Page 24 of Promised Love
I sometimes wonder how it’ll be when we see each other again someday. Will we feel like strangers? Will it be weird…to talk? Will we prefer to use email instead of words?
Something to think about, right?
~ Autumn
My lips curl imagining us both sitting opposite each other in some cafe, typing furiously in our laptops because talking seems weird.
“I didn’t dress up for you, in case you’re wondering. I just happened to put them on today.” She looks away for a split second before her gaze returns to my face. “Did you buy them yourself and you just let me believe they were ordered online?”
I squirm under her intense gaze.
“Don’t lie to me, Lukas. Not anymore.”
“I was there with a friend. He was buying a ring for his wife, and when I saw them, I immediately thought of you.”
Her lips twist and her mouth is drawn down in a scowl. She hadn’t even looked so pissed off on our wedding day.
“What would have happened if I’d have told you I was here?” I finally ask.
“That’s not the point. The point is, you chose to hide what seems like a huge part of your life. I thought we were friends.”
“We are, and I shared.” Before she can tell me otherwise, I continue, “Didn’t I tell you about a friend who started a security company after he had to take medical retirement? That was Connor King.”
“But you didn’t say he was in St. Peppers.” She folds her arms over her chest.
“I shared everything that was relevant, Autumn. Once I introduce you to them, you’ll recognize everyone.”
“I don’t think they like me too much. They were looking at me as if I were here to steal you from them or something.”
I chuckle and throw my head back on the pillow. I close my eyes, but I can feel her leaning closer to me.
“Are you hurting? Should I call the nurse?”
When I open my eyes, her black irises are serious and focused on me. I shake my head. “I’m okay. I just can’t believe this is only our second proper meeting. You feel so familiar.”
“You too.” She giggles. Her carefree laughter reminds me of how young she is. “But we could have met sooner, in better circumstances.”
“Autumn, if I’d have told you I was only a few hundred miles away, would you have told your parents, your grandparents?”
“No way in hell!” Her eyebrows shoot up. “Grandma would have driven me to St. Peppers herself if she thought you weren’t in service anymore.”
“Exactly. I didn’t want you to lie to your family. And we talked, didn’t we? I was there whenever you needed. At least I tried to be.”
Confusion and indecision brim in her eyes. Before she can say anything more, there’s a knock on the door.
Connor rolls his chair into the room and looks between Autumn and me. “Can I talk to you?” His clenched jaw isn’t a good sign.
Fuck! Today seems to be a day for explanations.
“I’ll be outside,” Autumn says and turns around to leave.
But I blurt, “Stay.”
Her steps come to a halt, and she looks at me over her shoulder in surprise.
Connor shoots me a curious glance before looking at my wife. “Lukas is right. You should stay.” He points toward the chair next to my bed. “I’m not going to bite. I’m surprised. Fuck, we all are. But that’s between this fucker and me.” He cocks his head in my direction.
“She’s here as my buffer.”