by Sam Crescent
“It’s not okay.”
“A lot of things always look worse on the day. Give it time, and have some rest, and you’ll find that everything is better in the morning.”
Autumn covered her face, sobbing into her hands as her mother hugged her. It wasn’t enough. She had hurt her sister, and she was a horrible person. Then she thought about Carter, and she felt she was the worst person in the world. She’d kept him as a dirty little secret, and that’s not how you treat the man you love.
“Mary, it’s okay,” her father said, coming into the room.
“Bill?”
“No, this is for me to deal with.”
Her mother left the room, and Autumn cried as her father sat down, pulling her in for a hug. “I’m so sorry,” she said.
“I don’t know what the problem is, sweetie, but you shouldn’t be crying. No man is worth this kind of tears.”
“This isn’t about a man. This is my own fault. I shouldn’t have done something.”
“Well, how about you tell me, and I’ll let you know if it’s really all that bad.” He rubbed her back, and she closed her eyes, spilling everything out. She didn’t go into too much detail because she wasn’t about to tell her father she fucked her sister’s ex, but he knew.
“Oh, honey, I see why you think you should feel guilty, but you really shouldn’t.”
“She loves him.”
“We all know Summer. We know how she flits from one man to the next. I remember Carter. He’s a good man. A different kind of man, I admit. The long hair, the tattoos, they don’t exactly make him sound like he’s a good one, but I get it.”
She chuckled. “I love him.”
“Summer has no claim to him. No matter what she says, she has no claim. Whatever happened between her and Carter ended years ago.”
“You must be really disappointed in me.”
“No, not at all. You’ve fallen in love. How can I be angry about you falling in love? It’s what we all do.” He kissed the top of her head. “I believe Summer fell in love with someone else, Autumn. She lashed out at you, and it wasn’t the right thing to do.”
She wiped the tears away. “I just got out of there. I left Carter to deal with it. I’m a horrible person. I should have done this, not him.”
“Drink your hot chocolate. You can stay here for however long you like.” Her father kissed her head, and left her alone. Picking up the hot chocolate, she took a marshmallow off the top, and popped it into her mouth.
“I suck.”
Time passed, she didn’t know how much, and suddenly there was a knock on the door. Before she could say anything, her sister popped her head around the door.
Sitting up, Autumn stared at Summer.
Her sister’s eyes were red and puffy.
“I come in peace.” Summer held her hands up in surrender.
“Hey.”
“Carter is downstairs. I came with him.”
“Oh.” Autumn’s heart started to break.
“Not like that. Carter isn’t with me. He made me come with him so that I could make it up with you.”
“Oh.”
Summer closed the door and stepped toward her. “How long have you two been together?”
“You know Mom and Dad’s anniversary?”
“Yeah.”
“My car broke down outside of his shop. He was there to help.”
“He’s always been a good guy.”
“I never meant for any of this to happen.”
“Dad just pulled me aside and gave me the third degree. I know you didn’t mean for any of this to happen, and I’m so sorry that I took it out on you. I really shouldn’t have, and I’m sorry.” Summer sighed. “I had no right to slap you.”
“I love him, Summer.”
“He loves you, too.”
“You don’t know that,” she said.
“I do. He told me he loved you. He was pretty pissed when you ran out. I can’t say that I blame him. It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have done what I did.”
“What did you do?”
“I took his key, let myself in, and rather than deal with my own problems, I thought I could use him to figure everything out.”
Autumn frowned. “I don’t even know how you’d have been able to use him.”
Summer took her hand, locking their fingers together. “I’m in love with a man, Autumn. He’s a good man, and I don’t know what to do with that.”
“Who is it?”
“David?”
“Boring David?”
“The one and only. See why I was having a few problems?”
“Not really. If you love him, what was the problem?”
“Nothing. That’s the point. Nothing is the problem, apart from the fact that I’m cheating on him with Brad.”
“Are you afraid of falling in love?” Autumn asked.
Summer paused and looked down at their hands. “I don’t know. I think so. I seem to get a good deal with a guy, and before I know what I’m doing, I’m screwing it up.”
“Who do you want?”
“David. Brad is fun, but he’s my boss and I find him boring. When I’m with David, we have so much in common. He has a love of sci-fi films, and you know I love them. We have a love of art, and work, and when I’m with him, I feel like I’m floating.”
“Are you more worried about what other people think?” Autumn asked.
“What will they say if they see me with a guy like David?”
“Who cares, Summer? You love him, and does he love you?”
“I don’t know. I think you need to care about what you want before you end up being a lonely old woman, and maybe even a little bitter.” Summer pulled her close, and hugged her tight. “I’m so sorry, Autumn. Really, really sorry.”
“You forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Do you forgive me? I shouldn’t have hit you. I didn’t have a right to do that.”
“I forgive you. You’re my sister.”
She held onto Summer, thankful that they were still friends.
****
“I should have known I’d see you again,” Bill said.
Carter smiled at him. “I’m sorry to have caused some problems.”
