Page 64 of The Love Playbook

They wait for me to return with a glass of water. “True, true,” Ellie says. “So the sounds we heard most recently were from the two of you celebrating a job well done?”

That provokes a genuine laugh. “I guess you could say that.” After downing half my water I shrug, keeping my attention studiously on the rim of my glass. “It’s not like you guys haven’t ever had sex after finishing another activity. And besides, you won’t have to worry about me banging Jackson anymore. This was our last time.”

When no one says anything for a long moment, I finally look up. Everyone is staring at me with identical expressions of gape-mouthed shock.

Ellie is the first to break it, of course. “Autumn …” she starts, but I hold up a hand and shake my head, stopping her before she can voice some kind of protest.

Obviously I’m going to have to give them more of an explanation. “Look, we all knew, including Jackson, that this had an expiration date. I don’t know why anyone is surprised. The agreement was that I would help him learn how to be with a woman and in return he’d help me organize my room. We’ve both upheld our ends of the deal. Therefore our arrangement is complete. I’m not sure what else needs to be said.”

Even Dani is staring at me like she’s not really buying what I’m selling. But it doesn’t matter what they think. This was the plan all along.

Sighing, I finish my water. “I’m tired. I’m going to shower and turn in for the night.”

“Autumn, wait.” It’s Piper this time, obviously tagged in by Ellie now. She crosses the room, touching me on the shoulder so I’ll turn and face her. Her eyes roam my face, examining me for … some sign of emotion, I guess? Some tell that I don’t think this is a good decision. She won’t find it, though. Even if I am sad about ending things with Jackson, that fact is only more evidence that I’m making the right choice.

“I thought you guys really had something,” she says quietly.

I lift one shoulder. “We did have something. And now it’s reached its end. This is the way relationships work. They all end sometime.”

They all give me troubled looks, but I’m tired and dealing with my own feelings and don’t have it in me to deal with theirs too.

It’s the truth, though. No relationship lasts forever. If they don’t end in a breakup, then they end because somebody dies.

The sooner we all realize that, the better off we’ll be.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Jackson

I’m pleasantly surprised to get a text from Autumn the next day. And even happier when I read what it says.

Autumn: Can we get together tonight or tomorrow?

A smile stretching across my face, I type out my answer.

Me: Of course. I’m free after 5. My place or yours?

Tucking my phone in my pocket, I adjust the strap of my backpack, my smile never slipping. I knew if I stuck around long enough, she’d have to admit that there’s more to what we have than what we started with. Plus something shifted yesterday. I felt it. And now I know that she did too.

I thought yesterday was pretty awesome. But it looks like today might turn out even better.

* * *

At first I’m a little put out that Autumn suggested the bakery where we first met up to hash out the details of our relationship.

But as the day progresses and five thirty draws closer, I realize that it’s actually really perfect. This is the place where she likes to discuss things. So if she’s wanting to discuss transitioning our relationship from tutor and student to a real romantic connection, it makes sense that this is where she’d choose to have the conversation. Especially since she might not be certain of my reception. After all, I’d said I was on board with the wholeno feelings, this ends when we’ve done everythingclause she insisted on.

Since Iknowwe haven’t done everything, that can only mean one thing …

She’s finally admitting that she’s developed feelings for me.

So it’s with a smile on my face that I pull open the bakery door, causing the bells on the handle to jangle cheerfully.

Autumn’s already here, parked at the same table where we sat all those weeks ago.

That feels like a lifetime ago, even though it really hasn’t been that long. It’s just that so much has changed since then.

Grinning like a … well, like a man in love, I head straight for her, dropping my backpack on the seat across from her and bending to give her a kiss.

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