Autumn's Light

by Aurora Rey

  “Whole morning at least? After a whole night?”

  “You’ve got the night part right, but that’s all the sex there was.”

  Jess frowned. “Bummer. Was it good, though?”

  In the excitement of the day, she’d almost forgotten how good. Well, not forgotten. Momentarily sidetracked. “Oh, it was beyond good. And even though it wasn’t a sexcapade, we did spend the day together.”

  Jess sat in the arm chair, crossed her legs, and leaned forward. She laced her fingers together and propped her chin on them. “Do tell.”

  “I went out on her boat with her.”

  “Her lobster boat?” Jess made a face. “Why does that sound completely unromantic to me?”

  “It wasn’t romantic.” Graham sat on the adjacent sofa. “We worked. Her cousin called in sick and she let me go with her instead.”

  “Wait, wait, wait. You mean you went…lobstering? Is that even a verb?”

  “Yes and yes. It was so much fun. I learned a ton.”

  Jess nodded slowly. “Did you bring any home?”

  “No, but I did get her to agree to make me dinner in exchange for my labor.”

  “As much as I would have liked you to bring home some lobsters, I have to concede that is a better offer.”

  “Thank you. I think she’s going to pay me, too. I told her not to worry about it, but she seemed pretty adamant.”

  “This is getting more interesting by the minute.” Jess stood, continuing to nod. “I want to hear everything, but I really want a shower.”

  “You shower. I’ll make dinner.” Graham stood up as well. “And by make, I mean put samosas in the oven and heat up a pouch of saag paneer.”

  “Works for me,” Jess called on her way to the bathroom.

  Graham put together dinner and fed Athena, then gave the blow by blow to Jess while they ate cross-legged on the sofa. Jess, who seemed incredulous at first, was practically cheering by the end. Graham said, “I can’t tell if you’re more excited about the sex or the fact that I went to work with her.”

  “Uh, both. That’s the beauty of it. You’re out of hookup territory, my friend.”

  Graham shrugged, not wanting to get swept up in analyzing what it all meant. “Maybe, but it’s not like I’m her girlfriend. Or even want to be.”

  Jess raised a brow. “Seriously? You don’t want to be her girlfriend?”

  “It’s not that I’m opposed to it. I just—” How could she explain the vibe she got from Mat? The one that made it abundantly clear she wasn’t looking to settle down. “I’m not in it for that.”

  Jess nodded slowly. “Right, right. You’re all about playing the field.”

  “I’m all about having fun. Remember when you told me I needed to do that? Relax a little?”

  “I do. And I meant it. I’m sorry I implied you should be doing anything else.”

  “Thank you.”

  Jess got up and took their plates to the kitchen. “Want to start that new Netflix series tonight?”

  “Don’t let me stop you, but I’m beat. Lobstering is hard work.”

  Jess returned from the kitchen. “I’m sure it is. Of course, it sounds like you didn’t sleep much last night either.”

  “True story.” Graham stood and headed toward her bedroom. “Night, Jess.”

  “Night.”

  She’d just climbed into bed when her phone pinged. She smiled, imagining a text from Mat. It was from Will, but that was the next best thing. I’m starting to get worried. Please let me know you’re okay.

  Shit. Graham realized that she’d missed three texts from Will during the day. She was used to having no cell reception while away from shore at work, but she’d not thought about it during her day with Mat. I’m fine. Just seeing your texts. Sorry!

  Are you just getting home? I don’t know if I should be impressed or…

  Graham chuckled, imagining Will’s curiosity warring with her staid sensibilities. Home a bit ago, but with Mat all day. Not in bed. She added a winky face.

  Will’s reply remained true to form. Dare I ask?

  Rather than trying to text the details of her day, Graham tapped the call button. “Hey,” Will said.

  “I’m too tired to text. Are you free to chat?”

  “I am. It’s Nora’s bridge night. There is so much cackling coming from the library, you wouldn’t believe it.”

  “I believe it just fine. I’ve known Aunt Nora longer than you have, if you recall.”

