Autumn and Summer

by Danielle Allen

  I handed her my phone and she sent a text message. “What did you say?” I asked as she placed my phone beside her and continued eating her fries.

  “I told him I knew the truth about him.”

  I nodded firmly. “Yes! Good. What else?”

  “And that he—he should get over his ex and focus on his present.”

  “Good!”

  She swallowed the fry she was chewing. “And that it matters most what’s on the inside and he lied so his insides are messed up.”

  I nodded uncertainly as I focused my sight on her. “Okay...”

  “And I said no more sexting.”

  “Uhhh…”

  “And I told him that I deserve better than some guy whose idea of a date is for me to come over and watch a movie. Having sex does not a date make!” Olivia declared loudly.

  “Ummm… Livie, did you text that to Boris?”

  “Yes! We never go out or do anything, Autumn. The last two times he didn’t even have a movie! I came over and there was no movie! He invited me over to watch a movie…but didn’t have a movie! He’s not even trying anymore.”

  “But you texted that to Boris?”

  She interrupted incredulously, “And who doesn’t have $1.99 for a movie?”

  Oh no…I think she thinks she was texting Phillip. And how many of these Blue Lagoons did we drink? I wondered as I focused on Olivia’s scrunched up face.

  “Wait, wait, wait…who did you text?” I asked, trying to get the story straight in my head.

  Olivia stared at me for a beat longer than necessary before she exclaimed, “No more sex until we go on some dates!” She threw her fist in the air and pumped it twice.

  Unable to help myself, I laughed, “No more drinks for us.”

  Finally determining that Olivia was completely wasted, I reached over the table for my phone, but I couldn’t quite grasp it. I’ll get it in a minute, I thought as I sat back in my chair.

  “We deserve better, Autumn! No one should be catfishing you and no one should be bootycalling me!”

  I sat back and nodded my head in agreement. “We need to stop letting these men dictate how the relationship will go. Boris isn’t going to tell me he has feelings for me, but we can’t be together and we can’t just be friends either. I decide! And Phillip isn’t going to decide that you are a booty call. If you want the relationship to just be sexual, then so be it. But if you want a date, you deserve a date. You decide!”

  We high fived and then got our stuff. We were almost to the front door when our waiter came up behind us. “Ladies… you forgot to pay your tab.”

  Oh crap! Seriously, how much did I drink? I thought as I fumbled around trying to open my handbag.

  “Oh!” I exclaimed. I dug into my bag until I found my wallet. I handed him sixty dollars in cash. “I’m so sorry! Keep the change.”

  “Men don’t tell us what to do Keith!” Olivia hissed, reading the waiter’s nametag before walking out the door.

  My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. “Yeah, I’m sorry for that too. It’s been an emotional day. And we…I’m sorry!”

  Turning, I ran out the door to find Olivia. She was standing by the door swaying to the music of the club across the street. “You want to go to the club?” she asked.

  “No, not tonight. We need to go home. You want to stay with me or do you think you can make it home?”

  Olivia thought about it while she pulled her thick hair into a ponytail. “Your house. I think if I go home, I won’t be able to sleep. If I can’t sleep, I’ll get bored. If I get bored, I’ll call Phillip. And if I call Phillip, I won’t tell him no.”

  We took a sobering taxi ride to the house and within minutes of getting in the door, Olivia was asleep in the guest bedroom. I checked on her one last time and then closed the door behind me. It was difficult making it up the steps since I was exhausted, tipsy, and in heels. I pulled my phone out of my bag and threw it on the bed. Taking my clothes off, I pulled on a T-shirt and threw myself across the bed. Rolling onto my back, I stretched out on top of the comforter.

  This feels good, I sighed to myself as I let my eyes flutter closed.

  I could barely hear the soft vibrating against the plush comforter, but it startled me and my eyes flew open. Grabbing the phone, I froze. I couldn’t get my eyes to focus long enough to understand anything except for the fact that Boris’s name was blazoned on the screen. Suddenly, all of the text messages from earlier came flooding back.