“You haven’t caused me any trouble. They’re two sisters, and I know they’ll work out whatever problems they have. They’re my daughters, and they’ve been taught to be together.”
“I love Autumn.”
“I’m pleased to hear it because she loves you. I didn’t say it was a bad thing to see you again. I never thought you were a bad kid, Carter. I’m happy you’re with one of my girls.”
“Bill, will you stop? You’re going to scare him away. Some of this is for Carter and Autumn to talk about together,” Mary said.
“Honey, I’m taking care of our girls, and I’m making sure this guy here knows that I mean business.”
“I know you mean business.” Carter rubbed the back of his head. “I’ve asked Autumn to move in with me.”
Bill snorted. “She didn’t even tell us you were dating, and you really think she’s going to want to live with you. It sounds to me like she’s using you.”
Mary tutted. “Bill, enough. Our Autumn is not like that, and you know it. She never told any of us about her previous boyfriends, and that’s because you get your damn shotgun. We know why she didn’t say anything, and you need to cut Carter some slack.”
“Still no excuse. You should have come to us, told us, warned us.”
“I would have been going against everything that Autumn asked me not to do.”
Bill stared at him.
“We know why you didn’t tell us,” Mary said. “It’s nice to see you again, Carter. I’ve heard good things about you, and your mechanic shop.”
“Thank you. I like working with cars.” He stared right back at Bill. “I know you don’t trust me, or like me. I always figured you didn’t, but I love Autumn. I will do everything in my power to make her happy.”
They all stopped as Summer came downstairs. She was smiling. “Leave him alone, Dad. He means well, and we know Autumn’s been happy. I’ve not seen much of her, but we text, and she’s happier.” She ran fingers through her hair. “This is all my fault, and the blame is on me.”
“Can I go and see her?” he asked.
“Yes,” Mary said.
“No,” Bill said.
“Bill?”
“They’re doing any hanky-panky in my house. I mean it. I’m not having any of my daughters ruined.”
Mary chuckled. “I think they were ruined a long time ago.”
Carter left them alone, making his way up toward Autumn’s room. She was sat on her bed, and he left the door open, taking a seat on her bed. He cupped her cheek, seeing that there were no marks from the slap that Summer had given her.
“I didn’t use you. I would never do that. I promise.”
“You heard that?” he asked.
“Yeah, I did.” She pressed her hands to her face. “I’m not that kind of person.”
“I know, baby. I know. Can I come close?”
“Yes. You found me.”
“Of course. We went to your place first, then to Hilary’s. Summer figured you’d come here, and when we called, they said you had. We’d have been here sooner.”
“I’m so sorry. I had to come here. I love it here.”
Her nose was red, and he wiped a tear away from her cheek.
“You didn’t need to leave. You had every right to be there. You’re mine, Autumn.”
“I just freaked out. She hit me, and the guilt, it was all just too much. I’m so sorry, Carter. I should have been there with you, and I wasn’t. There are not enough words.” She held onto him tightly, repeating her apology.
“You shouldn’t feel guilty.” He leaned forward, kissing her lips. “I dealt with Summer, and I’ve dealt with your parents. Now, I’m going to deal with you.” He cupped her face. “Autumn Fowler, I’m in love with you, and I mean in love with you. From the moment you broke down outside of my shop, I’ve been unable to think of anyone else, or do anything else. You dominate my thoughts.”
She smiled. “I love you, too, Carter.”
“You don’t just have to say that.”
“I know. I don’t have to say anything, but I wanted to tell you the truth. I love you, and that love has been tainted with guilt. I didn’t think I was allowed to love you.”
Carter listened, his heart soaring at her revelation.
Unable to hold back any longer, he slammed his lips down on hers, plunging his tongue into her mouth as he silenced her.
“Enough of that in my house,” Bill said.
Pulling away, he saw her father was glaring.
“Daddy, if you want grandkids, I need to kiss,” Autumn said.
“I want grandkids, but I don’t want them made here. You can make them in your own place, without me knowing about it.”
Bill nodded and left.
They were both laughing, and Autumn rested her head against his head. “I’m sorry. I’m not looking at having kids for some time, but I wanted to get rid of him. Anyone would think I’m still a teenager.”
“You’re his little girl. I don’t think I’d be too happy about it if our daughter had a guy in her room.”
“Our daughter?”
“Don’t you have dreams or wishes for our future?” he asked.
She bit her lip and smiled at him. “I tried not to wish, or to dream. It was only supposed to be a little bit of fun.”
“Falling in love doesn’t stop us from having some fun.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Far from it.”
“I don’t know how this happened, Carter.” She kissed him back. “What do we do now?”
“Will you move in with me?” he asked.
She laughed. “That’s all you want to know?”
“Yes.” He kissed her cheeks, and then her neck. “I’ll make every single dream come true.”
“Yes, yes, yes, I’ll move in with you. Stop with the torture.”
He pushed her to the bed, kissing her. She let out a little scream as he started to tickle her.