  “Right. So, too tired to text, huh?”

  “And you’ll never guess why.” Graham launched into the story of her night—slightly more G-rated than what she’d told Jess—and the day on the lobster boat that followed. Just telling the story made her sort of giddy. Despite her exhaustion, she was suddenly wide awake.

  “Are you officially dating now? You seem to have sailed right past casual hookup.”

  “No, no. It’s nothing like that.” It wasn’t. Was it? Why did both Jess and Will seem to think it was?

  “Really?”

  “No.” That’s not what she wanted.

  “Because she said so or you did?”

  Graham sighed. “We didn’t discuss it. That’s the point. It’s not a thing.”

  “Right.” Will’s voice was laced with disappointment.

  “Will, it’s okay. I don’t want it to be a thing.”

  “I know. Sorry. I won’t be a downer. I’m happy for you. You deserve to have fun.”

  “Thank you.” Will’s heart was in the right place, but the whole exchange left Graham feeling a little flat.

  “I love that she’s going to make you dinner. That’s hot.”

  That helped. “Yeah. It kind of is.”

  “And I imagine that will lead to more sexy time.”

  “Sexy time? I can’t decide if you’re a little old lady or a twelve-year-old boy.”

  Will chuckled. “According to my sister, I’m equal parts both.”

  “That Emerson is smart. How is she, by the way?”

  “Good. I think she and Darcy have decided to elope and use the money on a baby.”

  “Making or adopting?”

  “Fertility treatments. They’ve decided to try to have a baby. Since Darcy is still really close with Liam’s dad, they’re hoping to use him as a donor. Liam is ecstatic over the idea of a brother or sister.”

  “Ah. It seems sad to have to choose one or the other. Wedding or baby, I mean.”

  “Yeah, I agree.”

  Graham considered what she’d do in that situation. When she finally found Ms. Right, she very much wanted a wedding, but if it came down to having that or starting a family, she’d pick family any day of the week. “Run away to Vegas kind of elope or show up at the courthouse?”

  “Hopefully, neither. Nora and I are trying to convince them to do something super small and informal at the inn this fall.”

  “Ooh, I can help.” Graham didn’t know Emerson and Darcy well, but she’d met them a few times and liked them a lot. Plus, she loved helping Aunt Nora with parties. “Add my free labor to the offer.”

  “That’s really sweet, Graham. Whether or not they take us up on it, thank you for that.”

  “I’d really love to. Weddings make me super happy.” Graham closed her eyes for a moment. “And since my own probably won’t happen for a billion years or so, I’ll have to live vicariously through others.”

  “I’m sorry, friend.”

  “Don’t be sorry. It’s not like that. If I told my parents or, Lord, Aunt Nora, I was getting married at twenty-five, they’d have a meltdown. Just because I love romcoms and romance novels and happily ever afters doesn’t mean I want to walk down the aisle tomorrow.”

  “Right, right. You’re still such a young thing. You’ve got ages.”

  Graham laughed again. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll remember to remind you of that, too.”

  “Thanks.” Although she’d felt wide awake a few minutes before, exhaustion from the day cre
pt back up on her. “I think I need to go to sleep now.”

  “Yeah, you worked hard today.”

  “I really did. I’ll see you at work tomorrow?”

  “Nine and one, right?”

  Graham was happy they’d been put back on the same shifts for the next couple of weeks. “Nine and one. I hope those bridge ladies don’t keep you up too late.”

  “You and me both.”

  Graham ended the call and plugged her phone in. She switched off her lamp and rolled onto her back. She imagined a wedding at the inn. The garden would be a perfect spot and could probably hold close to fifty people. Or maybe thirty if there were tables set up for eating. Emerson and Darcy wouldn’t have to worry about decorations or anything. The ceremony could happen right under the arbor where Aunt Nora’s favorite bench usually sat.

