Page 13 of Let Me

“Then I’ll let you go.Talk to you later.”

“Alright.Later.”

I go inside, hang up my purse, and toss my keys on the counter.Then I head straight for my bedroom where I strip off my clothes and step into the shower, washing my body and shampooing my hair.Beneath the water, I close my eyes and see his face.

Judah.

Disappointment settles deep into my chest.I had hoped for something different with Judah, but the night didn’t unfold as I had expected.I’ll take my losses and move on, but I doubt I’ll ever have that overwhelming feeling of anticipation in my chest for another man.How could I when it hit me so hard with him?

Chapter 4

I typically work a regular eight-to-five Monday through Friday, but when I’m not feeling my best, I’ll head out earlier.That’s the advantage of working with my parents – they’re aware of my health issues, and I don’t have to explain anything to them when I don’t come in or when I need to leave early.

Today, Wednesday, I’m leaving early, but it’s not due to my health.There’s no appointment I have to urgently get to.I’m only leaving so I can call Autumn.I’ve been debating for the last few days whether to do so, and I finally decided that I needed to.For some reason, I miss her.How you can miss someone you don’t know baffles me, but I do.She told me she works for the recreation center, and since she didn’t want to give me her number, I concluded the best way to reach her was to call the place where she works.

Sitting in my car, still in the parking lot at the store, I pull up a search engine and search for the recreation center’s number.I dial it, lean back in my seat and wait.

One ring has me blowing an anticipatory breath.

Two rings have me anxious.

Three rings make me wonder if anyone is going to answer.

I’d almost given up hope, and then I hear, “Thank you for calling Arden Parks and Recreation.This is Autumn speaking.How may I help you?”

I close my eyes as her voice travels through me like an energy.A force.It’s been that way since I met her.

“Hello?”she says.

I sit straight up and say, “Hi, Autumn.It’s Judah.”

“Judah?”

“Yes, from the other day.From Saturday.The campfire…”

“Yes, I know.You’re actually the onlyJudahI know.”

“You’re the onlyAutumnI know.”

“I guess we have that in common.”

A semblance of a smile touches my lips.“It seems so.”

“So, what’s up?Why did you track me down?”

“I didn’t like the way we parted ways Saturday night.It’s been bothering me.”

“Why?”

“Because it just has.”

The line goes quiet for a moment, leaving me to wonder if she was still there.I see the call timer going, so I take it that she is.“You hardly know me, Judah.”

“That’s the problem.I would like to get to know you.”

“From what I saw, you have more than enough people you’re getting to know.”

“I know them already,” I toss back.“I don’t knowyou.”

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