Page 79 of All Autumn
“You’re going to love it. We’re doing a June Bug hot guy calendar this year.” She grinned, very pleased with herself.
“No,” I said.
“No,” Adam said.
“It will be a heroes calendar, featuring some of our firemen, police officers, and the rescue team,” she continued, ignoring our refusals. “You boys are the June pinups. Gemini. Twins. Get it?” She bounced on her feet, delighted by her cleverness.
Adam and I let out identical groans, both of us knowing that saying no to Mary was useless.
“I’ll be in touch with the details.” She stepped away, then stopped, coming back. “I almost forgot. You’ll need to make an appointment to have your chests waxed before the photo shoot. Renee at Hair for All Seasons is expecting your call.”
And with that bomb dropped, she was off.
Jenn walked up, a huge grin on her face. “I see Mary gave you the news.”
“So not happening,” Adam and I said in unison.
She laughed. “Those were Dylan’s exact words. He’s Mr. February.”
“I am not getting my chest waxed,” I said. “No way. No how.”
Adam nodded. “Goes for me, too.”
“I wouldn’t make bets on that. Mary always wins,” Jenn cheerfully said. She called the bartender over. “Diane, I think these boys need a strong drink. Make them each a Cape Cod, heavy on the vodka.”
As the former bartender Jenn probably knew what every resident of Blue Ridge Valley’s drink preferences were.
“Where’s Autumn?” Adam said. “We stopped by her house earlier, but she wasn’t home.”
“Oh, she went to Asheville to visit Taren Blanton.”
She went without me? And was the senator there? Was she moving on to him for some fun? Hurt and angry with how she was ignoring me and that she’d hauled herself off to see the Blantons without a word to me, I fired off a text.
Flowers and a lame message? That’s how you end things? Have a great life.
It didn’t take the passing of three seconds to regret the text, but I didn’t send an apology.
41
~ Autumn ~
Ifrownedat the dark circles under my eyes. Connor’s fault that I’d tossed and turned all night. His text had hurt, but he was right. Sending him flowers and that stupid message really had been lame. It was better this way, though. Neither one of us wanted our relationship to turn serious, which made it puzzling why there was a big hurt in my heart.
The generous amount of eye cream I applied helped a little. Since I’d be touring an abandoned building with Lucas, I dressed in jeans and a blouse instead of my customary business attire.
“No, you can’t go today,” I told Beau when he stood at the door with his leash in his mouth. I was beginning to be sorry I’d taught him to get it whenever we were going out. He looked up at me with the saddest eyes. Poor guy. He’d been left at home all day yesterday. What would it hurt to take him?
“Fine, have it your way. In the car, Beauregard.” He bounded out when I opened the door, and I shook my head. When I had kids, I was going to be an awful mom, letting them do whatever they wanted because I wasn’t going to be able to say no.
I paused on my porch. What was I saying? There would not be any kids for me since I never intended to have another husband. Weird that I hadn’t considered that when I’d made that decision since I’d always wanted kids. Three or four of them. That had been my dream. A happy marriage and a home filled with the laughter of children. As opposite of the home I’d grown up in as I could get. I’d thought I found that with Brian, but by cheating on me, he’d stolen my dream.
Beau dropped the leash and barked, and I blinked, then pushed my thoughts out of my mind. Maybe I should get another dog or three. I could be a crazy lady, but instead of cats I’d collect dogs.
“Let’s get this show on the road, Beau my man.”
His tail sweeping the air, he picked up his leash and jumped onto the passenger seat when I opened the door.
It only took fifteen minutes to reach the property, and Lucas’s car was already there. “You be a good boy,” I said when I clipped the leash onto Beau’s collar. He barked twice, making me smile.