  I should’ve checked to see if Olivia really sent any of those text messages, I thought as I considered not answering the phone. But I knew I couldn’t ignore his call.

  Attempting to sound casual, I picked up the phone. “Hello?”

  “Are you okay?” Boris asked slowly.

  “I’m okay. Are you okay?” My voice was tentative and restrained.

  “I’m a little confused.”

  I swallowed thickly. “About what?”

  “Your text messages didn’t make any sense. You said something about us having sex with catfish. And I’m not into that.”

  I laughed, “I’m sorry! My friend Olivia had my phone and she texted you, thinking it was someone else. It’s a long story involving a lot of alcohol. A lot of alcohol.”

  His laugh made my stomach flutter. I grinned.

  “You’re up late,” I mentioned nonchalantly.

  “Yeah, I just walked in the house. I was going to call you tomorrow, but I’m glad you’re still awake. I haven’t been feeling right since we got off the phone earlier. I needed to hear your voice.”

  “I feel the same way. I need to talk to you, face to face.”

  “I agree. I have to head out of town Monday after my morning meeting and then I’ll be home on Thursday. If Thursday works for you, I can come down and see you that evening.”

  Yawning, I replied, “Thursday works for me.”

  “Are you tired?”

  “Yeah, it’s been a long day.”

  “Okay well, I’ll make this quick. My current businesses are booming and I can trust my managers to run them effectively. But with my newest acquisition, I have to be hands on. This new one doesn’t have the sentimental value as the other two, but it’s a big move. I will tell you all about it when we meet because I have a meeting to solidify some things on Wednesday. So that’s where my focus is right now…which is okay, but you deserve more than that. You’re the type of woman I’d want to put first. You’re the type of woman I want to build a future with. You are incredible, Autumn. But my business has to be my priority right now. The last time I didn’t put my new business first, some major mistakes happened that set me back.”

  “I understand that. I do. But…” I trailed off, unsure.

  “But what?” he asked gently.

  “That’s a huge risk. Because I’m...”

  Because I’m not going to wait for you forever, I continued in my head.

  “It is,” Boris sighed. “And that’s eating me up inside. When I think about what I want in a woman, it’s you. Hands down. But I don’t want to jeopardize a legitimate shot with you because the timing was wrong. And timing is everything. So I won’t mess this up because of work. I know the risk, but you deserve more from me. Honestly, you probably deserve better than me. But I’m at the tail end of getting things together for the new business and then I’m coming for you.”

  But who’s to say that I’m going to be sitting around waiting for you? I thought, questioning my own judgment about the whole relationship. Is he even who he says he is? How do I know I’m not being catfished? I’m so confused.

  I pulled the covers to my chin and snuggled into my pillow. “Are you real?” I asked, feeling myself starting to doze off.

  “Yes,” he chuckled softly. “I’m real.”

  “But are you really you?”

  “Yes, I’m really me.”

  “I won’t believe it until I can see you and touch you.”

  “I like the sound of that. Seeing you. Touching you,”
he whispered sexily.

  His words echoed throughout my body. My heavy lidded eyes blinked slowly as I processed what he just said and the way he said it. His voice lit a fire in me.

  “Where would you touch me?” I breathed into the phone, feeling a wave of desire sweep through my body.

  “Everywhere.” He dragged the word out so slowly it almost felt like he was stroking his fingers down my body, tickling my skin. “I plan to touch you everywhere Autumn. With my hands…my fingers…my tongue…”

  Closing my eyes, I let out a moaning breath, squeezing my thighs together. His words and the sound of his voice mixed with the alcohol and my sexual dry spell. I was on the edge.

  “Autumn, you just don’t know,” he tempted with a low groan.

  I let out a labored breath. Unable to say a word, I just held the phone to my face as I tried to extinguish the feeling that had burrowed itself deep in my belly. The silence that settled over the phone held so much promise.

  I need to see him, I thought wantonly. Tonight.

