“I barely know him.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
I sighed, setting down the intake form. Luna, the boxer mix, watched me with her one good eye, patient and calm despite whatever hell she’d been through before arriving here.
“Yeah,” I said. “I like him. Which is terrifying.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s leaving. He’s twenty-four, and I’m too old and too broken for someone like him.”
Eli sat on the edge of my desk, his expression fierce. “You’re thirty-four, not ancient. And broken? Autumn, you’re not broken. You survived a shitty marriage, built this place from nothing, and you save lives every single day. That’s not broken. That’s strong as hell.”
My throat tightened. “I don’t feel strong.”
“Nobody feels strong when they’re falling for someone. That’s the point. You’re vulnerable. It’s scary, but that’s okay.” He reached over and squeezed my hand.
“Since when did you become wise?”
“I’ve always been wise. You just never listen.” He stood, stretching. “Now. When are you seeing him again?”
“Tonight, maybe. After his show.”
“Are you going to the show?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?”
“You should. Bring Brynn and Jess. Make it a thing.”
“Brynn’s working late on a case.”
“Then bring Jess. Or go alone. Be mysterious and hot.”
I snorted. “I don’t do mysterious.”
“You could learn.” He headed for the door, paused. “Autumn? Don’t sabotage this before it starts. You deserve good things. Even if they scare you.”
He left before I could respond.
Luna whined softly. I knelt beside her kennel, scratching behind her ears.
“Men are complicated,” I told her.
She licked my hand in agreement.
I didn’t go to the show.
I wanted to. I’d even gotten as far as changing clothes and putting on makeup before the panic set in. What if I went, and he ignored me? What if I went, and he acknowledged me and everyone figured out we were… whatever we were? What if seeing him perform made me want him more, and I was already barely holding it together?
I stayed home. Watched an episode ofHell’s Kitchen. Tried not to check my phone every thirty seconds.
My phone buzzed at 10:47 PM.
Cole: Show just ended. Where are you?
Autumn: Home.
Cole: You didn’t come.
