Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I keep myself busy and avoid his eyes by tidying up things on the counter that were already in their places.
“Want me to leave you two alone?” he asks. When I shake my head, he grins, looking satisfied with himself. “That’s because you’re attracted to me, too.”
8
Garrett
Before I left the room, Autumn had been sitting in a chair, but now she’s on the couch next to Trevor. Not close, but close enough.
“I brought another beer out for you anyway,” she says, gesturing to the second bottle that’s now next to my first.
“Thanks.”
There’s also music on now, too, and I wonder if I should do the noble thing and leave the two of them alone, but it occurs to me that she wouldn’t have brought another beer for me if she wanted me to go.
“I was just asking Autumn if the two of you ever dated,” Trevor says, reminding me of another one of his qualities that I had forgotten about: He’s blunt.
“It’s against our company’s rules,” I say, avoiding Autumn’s eyes.
“But you like each other, don’t you? It’s obvious,” Trevor says.
When Autumn doesn’t immediately object to his statement, I risk a glance in her direction. She’s looking back at me with wide eyes. She’s startled, but not irritated or disgusted.
And I wouldn’t expect her to be disgusted. We’re friends, so I assume I don’t completely repulse her, but I’ve never gotten the idea that she could be interested in me like I am in her.
Neither she nor I say anything, and good old Trevor just keeps going. “You should at least kiss. See if there’s anything there.”
More silence follows, and then I nearly fall out of my chair when Autumn says, “I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”
She wouldn’t be opposed to it. Sure, it’s not exactly an expression of burning passion, but in this context, it is consent, agreement, an invitation to “see if there’s anything there” as Trevor said.
I meet her eyes again, and the two of us stare at each other for a good ten seconds. I try to read what she’s thinking, but her thoughts may as well be in Greek, because I have no fucking clue how she’s feeling except that she “wouldn’t be opposed.” It may be the best chance I’ll ever get, so I decide to go for it.
Without another word, but while keeping my eyes on her to make sure her expression doesn’t tell me no, I get up and move to sit beside her. When she doesn’t pull back, I risk a hand on her shoulder, smoothing back her silky golden hair. She lets out a small breath as I lean in closer, and the light still seems to be green, so I brush my lips gently to hers.
I pause, hopeful, but wondering how far to push things, when her lips brush against mine.
She’s kissing me back.
It’s something I had long since filed under the category of Things that will Never Happen, and it’s not only happening — it’s fucking amazing. I apply a little more pressure, being careful not to go too fast. If I kissed her how I’ve always wanted to, she’d probably call the cops on me for attacking her.
So instead, I gently swipe my lip over hers again, and then press my mouth to hers. When she responds again, I tilt my head and try another angle, tasting her sweetness and breathing in her enticing scent.
I didn’t need this kiss to know how I feel about her, but now that I’m kissing her, all of the thoughts and feelings I’ve always tried to ignore come roaring up to smack me in the face.
Then I remember why we’re kissing. Trevor suggested it. Trevor’s here. And though I’m now grateful to him for being the impetus for this moment, I don’t want to start making out with her in his presence.
Would she make out with me? Her kiss tells me that she would. But not here, and not now.
I pull back after going in for one last sweet hit. Her eyes are still closed as I pull away, and the expression on her face gives me hope that this won’t be a one-time thing.
When she opens her eyes and finds me watching her, she smiles at me, and in that moment, I tell myself that if being with her is against company policy, I’ll quit my job and go live in a van down by the river.
I’m wondering how rude it would be to ask Trevor to leave, when he asks, “How was it?”
He’s looking at Autumn, and I don’t think I’d have answered him if he were asking me, but she says, “It was good.” My chest swells with pride when she adds, “I wish we’d have tried that sooner.”
She smiles at me again, and I’m still riding on a high as she turns toward Trevor and he slides his hand along her cheek and cups her jaw. I don’t even fully register what’s happening as he leans in and claims the spot where my mouth had just been.