Page 49 of Riot of Autumn

My eyes drop as I think about all the ways I could screw shit up. With Ruby, with our group of friends, with the goddamned Fae that are slowly taking over our island. There are so many ways I could royally mess this all up.

“Shit,” Davis says, shaking his head. “All I mean is all of us have fucked-up pasts, Ezra. Every single one of us. I just don’t want you to let any of the bullshit get up in your head and keep you from true happiness.”

A slow grin makes its way up my face. “And you think Ruby’s my path to true happiness?”

Davis sighs loudly, giving me a sour look as if I’m the one who decided to delve into any relationship bullshit. “I think she’s your match. I’m done talking now. Everyone can fuck off.” He turns his back to me, ending our conversation without another word.

“Fuck, I’m sweating here. Someone help me,” Rhys shouts as he continues trying to draw in the damn fish.

“What the fuck am I? A dirty boot? I am helping, asswipe,” Archer yells as the two of them yank on the pole.

Davis and I watch without getting up to help. Archer lets out a whoop and I hear the splash of something in the water.

“What? No!” Rhys starts cursing as he pulls up the smallest fucking fish I’ve ever seen.

Davis and I bark out a laugh as Rhys wipes sweat off his forehead.

“This is not the fucking fish I was pulling in.”

“Sure, buddy. Don’t worry, size doesn’t matter.” I huff out in between my laughter.

“This puny fish was in the bigger fish’s mouth. That one was massive.”

“Mmmhmm.” I nod, my lips pressed together. Even Archer laughs, despite having been right there with Rhys trying to catch the fish.

“You guys suck.” Rhys flops into his chair with an exhausted groan that turns into laughter.

Maybe fishing on Davis’s boat with friends isn’t the worst way to spend an afternoon.

* * *

We stay on the water until the sun is about to set. The sky is streaked with oranges, golds, and pinks, making the entire world look like it’s on fire. I know Ruby’s working right now, but has she looked outside to see this incredible sunset? My fingers itch to get out my phone and message her, even though I don’t have anything to say. I just want to see how her day has been.

I give in, snapping a picture and sending it to her with the caption, my second favorite color pink, before I can talk myself out of it.

“What are you smirking at?” Archer peers down at my phone, which I promptly shove in my pocket before he gets a look.

“My calendar.”

“Looked more like you were texting a girl a pretty picture.”

“Alright. Everyone, get the hell off my boat. I’ve spent enough time with other fucking people today.” Davis pushes through the two of us without waiting for us to move.

Archer waits for me to get off the boat first, knowing I would not want to be on it by myself. Despite my rational brain telling me it’s fine, I can’t stop the fear that always creeps in when I get on and off a boat. I’m better than I’ve been in the past, but there’s always that anxiety that I’ll drift off and be stuck by myself. Not like I couldn’t drive the damn boat back, but it’s an irrational fear. It’s not supposed to make sense.

Archer slaps me on the back when he hops out of the boat behind me. Rhys and Davis are a few steps ahead of us, but they abruptly stop.

“Are we having a party on the dock?” Archer shifts his head to look around Davis, who’s right in front of him. The smile on his face disappears, and his entire body tenses. I follow his line of sight and spot Seraphina leaning against one of the posts on the dock.

This can’t be good. I’m not entirely sure what to do. It’s not like the four of us are going to beat her up, but I don’t exactly want to sit around and have a chat with her, either.

“What do you want?” Rhys asks.

The four of us shift into a line so we can all see the Fae who appears innocent, but is just as devious as the rest of her little crew. Seraphina tucks a strand of her long silvery hair behind her ear. The wind off the ocean is blowing hard enough that her hair is whipping around her. She couldn’t look more out of place on the docks if tried. Her dress is some kind of maroon satin number that only has one shoulder and sort of wraps around her waist. She looks like she’s getting ready to go to a wedding. There’s a slit up one leg, and she has that foot propped on the post behind her, displaying a copious amount of thigh. I don’t know if she thinks she’s being seductive, but she’s barking up the wrong damn tree.

“Can’t a girl go for a walk down by the marina and enjoy some fresh air?” She twirls a strand of her long hair and flashes us a smile painted with bubblegum pink lipstick.

“Well, you’re definitely dressed for a stroll.” Archer pointedly looks at her five-inch heels. Seraphina giggles as if this is all just so much fun. Her foot lowers back to the ground, and she grabs hold of the post and swings back and forth a little.

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