  “Come over tonight,” I whispered.

  He was quiet as if he were considering my offer. “You’ve been drinking… I don’t think you know what you’re saying.”

  “I’m saying that I want you inside me tonight. We can talk about all the relationship stuff on Thursday. Tonight I just want the man I’m into to get in me,” I murmured with my eyes closed.

  “God, Autumn…” he growled. He took a couple of loud rasping breaths before he continued, “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

  “Yes, I do,” I whined softly.

  “I’m going to wine and dine you first.”

  “I want you now though. Right now.”

  “I’m trying to be a gentleman Autumn, but you’re making it hard.” His voice was hoarse and he let out a sexy rumbling noise from deep in his throat. “You’re killing me, you know that?”

  “Mmm…” I mumbled, drifting to sleep.

  Hours later, I awoke abruptly when I heard knocking at the door. “Come in,” I called out as I turned on my side.

  Olivia poked her head in. “My taxi is out front, but thanks for letting me crash here last night.”

  “Of course. Anytime.” I tried to sit up in bed.

  “I need a shower and to get rid of this hangover,” she said as I got out of bed to follow her down the steps.

  After we hugged and said our goodbyes, I went in the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. I didn’t feel hung over, but my memory of the night was hazy.

  I remember meeting Olivia after my date. I remember us eating and drinking. I remember the taxi ride home. I remember putting Olivia in the guest bedroom. And I remember throwing myself across my bed and going to sleep. But why is everything so disjointed? I wondered as I tried to put the pieces together.

  After my coffee, I went back upstairs. I knocked and then peeked into Summer’s empty room.

  Must have been a good date, I acknowledged with a smile. I knew Summer and Max would hit it off!

  I showered and got dressed for the day. Thoughts of Boris filled my head and I couldn’t take it anymore. I picked up my phone to call him.

  “Autumn Rochelle Jones,” Boris answered. I could hear the smile in his voice and butterflies fluttered in my belly.

  “Hi. I’m sorry about the way we got off the phone yesterday. You’ve been on my mind nonstop and I would really like for us to sit down and talk face-to-face at least once.”

  He chuckled and my stomach dropped.

  I’m seriously missing the joke, I thought as I started to pace back and forth.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked in an even tone.

  The amusement was still thick in his voice as he said, “Something told me you weren’t going to remember our conversation.”

  “Of course I remember our conversation! It has been on my mind for the last twenty-four hours.”

  He laughed loudly. “No, I’m talking about the conversation from last night.”

  I froze. “What?”

  “We talked last night. About a lot actually.”

  “Oh no, no, no…” I shook my head as if he could see me. “I don’t remember this at all.”

  “Well, you were pretty tipsy.”

  “Oh dear God…what did we talk about? What did I say?”

  He cleared his throat. “We agreed to meet on Thursday when I get back in town. Sit down over dinner and have a face-to-face conversation.”

  “I hate that I can’t remember any of the conversation. I hope I didn’t say anything bad.”

  “You didn’t say anything bad. In fact, you made sure I had pleasant dreams last night. If you can’t remember by Thursday, I’ll remind you when I see you for the first time.”

  The way he said it made my body react. “Okay,” I replied softly.

  “I have some stuff to take care of in preparation for my meetings this week. Can I call you in a couple of hours?”

  We said goodbye and I collapsed in a heap on my bed.

  My phone vibrated.

  Jordan Moretti: I can’t stop thinking about you.

  With my heart fluttering, the knot in my stomach unraveled and then twisted tightly at the thought of Jordan.

  Autumn Jones: Jordan…

  Jordan Moretti: Autumn…

  Autumn Jones: You are married and you don’t know what you want.

  Jordan Moretti: I haven’t been married for two years. I’m separated. The petition for divorce has been filed. And I do know what I want.

  Autumn Jones: And what’s that?

  Jordan Moretti: You.

  Autumn Jones: I don’t want to be your rebound.

