Page 61 of Falling for Autumn
“I am sending myself this voice message in a text,” she answered, holding the phone up so that I could see it.
“Why?”
“Proof. In case anything ever comes back, and he tries to come for me. I want to have a record of him saying all this shit about my daughter and me.”
“I know you’re probably fucked up right now, but?—”
“I’m good, October. Thank you for telling me before someone else did. That would have hurt.”
“I’m sure this does too.”
She wiped at her eyes and blew out a long exhale. “It does. I cannot lie and say that it doesn’t, but at least I know where she stands in his life. Did he sign the papers?”
“He did. I’ve got them at home.”
She nodded. “I’m ready to go.”
“Damn, baby. I’m sorry that I messed this up for you.”
“You didn’t.”
“Then why are we leaving?”
“So I can thank my man properly for saving the day as always.”
A beautiful smile spread over her face and warmed my heart. She wasn’t holding that against a nigga after all.
Chapter 22
Autumn
“Istill can’t get over how cute you two are.” Sarai gushed as we huddled around the TV. It was two weekends before Thanksgiving, and everyone was at her and Reuben’s house watching a football game.
“He just had to have her dressed like him for the game today,” I explained, shaking my head as I glanced at Auburn and October. They were dressed just alike, with both of them wearing dark blue jeans, dark blue and gold jerseys with the number seven on the back, and custom dark blue Nikes.
“My baby and me repping today,” October declared in a booming voice.
“Nigga, shut up. The way Norman is playing tonight, the Cobras ’bout to shut the Jaguars down,” Reuben countered from his spot in his recliner.
“Nigga, whatever. How you gon’ be a fair-weather fan?” October asked.
“Tell them to win a game, and we might support them once in a while,” Jo-Jo chimed in.
That started another dispute among all the men and Nautica.
“You want to help me bring the rest of the food in?” Sarai asked.
“I didn’t know Nautica was a football fan,” I stated as we walked into the kitchen.
“Honey, I don’t know who’s worse, the men or Nautica. You see she’s been talking as much shit as the men throughout this game.”
“I noticed.” I laughed.
“She’s the biggest football fan I know. And she can tell you all the stats of her favorite players too.” Sarai laughed and reached inside the refrigerator and pulled out a fruit platter that she handed me.
Before I could turn away with it, she removed a cheese and cracker tray and set it on top of the covered fruit platter.
“I wanted to thank you for everything.”