  Graham drifted off to sleep and had dreams of a wedding. Only, she wasn’t a guest or helping out. She wore a perfect white dress and walked up a narrow aisle, with the faces of her friends and family all turned toward her. Will stood at the front, holding a book and smiling at her. It took her forever to get there, even though the distance was short. The figure waiting for her wore a dark suit, but Graham couldn’t see her face. She had dark hair, though, and felt intimately familiar. When she finally made it to the makeshift altar, the figure turned. It was Mat. Only the eyes looking back at her sparkled with joy and a love Graham had never before seen.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning, Dom was ready and waiting when Mat emerged from her apartment. “Look who decided to come to work today.”

  Dom shook his head. “Dude, it was awful. I was puking for hours.”

  Mat raised a hand. “You don’t have to play it up. I figured you and Renata finally hooked up and, considering how long it took you to get there, I wasn’t about to come bust it up.”

  Dom looked truly offended. “One, I wouldn’t do that, even for Renata. Two, I didn’t even make it through dinner. I had to bail on her.”

  “Oh.” Not that she’d really been mad at him, but hearing that made her feel bad for even teasing him. “That sucks, man. I’m sorry.”

  “It did suck.”

  Mat climbed into her truck and Dom got in beside her. “If it’s any consolation, I got in almost a whole day’s work without you.”

  “What?”

  She started the engine and headed toward town. “Relax, relax. I wasn’t by myself. I took Graham with me.”

  “Wait, wait, wait. Slow the fuck down. You did what?”

  Mat knew she was going to have to tell him. For some reason she thought she’d manage to make it not a huge deal. Clearly, she’d been wrong. “Unlike your sad sick self, I spent the night with a beautiful woman. When you texted me, she offered to go. She was so damn enthusiastic about it, I decided what the hell.”

  Dom stared at her like she’d grown a second head. “I don’t even know what to say to you right now.”

  “She works on the Dolphin Fleet, so she’s got sea legs and she’s not a priss about stuff.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m still not quite sure I understand. You took a girl, a girl that you’re sleeping with no less, out on the boat?” Dom’s face registered a combination of disbelief and indignation.

  Mat didn’t answer right away. She pulled into their usual parking spot and they walked the short distance to the marina. Their uncle had already stacked the day’s bait next to the Paquette. Mat grabbed the first tote and went aboard. “It’s not like that.”

  Dom followed. “Oh, okay.” He set his tote down, then folded his arms and leaned against the rail. “Tell me what it is. I’m dying to know.”

  Mat didn’t want to admit she’d agreed before really thinking it through. Or that she enjoyed Graham’s company so much that the idea of spending the whole day with her had more than a passing appeal. “God, you’re such an ass sometimes.”

  “I’m an ass? You’re the one who thought I bailed on you so I could get laid.” He sniffed. “Which is totally something you would do, by the way.”

  Mat could tell from his tone that he wasn’t actually still mad. “One, it is not something I would do. And two, I totally apologized for that.”

  Although it was a fake argument, he showed no signs of backing down. “And to add insult to injury, you hook up with a girl who’s not only great in the sack, but can haul traps without batting an eye.”

  “She was a quick study.” Mat smiled at the memory. “And she looked way better in those pants than you do.”

  “You have the goofiest fucking look on your face right now.”

  “Shut up.” Mat moved the last of the bait aboard and did a quick systems check. “Are we ready?” She didn’t wait for an answer before starting the engine.

  Dom disembarked to untie the ropes, then jumped back aboard. He came up beside her and picked up the notebook. “You did a hundred-twenty traps?”

  Mat shrugged again. “Like I said, she was a quick study.”

  Dom shook his head. “Did you pay her?”

  “She told me not to, but I’m going to anyway. She, uh, asked me to make her dinner as payment.”

  Dom looked even more scandalized than when Mat told him she took Graham out in the first place. “Oh, my God. Are you falling for this girl?”

  “Are you out of your mind? We hooked up twice.”

  “But you’re cooking her dinner. Dude, that’s girlfriend territory right there.”

  Mat scowled. She knew it was, but wasn’t about to admit it. “She worked hard. I couldn’t say no. I’m not a jerk.”

  Dom raised a brow. “I don’t know. I think this one’s getting under your skin.”