  Jordan Moretti: The very, very few women I’ve encountered during my separation would’ve been rebounds. You are someone I’m trying to have a relationship with.

  Autumn Jones: I don’t know Jordan.

  Jordan Moretti: Would I spend a Saturday night watching Season 1 of a TV show about a serial killer for a rebound?

  Autumn Jones: You watched it?

  Jordan Moretti: Yes. For you. And a little for me because I got into it.

  **********

  Chapter 21: Summer

  As the water from his shower rained down on us, Xavier kissed me carefully, nibbling and sucking on my lower lip. He drew back teasingly before doing it all over again. The back and forth between kissing me and teasing me with the anticipation of the kiss made me tremble. His hands roamed down my bare back before he pulled away slowly.

  I loved the feeling of his skin sliding against mine as we rinsed the last few suds of soap off of each other. “The water and your hands feel good. My body is so sore.”

  “Well, you’re the one who wanted to reenact your fantasy.”

  Just the mention of us having sex on the balcony made my body tingle.

  “That was better than the fantasy. That was…amazing,” I exclaimed breathlessly, my muscles still tight and sore.

  Xavier stroked the side of my face. “You are amazing. Everything last night was amazing. And this morning. And just now…good God woman.” His eyes sparkled and the look he was giving me caused a familiar ache to reemerge.

  “Stop looking at me like that! That’s the reason we had to leave the gala early!”

  Xavier chuckled as he cut the water off. Pulling the curtain back, he grabbed two plush towels. He wrapped one around me and then wrapped the other around his waist.

  “My fingers are all pruned,” I said, examining myself in the mirror. “Oh shit! I don’t have anything to put on.”

  He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Wear that sexy dress you had on last night.”

  “Ah, yes…nothing broadcasts the walk of shame better than last night’s clothing.” I kissed his bicep before wiggling out of his grasp and walking out of the bathroom.

  Xavier grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. His hands came up to cradle my head. His blue eyes looked as though they could see right through me. “Walk of shame?”

  “You k
now what I mean.” I rolled my eyes. “We had fun…lots of hot, sweaty, mind-blowing fun. And now everyone I pass on the way home will know it too,” I said.

  “What bothers me about the term walk of shame is that it implies you’re ashamed of what we did on the balcony…and on the couch…and in my bed…and in the shower,” he said slowly, the softness of his voice speaking to every nerve ending in my body. “And do you really think I’m not going to take you home? I told you last night I’d take you home in my car and that you weren’t taking a taxi.”

  “I didn’t know how much of that was true seeing as how I had your balls in my mouth when you said it.” I bit my lip and tried to maintain a serious expression, but when he laughed, I laughed too.

  “You are perfect.” He stared into my eyes and smiled.

  “When did you first realize my perfection?”

  “I knew you were sexy the first time I saw you.” He looked down, licking his lips. “And then I met you…and you had absolutely no idea who I was. I liked that. Each time we ran into each other, I learned a little more about you and I liked that too. But when you cussed me out in my own house, I knew I had to have you.”

  I tossed my head back and laughed. Standing on my tip-toes, I pulled his face to mine and kissed him. I let my fingers dance over his chest and down his abs.

  “So what’s your plan now that you’ve had me?”

  “I think I’ll keep you.”

  “Good answer!” I said, pulling his towel and running with it into his bedroom.

  Xavier was right on my heels and tackled me on the bed. Tickling me, I squirmed and couldn’t stop laughing. “Truce, truce!” I giggled as I struggled to catch my breath. I was hanging off the side of the bed when I noticed the clock that we had knocked down sometime last night.

  “Please tell me that clock is wrong. Please tell me it’s not almost two in the afternoon,” I uttered.

  “It’s right. You have somewhere to be?”

  “I live with my best friend and she’s going to think I’ve been abducted if I don’t call her and let her know I’m okay.” I looked around. “Have you seen my phone?”

  Xavier pulled on a pair of boxers. “It’s probably in the living room. Dry off and put these on.” He threw me a pair of boxer briefs and left the room.