Page 59 of Falling for Autumn
“I’m just fine. She’s not about to ruin my trip. But I’ve got something for that ass.”
We headed into the restaurant side of the building and waited for the hostess to usher us to our table. We were seated after five minutes, and Autumn left to wash her hands.
The girl walked up to our table and stopped.
“I don’t know what you see in her, but?—”
“Let me stop you right there, li’l mama. My girl already checked the hell out of your ass, and I got a feeling that she ain’t through with you. So, if you want to keep your wig intact,I suggest you step off now. I promise you that I ain’t got no problem checking you.”
“Oh, I guess big girl season must be in. I forgot that it’s getting cooler outside,” she replied, sucking her teeth.
I chuckled and shook my head. “Big girl season is in year-round by popular demand, but thirsty girl season ain’t ever popular.”
She frowned at me, muttered, “I didn’t like your light-bright ass anyway,” and turned to walk away. Autumn was quickly striding in our direction, and I just shook my head. She wore a smirk on her face, and I couldn’t help but wonder what she was up to.
“What’s that smirk for?” I asked as she took her seat.
She glanced at her watch and then back up at me. “That little hot tamale is about to be called to the back. And then in about five minutes, she will be traipsing her ass out of here and never returning unless it’s as a paying customer,” Autumn informed me.
“The hell did you do, Autumn?” I asked as I saw one of the winery managers beckon the girl.
“Nothing. I just issued a formal complaint.”
“I thought you went back to wash your hands.”
“Oh, I did that along the way too. People are gonna learn not to mess with me. I’m a woman in love, and I have no time for foolishness.”
“Ahh shit now. I’ve created a monster,” I joked.
“No. You’ve taken what was a beautiful woman and made her extremely confident and whole.”
“Baby, I’m glad that I could be that for you. I’m glad that you feel good about yourself again.”
“Again?” she scoffed. “I never did. October, I told you that I was always self-conscious as a kid and as a teen. But I worked hard to make sure that no one saw that part of me. I hid itfrom the world through sass and jokes. Being loved by you has changed all of that. I no longer hide away from the world or go someplace quiet to cry because of something mean that someone has said about me or being disgusted with myself when I look in the mirror. I don’t worry about coming to restaurants like this where people are bound to look at me and judge me for ‘eating too much.’”
“Good, because I’m starving. And I’m not about to give two fucks about what anyone’s got to say about some shit that we’re eating tonight. I’m eating off your plate, and you’re eating off mine. We’re gonna get our money’s worth and eat the best of everything.”
“Bring it on. You’ve said nothing but a word,” Autumn replied with a wide grin as she wiggled her fingers for me to hand her one of the menus. They were both stacked on my side of the table. I handed her a menu and perused mine while she did the same.
After we placed our order of grilled hangar steak, seared shrimp, pimento cheese grits, garlic fries, the house salad, and a red wine, I saw the girl storming out of the restaurant with her bag on her arm. Her eyes were red from crying.
“Damn, Autumn.”
“It costs nothing to be polite. Anyway, tell me what you’re going to do to me tonight.”
I chuckled at her ass and proceeded to do exactly as she asked.
“I was thinking about Wilson,” Autumn stated after halfway through our meal.
I set my fork down, grabbed my glass of wine, and gulped it down.
“You haven’t heard me out.” She speared a cucumber from her salad.
“That nigga almost ripped my family from my hands. He got me fucked up.”
“You do realize that you’re going to have to shut those feelings off. If he wants to be a part of her life, I cannot refuse him that right, October. He threatened to take me to court already, and the last thing that I need is to be dragged through court because he wants to be petty. How did y’all know each other?”
My stomach tightened because I wasn’t sure how she would take what I had to say next. But I also wouldn’t let any more time pass before I told her the truth.
