Page 24 of Forever After Never

“Did they deserve it?” This woman amazes me.

“Well, I think so. It was my sister’s ex-husband. I’m not proud of it. But it’s done now, and it was in my past. I don’t lie about it, but it was also very long ago, and it’s not who I am.” I emphasise the last part.

Looking at her with stoicism, I wait because I don’t know how she will react. I haven't shared this with anyone unless they wereimportant to me. Not that I am hiding it, but there is really no need to know.

She considers me for a moment.

“Okay.” She shrugs, and that is all she says. No questioning, no delving further into that part of my life, no look of concern on her beautiful face.

“Ex-wives? Yes, One. Illegitimate children? Not as far as I know. Criminal record? Yes. To expand further, my sister’s ex-husband was beating her, so I returned the favor.” Staring at her across the table, I remind myself again that I have never felt the need to be honest with any of the women I have fucked, so why I am starting now is anyone’s guess. The women I meet don’t need to know about my life.

“Jesus – I thought life handed me the rough end of the pineapple. Check you out for taking that prize away from me!” She bursts out laughing. A laugh that travels on the air and straight to my soul. Hearing Autumn laugh is my new favourite thing.

“I’m sorry, this is not funny. What an inappropriate time to laugh. Can you tell me more about the ex-wife?” she says through another fit of the giggles.

“Oh. Okay. Well.”

“Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry if you’d rather not t-”

“She cheated on me with my best friend. I walked in on them together. He had her bent over the kitchen table.” I tap on the table in front of me with the bottom of my glass. “They had been having an affair for four years. It started the night before our wedding.” I hold her gaze across the table. Her mouth opens with a satisfying pop.

“Fuck all the way off. That has got to be a joke, right?” She looks equal parts horrified and amused, and her mouth pops open.

“Ha! I wish it were a joke, Autumn! I never did quite recover from that.” I chuckle. Hiding the sting that I can feel emanating in my chest.

“Jesus, Sawyer, I’m.. I.. Ummmm. Well, I don’t even know what to say to that.” She reaches across the table and touches the back of my hand. The warmth from her soft fingers curling around my rough skin sends warmth up my arm.

“It was ten years ago. I have moved past it,” I lie. “Wait, how are you more concerned about my ex-wife cheating on me than you are about me doing time for assault?”

“Why would I be concerned about you protecting your family? It sounds very much like the prick had it coming. I would wait my whole life for someone to care that much about me.” My chest aches as I recall the conversation where I left her half-naked on her bed. Jesus, who is this woman? I’ve never told a single soul that didn’t need to know about what happened with my sister’s ex, and the first person I do tell is so fucking cool about it.

“Are you close to your family?” She moves on, completely unphased by my confessions. I didn’t need to tell her any of that, but I had no reason not to.

“Very close. Two brothers, one sister, a niece, and, as you know, my parents. We are incredibly close. How about you?” Between us, we’ve drunk half a bottle of rum now, and Autumn is looking flushed and fucking perfect.

“Well damn, there are more of you?” She gives me a wicked grin, one that I return. “No family for me. No siblings. I was an accident.” she uses air quotes at the last part. “I was never completely loved by my parents because they never wanted children. It was hinted at, more than once, that I ruined their life a bit! They honestly did try their best, even though I was their biggest burden. Then, they rudely died in a car accident ten years ago. Probably about the same time that your buddy was fuckingyour wife. They left me enough money to move here and buy my own home, though. So, I am mortgage-free at least. Cheers, Mum and Dad, for the house and the trauma.” She raises her rum and coke to the ceiling. There is something to be said about Autumn masking hurt with humor. I recognize it because I do it all the time.

“Fuck. Autumn. I’m sorry I told you those things that night. About not knowing what it is to have someone care enough about you to protect you. I’m such an asshole.”

“Hey, it’s okay, I’m not mad about it. You didn’t know and honestly, what you told me is true. Mostly. I hate having this discussion with someone because it sounds sowoe is me.The fact is, the one person that has ever truly loved me is Alice and mannn, what a person to be loved by! I am not sad about it. Truly, I am not. It’s simply part of my life that has happened. I am not a true believer in ‘everything happens for a reason,’but if none of my life played out the way it did, then I wouldn’t have moved thousands of miles away to a different continent, and I wouldn’t be sitting here with you, would I?” She tilts her head to the side and shoots me a genuine smile.

“Autumn, have you never been in love with someone? Has someone ever been in love with you?”

“Nope. No way, Sir! I don’t think I’d know how to love someone in that way, even if I tried. I don’t need to love someone to have sex with them, though.” She laughs again. Nervously this time. Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink, and I find the bashful version of Autumn sexy and intriguing.

Well, this got heavier than I thought it would. It’s not the conversation I expected to have this evening, but I have an overwhelming desire to protect Autumn at all costs. Nothing that is coming out of her mouth is said for pity. She is so matter-of-fact about it all, and I know nothing and everything about her all at once. If there was any doubt at all about whether I wantsomething more with Autumn, than I have with any woman since my wife, then that has been clarified. I am going to make Autumn fall for me.

“Hey, I realise that I don’t know your last name, Autumn.”

“Andrews.”

I am going to make Autumn Andrews fall for me. I hope she doesn’t fuck me up in the process, or even worse, I hope I don’t fuck her up either.

Chapter 22

Autumn

“Autumn, let me take you to bed.” His gravelly voice vibrates through the table and goes straight to my chest. I have been aching to hear him say it for weeks. I press my thighs together, willing the fireworks in my vagina not to explode and make a show of themselves.

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