Page 10 of Autumn on My Mind

“Alvina has a track record four marriage certificates long.”

“Yeah,” I say. “But your dad doesn’t, does he?” I pause. “I really think it will die down.”

“I bet it won’t,” Dom says flatly. “And why are you pulling back now? You were the one who said they couldn’t date.”

He’s not wrong, but it’s complicated. “Should we tell them we⁠—”

“No.” He throws the word out, curt and firm. “Your mother would lose her mind if she found out we dated, and my dad would want to know why I didn’t tell him before, and then I’d get flak for how everything went down.” A muscle jumps in his jaw as he speaks. “I’ve already disappointed him enough for one lifetime. I don’t want to relive the whole thing.” He shoots me a look full of challenge. “Do you?”

My body sags. “No,” I admit softly.

The hard look in his eyes fades for a second, so briefly I might be imagining it. But then he clears his throat and faces forward once more. “We need to break them up. And it needs to be permanent so they won’t go back for round two later on. If we can get your mom to reveal her true colors⁠—”

“Hey.” Hurt twists my insides—and, if I’m being honest, embarrassment. I swallow past the emotions even as heat rises in my cheeks. “It’s not—she isn’t—” But I break off as my explanation deserts me, partly because Dominic is right. “She’s trying to be happy,” I finally say, but the words are halfhearted.

Dominic sighs. “Yeah. And she’ll be happy—for five minutes, and at the expense of everyone else.”

It hits me like a blow to the chest, but I don’t respond. I don’t know how.

When he sees I’m not going to say anything, Dom goes on, his voice gruff and reluctant. “Did she hurt you?”

“What?”

“She elbowed you pretty hard.” It sounds like he’s wrenching the words out with pliers now, and his expression is a mask of passivity. “Are you hurt?”

“Oh,” I say tiredly when I realize what he’s talking about. “It’s fine.”

When his brows twitch with skepticism, I go on. “It is,” I insist. “It really is. I’m used to it.”

“Good grief.” He exhales roughly, sliding one hand down his face as he stares out the windshield. “That’s worse, Berkeley.” Then he shakes his head. “I heard you were back in Autumn Ridge,” he finally says. “In your old house?”

“Yes.”

“With Alvina?”

“We’re sharing my old room.” The words are trembling and small, but I keep my head high anyway.

He’s quiet for a second. “Are you here permanently?”

I try not to wince at this. It’s not like I can blame him for asking. “Don’t worry,” I say lightly, although I’m not sure my tone lands. “I’ll only be here for six months.”

“Right,” he says on an exhale, his hand flexing on the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turn white. “Okay.” He looks at me, but the angle of the sun and his hat now makes it difficult to see his eyes.

I think I prefer it that way.

“Your dad seems—” I clear my throat. “He seems great. I think this will die on its own. But see if you can feel out how serious they are. I’ll do the same. If we need to, we can figure something else out.”

“Don’t bother,” he says, resigned. “I’ll do it.”

I shake my head. “If it comes to that, I’ll help.”

“You’re not going to break up Alvina’s relationship,” he says. “I’m not sure you could.”

“There’s no need to be rude,” I say, and once again, I keep my voice very light, very calm and normal like the grown woman I am. I give myself another mental pat on the back, even as that knot in my throat grows.

“Sorry,” he says grudgingly, holding up his hands like he’s backing off. “Sorry. But…” He shifts. “It’s true.”

“Just try to figure out how serious they are,” I say, and even though I’m not fighting back, my gaze on him is harder now. “This will die down on its own.” I pause. “But if it doesn’t, I’ll personally split them up. Me. Myself.”