Page 5 of Off Limits

A sunny smile takes over Autumn’s face. “Perfect. I’ll drive. Let me just put some clothes on, and we can go. Unless you want to shower first?”

“Yeah, a quick shower would be good. I don’t even want to know how much boy sweat is in that couch. I should wash it off.” Not to mention that I slept in these clothes.

Autumn laughs. “Good point. Go shower. I’ll get ready too.”

* * *

Autumn glances at me as she drives us to The Pastry Corner, our favorite bakery in Millwood. “I’m surprised you ended up at your brother’s house. How come you didn’t try to stay with Dani and Piper? Or Sheena?”

“I dunno. I guess I figured they’d all be out somewhere.”

One eyebrow raises as she turns to face me while we wait at a stoplight. “Seriously? Dani’s not exactly a party animal. I’d be surprised if she wasn’t home.”

With a sigh, I give in and tell the truth. “I didn’t want to be the pathetic puppy dog begging for a place to stay on our first Friday night on campus. And I’d also have to admit that I was hanging out in the library before that and broadcast to the world the sad state of my social life.”

Autumn snorts as the light turns green. “Please. Dani wouldn’t care. She’d think it was great you were getting a jump on your homework.”

“Right. I know Dani’s not exactly a party girl type, but she’s friends with the football team. She probably was hanging out with them somewhere. I don’t know Piper well enough to say what she may or may not have been up to, but if she was home and Dani wasn’t, I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking to stay with them, and then it would just be awkward, because she’d tell me Dani’s not there, and I’d be like oh, okay, see you around then. And you know Sheena was out having fun somewhere. She texted us and invited us along.”

“See?” Autumn insists as she pulls into the small parking lot. “You could’ve texted her, found out where she was, and gone and joined in the fun.”

My brow furrows as I unbuckle my seatbelt and climb out of the car. “Why do you care?”

She shrugs and pulls open the door to the bakery, the bell on the handle jingling as she gestures me inside. “I’m just trying to figure out why you went to Cal’s. From what you’ve told me, and from what I witnessed last year, he doesn’t exactly want you around.”

Sighing, I get in line and study the menu board on the wall. Not that there’s any question about what I’m getting. Autumn and I always get the cinnamon rolls when we come for breakfast. They’re huge and covered in frosting and they’ll warm them up for you, elevating something delicious into truly divine.

But I do like to see what they’re doing with their chalkboard lettering. It’s almost always the same style, but sometimes the little drawings or flourishes inspire me to try something new with my own lettering.

“You’re right,” I say quietly, keeping my gaze on the menu. “He doesn’t really want me around. But I decided to take my chances with him. I wasn’t in the mood to tag along with Sheena, if she even answered anyway. For all I knew, she’d already found someone to hook up with for the night, and my company would’ve been unwelcome.”

Autumn hums but doesn’t respond, because it’s our turn at the counter. After we’ve placed our orders—warm cinnamon rolls and two coffees—we take our number and find a table by the window.

She sets her phone face down on the table and folds her hands in her lap, her brown eyes examining me, her brow puckered with concern. “I just want you to be happy this year, you know? Have fun. Decide what you want out of college. Out of life.”

I squirm a little at her insightful and piercing comments, looking out the window. “And why would going to Cal’s house stop me from doing that?”

She sighs. “He’s … well, he doesn’t always bring out the best in you.”

Shrugging, I return her gaze again. “He wasn’t home anyway. I spent two hours watching TV with his roommate, Simon.”

When her eyes widen this time, it’s accompanied by a grin stretching across her face. “Oh yeah? He’s the big one, right? What position does he play again?”

Chuckling, my grin matches hers. “Yeah. He’s huge. He plays left tackle, so he’s the one who protects the quarterback the most.”

Autumn makes an appreciative noise, her lids falling to half mast as she looks over my shoulder, her gaze abstract. “Yeah, I know who you’re talking about. All those muscles? He’d be great for a couple of rituals I’d like to do.”

I don’t know a whole lot about the kinds of rituals Autumn’s talking about, but from her expression, I’m guessing they’re of the clothing optional variety.

She gives herself a little shake and refocuses on me. “Is he nicer than your brother?”

Laughing, I nod. “Much.”

“Autumn,” calls a baritone voice from the counter.

Perking up at the sound of her name, she leans in as she mutters, “Speaking of men I’d like to perform some rituals with …” and she bounces her eyebrows before sashaying across the bakery to collect our food.

I can’t help chuckling at her audacity. I don’t know what it’s like to have that kind of confidence with the opposite sex. I’ve always been the kind to hang back and wait for someone to express interest in me. Could I ever muster up the courage to approach a guy like Autumn is doing? Even if I did, I’m not sure I could pull it off half so well as she does.

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