She’s still talking about paint colors when the next buzz comes through. A message this time. While Autumn is distracted with the rest of the throw pillows, I pull out my phone to check the message.
You sent me a designer dress. Really? – Sadie
The corner of my mouth lifts before I can stop it. It arrived. I like that way too much. The thought of her in it. The thought that she’ll be wearing it for me.
Plus, I need her in something bright. It’s silver and sparkly and even I won’t be able to miss her in the moonlight.
For the past few days we’ve been going back and forth.Me asking questions, her answering them. Me calling her, her talking about her day.
Me stalking the forest I’m going to chase her in for hours, so I remember every turn of the path. Just in case.
“Hudson said you went to the mainland the other day,” Autumn continues. “What for?”
She’s not even hiding her nosiness now. “I think I liked you better when you were gaga for Parker and forgot that anybody else in the world existed,” I say lightly.
“Yeah, well I liked you better when you actually communicated,” she counters. “No, wait. You never have.” She puts her hands on her hips. “So why were you there?”
I look her dead in the eye and say the one thing I know will drive her up the wall. “It’s a secret.”
Her groan is immediate. “You’re the worst. You know that, right? You can’t keep saying everything’s a secret and expect me not to care.”
“I think you’ll find I can,” I say, checking my phone again.
“Were you meeting someone? A woman?” she asks, a hopeful note in her voice. Seriously, how does Parker cope with this? The man deserves a medal.
“Yes,” I say. “I was fucking somebody’s brains out at eleven in the morning.” Even she notices the sarcasm in my voice. “It was work. I had a meeting. That’s all.”
“Then why didn’t you say so?” she whines.
“Because annoying you is so much more fun.”
“You’re unbelievable, you know that?” She shakes her head. “I don’t know why I bother sometimes.”
My phone vibrates again.
I thought you were going to chase me. Not take me dancing. – Sadie
“Who are you talking to?” Autumn asks, instantly suspicious. “I know you’re messaging somebody. Even if you’re trying to hide it.”
I lock the screen and slide the phone back into my pocket. “Nobody you know.”
Her eyes narrow. “You’re lying. You’ve got the same smirk on your face you used to get when you told me I’d get carried away by gremlins if I didn’t brush my teeth.”
“And now you have the best set of teeth in Liberty. You’re welcome.”
Autumn shakes her head at me. “You know what? I give up. I just hope whoever she is knows what she’s getting into.”
“If she exists, I doubt she does,” I murmur.
But my sister is already picking up her purse and storming to the door. I let her leave, knowing she’ll burn out and calm down, the way she always does. Then I’ll tell her I’m sorry, throw her a bone, and things will be back to normal.
That’s the thing about Autumn. She burns bright but she also loves hard. And I love her back.
Every part of her except her curiosity, that is.
The door clicks shut, and I pick up the throw pillow she dropped – the one that’s so last season – and put it back on the sofa. And then I pull out my phone. Sadie’s message is still there, next to her profile photo.
Her face fills the screen, a faint flush staining her cheeks. I shouldn’t have saved it, but Ihave. I shouldn’t look again, but I do. She looks soft, undone, like she doesn’t know how much she gives away.
