” Hannah said through the stall.

“Well,” Autumn started, “it’s just hard to define.”

“How so?”

“I mean he’s only here until he’s deployed again and I have no clue when that is.” Autumn went to the sink and looked in the mirror at her fuzzy reflection. She didn’t feel well.

Hannah came out of her stall and stood next to her. “Well, you can at least have some fun while he’s here.”

“I am.” Autumn started to giggle, surprised by her honesty.

Hannah gave a sly smile. “Nice. How is it?”

“I can’t tell you that,” Autumn said with a giggle.

“Oh, come on. I’m getting married and I’ll be stuck with Justin for the rest of my life. At least let me live vicariously through you.”

“Well…” Autumn’s temperature rose. “Really good.”

They returned to the table; Dan had drained his beer while Weasel told a story about the takedown of some meth dealers in the area. She sat back down and listened to the story without paying much attention and felt herself getting exhausted as she closed her eyes and began to drift off.

“I think I’d better get Autumn home,” Dan said.

Autumn opened her eyes to both Weasel and Dan staring at her. “Fine,” she said. “Let’s go.”

In the parking lot, she hugged Hannah and Weasel goodnight and wished farewell to the others. She walked toward her car, but Dan intercepted her before she arrived. “Come on,” he said.

“I’m fine.”

“No.” He cut her off both verbally and physically.

“I’d have to leave my car,” she protested.

“I’ll drive it,” he said. “I hitched a ride here.”

“You did what?” she asked, but a wave of nausea washed over her like a hurricane and before she could stop it, she lost the contents of her stomach. Right there, in front of Dan.

“You wanna tell me again that you’re fine?” he asked once she stopped.

Still bent over, she sighed and held her keys in the air for him to grab.

***

Autumn awoke to the sound of rain, wearing a gray Go Army t-shirt that was way too big. The window in the old motel room slightly raised, allowing the smell of rain to drift inside. It was nice, but she wasn’t at home. What would her parents say?

Her mouth was so dry that her teeth stuck to her lips. She didn’t feel as badly as she’d feared; she might escape a terrible hangover. However, she didn’t feel great. A bottle of water sat on the nightstand next to the bed and she grabbed it without hesitation. She was alone and she didn’t hear any sounds from the bathroom. Where was Dan? She drained half the bottle, fell back down, and stretched out.

The motel door opened, jarring her awake as Dan walked in, sopping wet.

“Where’d you go?” she asked.