Page 38 of Beau & Autumn

He smiles, and it lights up his whole face. “Oh, I knew, Autumn Leaf. I really knew.”

11

Beau

“Please, please?” Georgia whines to Autumn. “Beau thinks he’s too sophisticated to drink hot chocolate. Boring!”

“Leave her alone.” I shake my head at my twin sister. Why is she being so annoying? Oh right, she had wine at dinner and it always makes her a little giddy. Everyone was excited about Callan and Celeste’s news so I can’t blame her, really. I move the stem of her glass away subtly, replacing it with my water while she’s busy snaring Autumn over into her place so she can fire up her new machine. She’s right, I don’t drink hot chocolate, but I’ll gladly be in on anything that means I get to spend more time with Autumn.

She’s wearing jeans, a white fitted bodysuit with a light pink faux-leather jacket and little ankle boots. I swear my heart stopped beating when I saw her. And that whole hip swaying thing outside earlier with the hula hoops…

“You don’t have to beg me to come test out your new contraption,” Autumn laughs. “I love a good hot chocolate, day or night.”

Her cheeks are a little rosy herself from the wine, it’s adorable. Plus there was the champagne toast for the new Bassett baby announcement. If she and my sister keep drinking, they’re going to be a tad over tipsy in no time at all. “Maybe a strong coffee might be better, sis,” I mutter.

We go to leave the table and I need to make an excuse to tag along with them. I don’t want to appear like a loser, but my sister and I often hang out and she’s the only one who knows about my art studio.

“Goodnight Mom, Dad.” I pull them both into a hug and Dad messes up my hair.

“See you in the morning, honey,” Mom says.

“Goodnight everyone,” I call across the room to the rest of the family left milling around.

“Goodnight,” the others chime back.

I head off toward my side of the house. My shoulders slump a little when I see Georgia and Autumn arm in arm heading to her place. Not even a goodnight?

I shove my hands in my pockets, disappointment flooding through me when I hear, “Beau-ster?”

I turn at the sound of Autumn's voice. “Get over here, you big doo-doo head.” Okay, she’s definitely been drinking. Not wasted, but definitely tipsy. And it’s adorable. Even if I am apparently a doo-doo head.

“I’m kinda tired.” I don’t mean it, but I feel the sudden spark of enthusiasm in my eyes might be off putting to her.

“Since when?” Georgia snorts, giving me a sarcastic smile.

I silence her with a stern look in my eyes and then smile at Autumn.

“Yeah, come on, B-bop. I need someone to stuff me with marshmallows.”

B-bop?

Christ.

And fuck me if my mind didn’t do overtime thinking about stuffing her with something else other than marshmallows. My chub’s been tapering between hard and harder all damn night.

I walk toward them. “I think you two need something stronger than hot chocolate. No more wine.”

“Yes sir!” Autumn salutes and Georgia snorts with laughter.

“Hey, you can’t tell us what to do.” Georgia tugs Autumn to her side. “Can he, A?”

Autumn shakes her head. “No, but he is pretty cute when he’s all growly.”

My heart beats faster in my chest.

“Ewww.” Georgia pretends to barf. “Do you need glasses?”

“You realize we are twins? So regardless of our gender, we do look related.”

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