Page 7

AUTUMN

G rabbing a caramel latte from Marletta’s brightens my day. Normally I would get a green tea and a jelly cookie but today I need the coffee. I take a sip of the sweet, caffeinated liquid, letting it refresh me as I do so. I really needed this.

“Autumn!” Maya bursts through the door looking frantic. “Guess what happened about an hour ago?”

An hour ago, I was catching up on sleep so I wouldn’t know. “What?”

“Cole, his car went haywire, and he crashed.” Maya tells me.

My world starts spinning, as I process the news.

There’s no way, I know I said a lot of things, but I never wanted him to get hurt.

Then again today was his oil change day.

Fuck you, Heath. Of course he would be in today, it's Halloween and almost no one wants to work.

“Thanks for telling me. Where is he?”

“Grimstone Medical.” I march past her and out of Marletta’s tossing my coffee away no longer needing it for energy as I have adrenaline coursing through me right now. Before I go to the auto shop, I have to at least visit Cole, after all he did save me last night.

I walk into the room carrying a bouquet of flowers and I sit them on his bedside table. “You came.” Cole says.

“I wanted to see the cheater breathing so I could kill you myself.” I tell him. I can’t be too soft.

“So, you heard last night?” He asks and I just nod in response. That bitch was loud as fuck so yeah.

“Don’t say you’re sorry because you’re not.” I stop him before he can speak. “You really hurt me and a part of me is glad you have broken ribs, swollen eyes, a sprained ankle, and two broken limbs. You won’t be doing sports anymore that’s for sure and I want to laugh at you, but I won’t.”

“You are brutal Autumn Scott.” Cole laughs.

“I’m glad you’re good and thanks for saving me but this is over. I hope you have the life you deserve.” I tell him as I turn around, I spot Nema walking in.

“He’s all yours.” I slide past her leaving without a second thought. Cole is officially her problem now and even though I still feel like shit from being cheated on at least I can move on now.

Once in my car I start the drive to Heath’s auto shop, Motorway.

I haven’t been there in months, not since Cole went to get his jeep serviced and I saw Heath and hid in a nearby coffee shop till Cole was done but now I’m going there on purpose and going inside.

The last time we were on good terms and I was inside that shop, we had sex in the back of an old Camaro.

I’m starting to rethink my decision because I know I’m not going to really get in his head about about what he did but at least maybe he can give me some sort of answer.

I park close to the entrance so, if necessary, I can quickly make an escape to my car.

With one deep breath I step out of my car and walk inside.

The smell of tires and oil fill my nose. I forgot how strong the scent is. “I’m looking for Heath Dyer.” I say, walking up to the counter. Behind is a boy dressed in the mechanic uniform with a label of Jared on it. The boy looks at me sideways a bit before answering.

“He’s outside.”

“Thank you.” I take his answer and head for the workshop. I push open the heavy glass door and work my way around a couple of cars before spotting him wiping off his tools near the back. “You committed a crime, ya know.”

He most likely heard me walk inside but of course he didn’t turn around to acknowledge me. “You came to my shop to defend your cheating boyfriend?”

“We aren’t together anymore.” For some reason telling him this makes my cheeks burn in redness and my stomach swarms at his possible response.

“Hmm.” Is all he says though. “So, you came to defend your cheating ex.”

“I came to find out why.” I correct him.

“He’s a dick and he got karma, simple.” Heath shrugs, finally turning around to look at me. He’s so unreasonably calm about this considering he could go to jail.

“You could go to jail.”

“I’d live.” He’s impossible, his response only makes me angry as he doesn’t see the potential of what could happen if anyone else figured it out.

“Are you worried about me?” Heath asks, mockingly. I narrow my eyes at him as he studies my face.

“I’m worried you’re being stupid.”

“Then you haven’t seen anything yet.” I’m done. I huff and turn around marching out of the workshop. I can’t believe him. He’s so infuriating and nonchalant about this.

“Come back again.” I hear Jared say behind me as I leave almost like a taunt. I shouldn’t have come here.

I know some frat is throwing a party on campus because it’s Halloween.

Most people are going to that, but I think I’ve had enough scary activities for one month.

First the Predator game, then Heath surprised me in the maze, and now this car crash I’m staying home tonight.

My super cute playboy bunny costume is going to have to stay in the closet.

“I left some champagne on the coffee table for you.” Maya says as I enter the apartment. I see her dressed in her sexy nurse outfit. I look over to the living room seeing the bottle of champagne on the coffee table along with a flute glass. “Thank you.” I say as I hang my keys on the key rack.

I take off my shoes and place them under the table beside the door. “Are you sure you aren’t coming?” She asks.

“No way. I need to mentally calm down.” I reassure Maya as I take off my jacket and put it up on the other side of the door where our jackets are kept.

“Well, if you change your mind, text me.”

“I will. And you look hot, have fun.” I walk into the living room and pour myself a glass of champagne. The bubbles pop up as they hit the glass forming a sizzling sound. This is the perfect start to a calming evening.

“I’ll text you when I’m on the way back.” Maya tells me as she leaves.

“Okay, be careful.” I blow her a kiss as she closes the door leaving me alone.

I sit the bottle down and lean back on the couch sipping my champagne.

After a couple sips I just down the whole glass then pour another and down that one too.

Before drinking too much, I get up and take a shower letting it wash away all the stress from the day.

Somehow, I start to feel extremely tired and end my shower early. I get dressed in my Halloween Roller Rabbit pajamas and turn on my noise machine. I can’t say I even remember laying down in my bed.