Page 7 of Let Me

“Hard to believe, huh?”

“That you work at a grocery store?No, it’s just unexpected.”

She looks at the fire.I hope telling her about my profession makes her steer clear of me as far as any romantic attachment is involved because she can’t be interested in me like that, the same way I can’t be interested in her.

“Would you like a drink?”I ask.

“Yeah, sure.”

“What would you like?”

She shrugs.“I’ll let you choose.”

I get up and walk over to the cooler.She doesn’t strike me as a beer drinker, so I grab a bottle of water.I hand it to her and she says, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Autumn.”

She opens it, takes a sip.Conversation ceases.I suppose that’s my fault.I’m running out of small talk because this isn’t typical.I’m usually good at keeping my interactions with women on a surface level.I’m having trouble doing that now.I’ll have to pull something out of my hat.

I ask, “Do you know what I love about being out here?”

“What’s that?”

“I like being under the sky, out in the open.”

“Why?”

“It forces me to realize how small I really am.I love that feeling.The world wants to blow our heads up, give us egos, and make us think we’re more important than the next person when we’re all made of dust.Doesn’t matter how much money you make—we’re all dirt and when we die, we’ll return to the dirt.”

“That’s true.”

“Ay, Judah, don’t be over there boring Autumn with that deep earth nonsense you be talking,” Moriah says.

Autumn’s eyes light up.“Ah, so he’s a regular at this, huh?”

“Girl, he is.If you’re not into nature, I suggest you run while you still can.”

“Fortunately, I am a nature girl,” Autumn answers.

“With a name like Autumn, you almost have to be, right?”Moriah extends her hand to Autumn and says, “I’m Moriah, by the way.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Moriah.”

“Likewise.You have pretty eyes, too.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.Oh, and if you ever want to know anything aboutthisone,” she says, pointing at me, “Just let me know.”

“Will do,” Autumn says, smiling as she looks at me.

After Moriah sashays away, Autumn says, “You have a lot of friends.”

“I do.I like to surround myself with people who bring out the best in me.Good people.That’s why you’re here.”

She fashions a smile and then turns towards the fire.“So, a campfire in the summer…”

“I know it’s an oxymoron, but it’s only to keep the snakes and bugs away.We don’t do this often in the summer.This time, I just felt compelled to be outside.”

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