  “You’re only hating on me because your hot date ended with you hooking up with your toilet.” It was much easier to tease him than admit Graham hadn’t pressured her into dinner. Mat wanted to do it, and to spend more time with her.

  Dom hung his head. “Such a tragedy. But she’s not holding it against me. We’re going to try again tomorrow.”

  “That’s good. I’m glad it didn’t send her running for the hills.”

  “It did not. I’d like to point out, however, that I am not making her dinner.”

  Mat leaned over and punched him in the shoulder. “It’s a nice gesture. I’m not courting her.”

  “Is that what you’re telling yourself? Okay. Are you going to have sex with her after?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Dom offered her a bland look.

  “Well, I’m not going to not sleep with her. I mean, if she’s interested. I’m not an idiot.” Dinner at her place not followed by sex would be even weirder.

  “Are you going to buy wine?”

  Mat scowled and didn’t answer.

  “Candles?”

  “I will not buy candles.”

  Dom rolled his eyes. “Let me rephrase. Are you going to light candles?”

  “Shut up.”

  “I wish I had a dictionary on board so I could look up the definition of courting right now. ‘Cause that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

  “Maybe I just want to get laid again.”

  “You never have any trouble getting laid. You want this girl to like you.”

  Mat swallowed the retort on the tip of her tongue. Because the comeback wouldn’t be true. As much as she didn’t typically put stock in whether or not women liked her, she did care what Graham thought. But that still didn’t mean Mat was courting her. Showing off, maybe, but that was different. “So what if I do?”

  Dom shrugged. “So, nothing. I just wanted you to admit it.”

  “You really are an ass.” They pulled up to the first buoy and Mat started hauling up the trap.

  “And you give as good as you get.”

  “That’s true. Let’s even the scales a bit, shall we? Tell me how much you embarrassed yourself in front of Renata.”

  Dom banded the first of their catch and moved them to the large barrel of water. “You know, the getting sick part sucked, but R
enata was really sweet.”

  “Sweet how?” Mat couldn’t fathom wanting a girl she was into within a thousand feet of her if she was sick.

  “When I told her I had to go, we were in the middle of dinner. She insisted on walking me home and, when we got there, she stuck around.”

  “And watched you barf?”

  “No. She got a cool towel for my face, poured me ginger ale.”

  “Did she tuck you into bed, too?”

  “As a matter of fact, she did. Or close to it. And then she hung out on the couch all night.”

  Since it had been Dom and Renata’s second official date, Mat was pretty sure they’d yet to sleep together. In Mat’s mind, that kind of tending was for a wife, not a would-be girlfriend. “Seems to me you’re losing some of the magic before it even starts.”

  “That’s because you have a one-track mind. I wouldn’t be seeing Renata in the first place if I didn’t think she had the potential to be the one.”

  For all that Mat had rebelled against the traditional values they’d both been raised with, Dom seemed to embrace them. Especially since his transition, he had a clear plan of finding the right woman, settling down, and starting a family. Mat didn’t begrudge him that. In some ways, she could even see the appeal. Truthfully, it wasn’t that she had no desire to have a family of her own. What she couldn’t figure was how to have that when her existing family—her parents and brothers—would never gel with the one she created. And she had no plans of sacrificing one for the other. “You think Renata is the one?”

  She hadn’t asked the question seriously. They really had only been on a couple of dates. But Dom got this super earnest look on his face. “I do.”

  Mat didn’t even know how to respond. “Wow. Okay.”

  Dom didn’t seem offended. Rather, he laughed. “I’m an old soul, softie romantic. Does that really surprise you?”

  Mat shrugged. “Not that you feel that way, just that it’s so quick.”

  Dom shook his head. “There’s just something in the gut, dude. You should try listening to yours sometime.”

  Mat focused her attention on pulling up the next trap. Trusting her gut had only gotten her into trouble. No, she’d stick with her nice, rational approach to life and love—by keeping each thing in its own little box. There was no reason cooking a meal for Graham before she spent the night couldn’t fit neatly in the one she’d set aside for women.