Page 82 of All Autumn
“We were supposed to be in it just for the fun. I didn’t think it would hurt you. And what about your stupid text?” In all the years I’d known him, he had never looked at me so coldly, and it felt like a ball was expanding in my chest, making it hard to breathe.
“You don’t have the power to hurt me, Autumn.”
I flinched, but I wasn’t surprised. He’d made it clear from the beginning where he stood. “Well, good. I’d hate to think that I broke your poor heart.” It was a miracle that I’d said that without my lips trembling.
“No worries there.” He glanced over my shoulder at the building. “Adam and I wanted the property to build model homes on. We were going to ask you to do the interior design. I guess you found a better offer.”
With that he opened his car door, tossed the crutches over the seat into the back, then got in and drove away.
I hadn’t known. They hadn’t given the slightest hint that they wanted the place. Standing in the parking lot of an abandoned building as Connor drove away, I realized I’d lost a friend. But so much worse was the realization that he’d taken my heart with him. That wasn’t supposed to happen. I put my fingers at the top of my nose and squeezed the tears away. I wanted my heart back.
42
~ Connor ~
We werein it just for the fun. Right. Got it.
Adam hadn’t been happy when I’d demanded my freedom this morning, but he’d taken me to my house, giving me all kinds of admonishments to rest. As soon as he’d left, I’d gotten in my car and gone to Autumn’s. She hadn’t been home.
I’d decided to take a drive through town, and I’d been surprised to see her car parked outside Humphrey’s building. The bigger surprise—and not a good one—had been finding her there with Senator Blanton. She hadn’t known we wanted that property, but finding out she was working with Blanton felt like a betrayal.
That burned, but it was her words that I couldn’t get out of my head. Was this how Adam had felt when Savannah left, like a piece of him was missing? If this was love, then I didn’t want any part of it.
You’re the one who sent her that dumb text. True, but it had been my knee-jerk reaction to getting brushed off with flowers and her stupid note. It burned that she couldn’t tell me to my face that she was done with me.
Still, I’d said things to her that I shouldn’t have. I knew there was nothing going on between her and Blanton, but my jealousy had gotten the better of me. It was an emotion I’d never experienced, and I hadn’t known how to deal with that other than to act like an ass. I’d told her an outright lie when I’d said she didn’t have the power to hurt me. I wish to hell it was the truth, though.
Without thinking about it I ended up at our jobsite, pulling to a stop next to Dylan’s Mustang. We’d built a log home for him and Jenn, and I wondered if there was a problem he’d stopped by to talk to Adam about. Adam took pride in his work, and we seldom had issues after the owners took possession of their homes. I noted the progress Adam had made since I’d been here last. This one was our grandest luxury log home yet. In three weeks we’d be turning the keys over to the new owners.
I eased out of the car, got my crutches under my arms, and carefully made my way over construction debris. Tomorrow I was supposed to go back to the doctor, and I hoped he’d tell me I could toss the crutches.
Inside I found Adam leaning against the kitchen counter, talking to Dylan. “Chief,” I said, greeting him. “You slumming or here to cause trouble?”
Dylan chuckled. “Stopped by to invite you and Adam over for steaks and a beer tomorrow night.”
Adam frowned. “What are you doing out? You’re supposed to stay off that foot.”
I ignored his question. “You’ll never guess who bought Humphrey’s building.”
“Senator Blanton,” Dylan said.
“You knew?”
“Just heard it this morning.” He glanced from me to Adam. “That a problem?”
I shrugged. “We had an offer in on the property.”
“Yeah, we were going to build a couple of model homes and relocate our office there.” Adam glanced at me. “How’d you find out?”
“Ran into Autumn there. With Blanton, I might add.” Dylan must have heard something in my voice, because he raised a brow. “Apparently she’s working for him.”
“And I gather that’s also a problem,” he said.
“Yeah, it is. She refused to say what his plans for the property are. Said she had to sign a nondisclosure agreement.”
Adam studied me for a moment. “But that’s not why you’re upset.”
“She said . . .” I glanced at Dylan. What the hell. He was a friend and a smart guy, so maybe he’d have some words of wisdom. “She said that she was just in it for the fun.” Those words shouldn’t hurt since I’d claimed the same thing, but apparently I’d only been fooling myself.
