Page 47 of Beau & Autumn

“Ah that,” I sigh.

“That good?”

“It was eventful.”

“I’m sure any of your family dinners would be, there’s a lot of you.”

“Well, it wasn’t even that… Autumn and I…” I trail off, not knowing how to elaborate. Like me, Fletcher isn’t the biggest chick magnet in Stoney Creek and can’t exactly give me steady, rational advice because of his expert know-how and experience.

“Autumn and you what?”

“Yeah, something weird has been going on.” I don’t know how to explain this most recent phenomenon. I sure as hell can’t say shit about my proposition last night after she brought up the whole marriage-joke thing her friend suggested.

“As in?”

“As in, I’m having feelings for her.”

“Autumn?”

“Yes, Autumn! Who else would I be talking about?”

He pauses the combat game for a moment. I know it’s not an ideal topic of conversation, especially while we’re heading into battle here. “Feelings?”

“You know, the ‘she’s hot’ kinda feelings.”

“Bro, you sure that’s a good idea?”

“It’s not like I can help it. She was at the dinner last night, we were goddamned hula hooping outside with the kids.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad to me.”

“It wasn’t bad, but we’re best friends.”

“Hey, I thought I was your best friend?”

“She’s my best girl friend,” I amend before he gets offended. “And you have seen Autumn, right?”

“Sure, and she’s smokin’ no doubt about it. So whatcha gonna do about it?”

“We were flirting all night, bro. She was a little tipsy by the end of it, but man, I’m crushing so bad.”

“Again, are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“She was flirting back.”

“You said she was a little tipsy,” he points out. “Maybe it was just the drinks talking?”

“I’m sure she was flirting with me at her house the other day when I was fixing her roof, she was perfectly sober then.”

“Hmm.” He thinks about it for a moment. “So you think? Or you know?”

He resumes the game.

“I don’t know, I can’t think straight. I’ve never crushed on a girl like I have Autumn. When it’s your best friend, it hits differently. She isn’t just some girl. If I fuck this up, then I’ll lose her out of my life forever.”

“Love hurts, haven’t you heard?”

“Not helping.”

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