Page 6 of Autumn Wishes and Pumpkin Kisses

I nod my head before I realize she can’t see that. “Yeah, the kids are asleep, so it’s just me and my self-deprecating thoughts.”

“Teaganne…” she replies with a sigh.

“It is what it is. I’ll be fine. I’m just in a bit of a funk today.” I stare out the window at the tall trees. Some of the leaves are already starting to turn. In the setting sun I can spot bits of yellow peeking through the vibrant green. Autumn in Blue Ridge is always something to see. It’s stunning and even if you aren’t a nature person, it’s impossible to not appreciate it.

“How long until the roadside assistance gets there?”

“A couple of hours,” I admit.

I can already picture Warbee’s cheeks flaming red with anger to match her naturally red hair. “Teganne Voss are you crazy? Did you really think I was going to let you just sit there with those two babies for two whole hours? I mean, are y’all even in a safe place?”

“Warbee, we’re okay. Please calm down,” I tell her, while I bite my bottom lip to keep my giggle from escaping.

I can hear her as she takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. “You’re right that y’all will be okay because Rocker and I are going to leave right now to come get y’all.”

“Warbee...that’s not necessary.”

She humphs with attitude on the other end of the line. “It’s completely necessary. We’ll be there shortly. GPS me your location. Love you.”

The phone goes dead and I know there’s no use even trying to tell her not to come. Once Warbee has her mind set on something, there’s no stopping her. I send her my GPS and wait. As I watch the changing leaves dance in the breeze, I think back to a different set of memories. Memories that star a very different version of myself. A better version. I really hope I can find her again.

SIX

Keefer

I’m staring out at the football field where I spent most of my time senior year. I remember standing in the middle of my high school’s football field. Rocker is standing a good ten yards away from me and we toss a football back and forth under the setting sun.

After leaving Warbee’s bakery, I grabbed some groceries and then once school was released for the day I headed over to the high school. Rocker was easy to find, standing on the sidelines of the football field watching his team run plays. Memories flooded back to me in an instant. I spent all of my senior year on that field, running plays and playing actual football games. It was under those stadium lights that I first kissed Teaganne and it set my soul on fire. It was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. At that moment, I understood why wildfires are so scary. They are uncontrollable just like what I felt for Teaganne. Just like she was.

The memory comes back as I stay, sitting behind the wheel of my truck.

I felt the change in the temperature, the wind picked up, but I refused to leave the football field. It was my form of a safe haven. Warbee had her grandmother’s bakery and Teaganne was usually with her, but I know her safe haven is behind a sewing machine. This football field is mine. It doesn’t make much sense to most people. I didn’t grow up playing sports. As a kid, I was more drawn to books than any kind of sport.

The reason that led me to football would probably be considered dumb to most people. It’s a simple answer really. For the last three years, my heart has belonged to one person...Teaganne. I don’t stand a chance with her. She’s completely out of my league. Beautiful, talented, smart, and charming... I’m just a nerd but if I knew if I could make the football team, I’d gain her attention. Football in Blue Ridge is sacred. The football team was treated like Gods at school. I didn’t care so much about all that. I just cared about Teaganne seeing me that way.

Making the team took a lot of hard work. Lots of hours practicing, exercising, studying…if there was something that supposedly helped your game, I tried it. Luckily, it all paid off and I made the first string. I think most people were shocked to see me step out on the field during tryouts. Blue Ridge is a small town, everyone knows everyone. It was well known in the community that I was not a star athlete. I somehow managed to impress everyone, the coach and Rocker, included. Warbee and Teaganne were sitting in the stands watching the tryouts. When I looked up, I saw Teaganne, eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. A surge of joy rushed through me. I had succeeded. I did what I came to do. I had her attention.

Even though I gained her attention, it took us all of senior year to finally do something with it. It wasn’t until prom when I decided to ask her to the dance. I still can’t believe she said yes. I’m running some drills on my own when I sense her. I’ve always had a sixth sense when it comes to Teaganne. When I turn around, she’s standing behind me, her raven hair dancing in the breeze. The magenta halter top and distressed denim mini shorts make her olive skin tone stand out. A pair of magenta wedges complete the look and make her already long legs, look even longer. She pushes her shades up on top of her head. Her honey brown eyes dance with confidence in the setting sun. That’s one thing that makes Teaganne truly stand out. Of course, she’s beautiful but the confidence she has in herself is what truly shines through. “Hey stud,” she calls to me, in the sultriest sounding voice.

“Are you considering joining the team?” I tease back. It’s lame, but it’s literally all I can come up with since my mouth is as dry as a desert suffering from a drought. Let’s be honest, I tend to have trouble forming words when Teaganne is around.

Teaganne closes the distance between us. My hands wrap tighter around the football. My goal is always to seem less nervous around Teaganne, but I’m pretty sure I fail miserably or at least I thought I do, but when I asked her to prom, she genuinely seemed shocked so maybe I’ve hidden it better than I thought. She stops in front of me. Teaganne’s scent of baby lotion and strawberry fills my senses. “I was just wondering about something.”

I wait for her to finish the statement, but she never does and just as I’m about to ask her what she’s wondering about, she yanks me towards her and presses her lips to mine. Shock rages through me at first, but after the first few moments I find myself kissing her back. The football drops from my hands and tangles in her long raven locks. I pull her closer to me forgetting that I’m covered in sweat and shirtless. She hums against my lips and the vibration reaches all the way to my toes. When we finally break apart, we’re both flushed and breathing a little rushed. “I like what you were wondering about.”

She smiles. “Me, too.”

I pull myself from the memory and get out of the truck. As I approach, Rocker notices me and leans over to say something to the assistant coach standing next to him. Rocker jogs to meet me halfway. “You’re back!”

I chuckle. “I’m back. How’s football practice?” I ask, nodding my head back towards the field.

Rocker whistles. “Well, pretty good actually. This might be the best team I’ve had yet. It’s exciting. Do you want to join us for the rest of practice?”

I agree and join Rocker and the rest of the assistant coaches on the sidelines. Rocker wasn’t lying, this team is on top of their game. “If you don’t win state this year, y’all are playing against a bunch of mutants.”

His head falls back in laughter. “I like the way you think. So, how’s it going being back in Blue Ridge?”

My shoulders shrug. “You did this last year so I’m pretty sure you know.”

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