Page 51 of Ms Perfectly Fine
They only made it to the first set of traffic lights before Nina couldn’t resist any longer.
“Did something happen? Somethinghasto have happened. Last time we spoke, you hated him, and now he’s kissing you goodbye.” Nina’s eyes narrowed, studying Autumn, who avoided looking at her, afraid that Nina would know she was lying. She wasn’t ready to talk about it yet; she wanted what had happened to stay between her and Elijah for now. It was complicated enough that they lived together; telling others would only add undue pressure.I should probably talk to Elijah before I tell her anyway. Although there won’t be much to tell if he keeps kissing me in public.
“We went swimming. As for the rest…I don’t know yet. There is something happening between us, but it feels too soon to say what exactly…” she said, trying to give her friend something to chew on. “When I know, so will you.”
“You went? I can’t believe he got you to go,” Nina exclaimed. “When he asked me for your size, I didn’t think he would convince you.” “You didn’t think of giving me a heads-up?” Autumn asked as they waited for the lights to change at the end of her street. “What size I am wasn’t exactly a normal thing for him to ask.”
“I thought he might have been getting you a gift; things haven’t been easy between the two of you. At least he respected your privacy. He could have just gone into your room.”
Nina had a point. She hadn’t thought of that. “Fair enough. But in the future, please tell me if he asks you any strange questions.”
Nina laughed. “Okay. Since we’re on the topic, he asked me for tickets to our next show.”
Autumn felt her chest tighten. She didn’t want him to see her perform. Why did the idea bother her so much?He’s heard and seen me rehearse.But the thought of him watching her on stage made her shuffle in her seat. It felt too intimate. She hadn’t even let people she’d casually dated in the past come to her shows.
“You didn’t tell him you would, did you?” she demanded, gripping the pastry box on her lap a little too tightly.
“No,” Nina said, too quickly, and she could breathe again.
“Good.” She sank back into the chair.
“I just put his name on the list.”
“You’re both determined to drive me crazy,” Autumn muttered.
“I saw you blush when he kissed you. I don’t think I’d call that crazy.”
“I didn’t blush,” she argued, trying not to think of his kisses or her hands in his hair as he nipped and sucked on her neck like he was a starving man and she was his favourite dessert.
“Agree to disagree,” Nina said. “Are you going to tell me how it went, or is your day at the beach a secret?”
“It was good. Just the distraction I needed,” Autumn conceded, unsure of how much she wanted to share. Elijah had confided in her about his relationship with Tim, and she wanted to respect his privacy the same way she wouldn’t want him to expose what she had shared with him.
“Have your feelings for him changed?” Nina pried.
“Yes,” she admitted. After what had happened on the stairs, she couldn’t really call them enemies any longer.
“One less thing to stress about. He might be the medicine you need.”
Autumn wasn’t so sure. Remembering how safe she’d felt as he held her in the water, she wasn’t sure where they stood, and the confusion was worse than the loathing. “Hating him was a lot less complicated.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself,” Nina said, pulling into the underground parking on Randell Investments.
“Focus on the road and your own relationship.” Autumn rolled down the window to give the security guard her security pass. Once it was checked, they were cleared to go in.
“I’m very happy in my relationship, thank you very much,” Nina said, but Autumn noticed how she clenched the steering wheel. She was sure Nina was still heartbroken about her ex, even if she didn’t want to admit it. “I think Elijah is good for you; it’s been a while since I’ve seen you smile like that,” she went on, parking close to the lifts.
“AndIthink he’s bad for my blood pressure,” Autumn countered, getting out of the car. The underground car park was wall-to-wall luxury cars.
“My nails should take about an hour,” Nina said, locking her car. “I’ll meet you back here and then we can head to afternoon rehearsals.”
“Alrighty. I won’t be too long,” Autumn replied, walking to the lifts. As she waited, she picked at the corner of the doughnut box she was holding. She wasn’t sure how Tim would react if he knew Elijah had told her about their connection.
Upstairs, the doors opened to reveal white offices and grey marble flooring. She couldn’t imagine working somewhere that appeared so sterile. Then again, how cheery was an investment company supposed to look? She headed through the glass doors to the executive offices, where she found Tim’s receptionist, Anne, talking on the phone. Seeing the doughnut box in Autumn’s hands, Anne ended the call rather abruptly.
“Mr Lionel on the third floor complaining about not getting promoted again—as if I can do anything about it!” she said, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“Nothing doughnuts can’t cure. I got your favourite, extra sprinkles,” Autumn said, handing her the box.
