Autumn turned to face Quinn, as if she could feel the weight of her gaze.
“Something on your mind?” Autumn asked.
Quinn fought her initial urge to clam up. She took in a measured breath and moved her eyes back to the ocean.
“I was just thinking about my ex,” Quinn admitted.
“Oh. Anything you want to talk about?” Autumn offered her a tentative smile.
“I was supposed to be living in a nice house in the desert. But here I am sleeping on my friend’s couch near the beach.”
“I much prefer the beach,” Autumn admitted with a smile. Quinn met her eyes.
“Me, too. I much prefer it here,” Quinn chuckled but she held Autumn’s gaze.
If she wasn’t mistaken, Quinn thought she noted a hint of pink tinging Autumn’s cheeks. There was more she wanted to say, maybe even needed to say.
“I was thinking about how different you are from my ex. She was so free-spirited. That’s one of the things that drew me to her in the beginning. But one of the things I like about you the most is your ability to keep a schedule.”
Autumn gave a tiny chuckle.
“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.”
“It’s definitely a good thing. I’m just wondering what it means that what I’m drawn to has been changed so drastically.”
“That’s usually a sign of growth I think.”
“I would like for that to be the case,” Quinn smirked.
“Then make it the case.”
“What do you mean?”
“You get to choose your own path. If you’ve learned that one thing doesn’t work for you, then it’s okay to want something different,” Autumn explained.
Quinn gave Autumn a look of surprise. The woman might as well have three heads. She had to admit everything Autumn was saying made perfect sense.
“Have you ever been close?” Quinn asked, she forced her eyes to wander back towards the water.
“Close to what?”
“I don’t know. Marriage? Long-term partnership? Happily, ever after?”
Autumn chuckled at Quinn’s questions. She sighed and paused for a long time before answering. The wait was long enough that Quinn worried that she had possibly overstepped in some way.
“I don’t think so. There’s never been anyone I enjoyed more than I liked having my own space.”
It wasn’t a romantic answer, but Quinn could tell it was an honest response.
“I’m sure that sounds terribly depressing,” Autumn added.
“Not at all. It sounds terribly honest,” Quinn’s lips curved into a slight smile.
“Actually, I think that’s a pretty good way to gauge a relationship. Whether or not you prefer them to having your own space.”
“I hope it is. Did you prefer spending time with your ex over having your own space?” Autumn asked, cocking her head to the side.
“For the most part, I did. Not at the end. But for a long time, I really did prefer having her around.”
