Page 3 of Down Memory Lane
A puff of air running across her forehead drew Autumn’s eyes upward. “Hey. I think we fell asleep,” Felix’s groggy voice was sexier than she remembered, and when he rolled slightly and the tent in his jeans pressed into just the right spot, she nearly came undone.
“It happens.” Autumn practically fell onto the floor in her rush to move away from Felix when really she wanted to stay with him all night long, but how could she ask for that without wanting to take things to the next level, to test the friendship that had been her whole world for so long. She couldn’t, not yet, so instead of being brave, she fled. “I should hit the hay. Goodnight, Fe.”
After sprinting to her room, Autumn took out her silicone soulmate and rubbed one out as the feelings of arousal lingered in her body, wondering how it would feel to have a piece of Felix pulsing inside of her. It was the first time she was masturbating to thoughts of her best friend, but she knew that now that first domino had toppled over, it would cascade. Now all she could think about was kissing Felix, licking the spot behind his ear, and riding him until her skin was as pink as her hair.
****
The buzzing from thesmall table next to her wrenched Autumn from her lusty daydreams, something she was completely okay with since she would likely end up back there later anyway. Peering over at the vibrating screen of her phone, she smiled at the wordMomand grabbed a towel to wipe her clay sodden hands.
“Hey Mom, what’s up?” Autumn set the phone on her shoulder as she continued to rub at the dried stoneware clay on her fingers, frowning at the sorry state of her nails.
Luckily her mom’s high voice chimed in before Autumn could become too melancholy over the impracticality of her getting a manicure. “Nothing much. I was just calling to check in on you. How are things in the pottery world?”
Autumn snorted. As far as she knew, she was the only potter in Applewood, so the pottery world began and ended at the front door to her small studio. “Not bad. I just finished up a project that was giving me a hard time, so that’s always satisfying.” She cut the base of the vase away from the wheel and gently placed it on her shelves to dry. “And before that I just finished another order for Aiden’s restaurant. Apparently, someone in the kitchen keeps breaking dishes. I don’t love that someone destroyed my babies, but I don’t hate the additional income either.” She also appreciated that Felix’s older brother used her in the first place instead of going with something sturdier, or cheaper from a more reliable supplier.
“Well, that is good. I hate to think of you up there living the life of a starving artist,” her mom said. Her tone was friendly enough, but Autumn could hear the tiny bit of judgement that lay beneath the surface.
Autumn swallowed her irritation at the remark and tried not to let it get to her. Her parents had both tried pushing her into a more practical career, but nursing just wasn’t for her for many reasons. “I’m hardly starving,” she replied, patting her soft stomach. A steady diet of frozen foods and sitting at a potter’s wheel all day had given her a little more cushion for the pushing over the years, but she had no complaints, and she did get plenty of fruit thanks to living on an orchard. “I make enough to get by and that’s all I need.”
It was another thing she and Felix had in common, doing what you loved even if it meant going without. Her clothes weren’t fancy and she ate packaged Ramen more often than was probably ideal, but if she got to throw clay all day and spend all night with her best friend, it was worth it.
“You know that’s not what I meant.” Autumn could picture her mom getting slightly flustered on the other end of the phone. “Obviously the Kemps wouldn’t let you go without food, I just want to make sure you aren’t selling yourself short.”
Autumn rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Mom, we’ve talked about this. Multiple times in fact.” It was probably the biggest source of tension in their relationship.
When Autumn had announced she was dropping out of college, her parents had gone slightly crazy. They even mentioned moving back to Applewood to try and help her through her studies if she needed it. As much as she loved her parents, them being a few states away had been a good thing and there was no way she could handle being under that much scrutiny again.
It hadn’t taken much convincing to get them to stay in Phoenix where her father’s rheumatoid arthritis was barely an issue, but it had taken enough that Autumn didn’t love the idea of having to do it again. “I’m really happy where I am.”
A heavy sigh of resignation came through the speaker. “I know that dear. But just because you’re a grown woman doesn’t mean I don’t still worry about you. Once a mom, always a mom.”
Autumn felt her irritation subside. “I get that, I really do. I just want you to be okay with my decisions.” She glanced at her watch, frowning when she realized she’d probably missed her opportunity to head to Branch and Brew for a little one-on-one time with Felix. Remembering that tonight was trivia night, a smile came back over her face as she imagined partnering up with her bestie. “I have to go now, Mom. Give my love to Dad.”
“Okay. Love you, Pumpkin,” her mom chirped.
Autumn rolled her eyes at the endearment she’d earned as a small child when she’d successfully placed her head inside a carved jack-o'-lantern. “Love you too, Mom. Talk to you later.”
Getting off the phone with her mom quickly was impossible, but after managing only another two goodbyes, Autumn went over to the basin sink and started up the ten minute ritual that was declaying her hands. While she scrubbed mercilessly with the nail brush, hoping to get every last trace from underneath her fingertips, she thought about what to do in regards to Felix. She could hem and haw for hours, days, probably even weeks about how she should approach the situation, or she could simply talk to the man.
It was easier said than done, but the prospect of spending the next month plus agonizing over her feelings made her stomach drop. Things would get awkward between them, and she couldn’t stand the thought of that happening. They’d had small bickering sessions in the past, but for the most part, everything between her and Felix had always been easy, uncomplicated. Why should this be any different? Decision made, Autumn left her small studio and walked toward the apartment, ready to put into motion a plan to tell her friend exactly how she felt.