Life couldn’t get any better for him.
Chapter Eleven
“Are you sure you’ve got enough stuff?” Summer asked, lifting up a large box that was on Autumn’s bed, and putting it straight back down. It had been two weeks since it was revealed she was with Carter, and rather than allow it to be awkward, they had gotten over it. In fact, she felt closer to Summer than ever before.
“This is all your fault. You bought me a lot of stuff over the past couple of years.” She tucked some hair that had fallen out of her headband as she folded up the last of the clothes. “Thank you so much for helping me.”
“My pleasure.”
“And mine,” David said, entering the room. “Let me take that from you, sweetness.” David pressed a kiss to Summer’s cheek, picking up the large box.
He left without even giving away that the box was heavy. Summer’s mouth dropped open as she pointed after him.
“Did you see that?”
Autumn chuckled. “So much for boring.”
“He’s not boring. He’s buff. Who would have thought that he could be so manly? I’m so turned on right now.”
“Too much detail there. Too much.” Autumn held her hand up, shaking her head.
“Too much detail? I saw way more than I ever wanted to see, sweetie. I saw,” Summer pointed at her lower body, “everything.”
Heat filled Autumn’s cheeks, and she shook her head. “Please, don’t. I don’t even want to remember that I was completely naked, and in the throes of sex, and you saw.”
“You shouldn’t be worried,” Carter said, entering the bedroom. He moved up behind her, dropping a kiss to her neck, sucking on the pulse.
“Please, get a room.” Summer let out a “yuck” sound, and left the room, giving them privacy.
“Are you having regrets?”
“I’m really excited about this actually. Are you nervous? I may cramp your style.”
“Nah, not a chance.” He kissed her, and they heard David and Summer talking about some kind of television show they were both watching. “I like him. He’s a good guy.”
“That’s the guy she wanted me to date.”
“I know, and you’d not have liked him. You wouldn’t have had anything in common.”
“Ha, ha. We do?”
“Yes, we like long walks, going to the movies, eating and cooking, fucking.”
She slapped his shoulder. “Sh, it’s bad enough that she’s seen so much.”
“I don’t care. I’m just happy.”
She rested her head against his shoulder. “Are you sure about this, I mean really sure?”
“I’m sure. In fact, we’ve taken too long to get you moved in with me.”
Laughing, she pulled out of his arms, and finished folding up her clothes. Carter took another large box, following behind David as they loaded up the truck. Denny was already taking one load of her stuff as they finished packing her apartment. She couldn’t believe how much she had accomplished in the past few years. When the last of her furniture was gone with Carter and David, leaving them behind as the men delivered it, Summer held up a bottle of wine.
“You always know when to brandish the wine.”
“That, my dear, is because I know when the mood calls for wine, and I got David to hand me two glasses.” Opening up the bottle, Summer poured two generous glasses.
“You didn’t tell me what happened between you and Brad?”
Summer sighed. “Do you really want to know?”
“Yeah, I really do. I care about you.” Autumn rested her head on her sister’s shoulder. “Was it a happily ever after?”
Summer snorted. “Not a chance. When you screw a guy over, it rarely goes smoothly.”
“What happened?”
Her sister let out a breath. “Well first I went to see David. I went to see hi
m straight after seeing you and listening to Dad tell me off.”
“He told you off?”
“Yeah. I deserved it, so I don’t mind. He told me that he didn’t care what my reasoning was, hitting my sister was out of order, and I should have a little more respect than to hurt you. See, I deserved it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.” Summer took another sip of her wine. “I told him everything, David that is. I told him everything that I’d been keeping secret. Told him that I was screwing the boss, and what I’d done to get where I am today.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, I was so surprised myself. I’ve never been so honest with anyone in my life.”
Autumn waited, listening as her sister told her everything. “What did he say?”
“He told me that he knew about my relationship with Brad, or at least me fucking him.” She shrugged. “Told me that it was up to me what I wanted to do. If I wanted a relationship with him, then Brad had to go, but he was going to let me make the decision.”
“What did Brad say?”
“Told me that if I hope to get any better, then I was in for a rude awakening. I’m working on handing in my resignation. Going it alone so I don’t have to think about how I rose to the top. It’s all right screwing everyone, but sooner or later, it bites you in the ass.”
“You’ll do it, Summer. I have every faith in you.”
“So does David. He’s been helping me get some figures together. I may not succeed, but I want to try.”
“To the future,” Autumn said, holding up her glass of wine. “To whatever it may be.”
They clinked their glasses. The future was going to be pretty interesting, at least for Autumn it was. She had no doubt that her sister would succeed. Summer didn’t know how to fail, and Autumn would be there.
****
A year later
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Summer asked.
Carter glared at her. “I don’t need your help.”
“Autumn is running behind, and you can’t do your tie. You need me, admit it.” He didn’t say a word, and she rolled her eyes. “You know the last time there was a big event, our parents’ anniversary, Autumn was late for that, and she met you. Are you worried she might find someone else?”