Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Except Autumn needed him.
“Me?”
She nodded. “You. Need. Hurts.”
He tried not to puff up like a rooster. But it was hard. He wondered if he could get her to say it in front of his sisters . . .
Focus, man.
Tears dripped down her cheeks and he drew her against him, rubbing her back.
“Shh, sweetie. Shh.”
Headlights flooded the small park and she whimpered, burying her face in his neck.
“Just keep your eyes closed, sweetie. I’ll get you into the car and home.”
He helped her out, grabbing her handbag and locking the car.
“Shoot, where do I leave the key for the tow truck guy?”
“Right rear tire,” she said tiredly.
He did that, then helped her into the back of the Uber. She slumped against him and he quickly did up her seatbelt before holding her tight. He massaged the back of her neck and she let out a small sigh.
“Thank you.” She grimaced, opening her eyes to look up at him. “Sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” he asked gently.
Autumn was everything he’d ever wanted. She was sweet and kind. But also, quirky and off-beat. She didn’t look down on him for the things he liked doing. And while she had this inner strength, she also needed him.
“I don’t know. Because I’m a w-wreck.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “Stupid panic attack. Car accident. Embarrassing.”
“It’s not embarrassing,” he told her.
“Yes, it is. It’s embarrassing. I just cried all over you.”
“You’re cute when you cry.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Okay, you’re not.”
“I’m not?”
You’re just making things worse, idiot.
Panic filled him. What should he say to help? He wasn’t thinking properly.
“Shit . . . shoot. I was just trying to agree with you. I’m not . . . Tutu, nothing you could do is embarrassing. You’re cute as a little button nose on a baby. And there is nothing you could ever say or do that wasn’t cute. And I’m saying cute a lot.”
She actually managed a smile. Relief filled him.
“Tutu?” she asked. “Why Tutu?”
“Uh, yeah. Remember how you told me you were as graceful as a ballerina?”
“I remember.”
“It’s for that and a play on your name. Autumn isn’t exactly easy to shorten. It was that or Auty.”
She grimaced. “Tutu is good.”
They pulled up outside her house and he helped her out.
“Come inside. I’ll make you some hot tea and get you your painkiller.”
“Hot tea?” That was definitely her lips turning up at the end.
“It’ll fix anything that ails you.”
She let out a small giggle. “Really? That sounds like something your grandma would say.”
“How rude. My grandma would’ve said that whiskey is the key to all that ails you, not tea.” He hovered next to her as they moved to her door.
“Oh, did you get the bag with my groceries?”
“Yep, and your handbag.” He glanced into the bag. “Bananas and creamer?”
“Going to make you a bazza.”
“What’s a bazza?”
“A banana pizza, of course! But I didn’t get the pizza dough because I had to leave the store quickly.”
“Why did you have to leave the store quickly?” he asked as they reached her front door.
“Where’re my keys? Oh no, I left them with the car. This day just sucks shitballs.”
“I have them.” He held them up. “I took your car key off the keychain.”
“Oh, thank God. Brody, you’re my superhero. If Spiderman and Batman had a baby it would be you.”
“Umm, right.” He grinned as he unlocked the door, then followed her inside, locking it behind him.
“Why’d you have to leave quickly?” he asked again.
“Panic attack.”
“Wait. So the panic attack started before you got in the car?”
“Yeah, it started, then it stopped, then it started again. Was awful. I tried to pull over because I couldn’t see and I think I crashed into a sign. Thank God I didn’t hit anyone. I’d feel terrible if anyone got hurt because of me.”
“And I’d feel terrible if you got hurt. Autumn, you should have called me.”
“I didn’t want to bother you, though,” she said in a small voice, staring down at the floor.
Sadness filled him that she could ever think she was a bother. He wanted to tell her exactly how he felt about her. That he woke up with a smile thinking of her, and went to sleep at night feeling more relaxed after talking to her.
That she was the best darn thing to ever happen to him.
But he had to caution himself to go slow. She’d been traumatized.
“You’re never a bother.”
She nodded, without looking up.
Shoot. She didn’t believe him.
His shoulders slumped. “Go sit down, please. I’ll make you some tea.”
“I don’t know if I have any. I think . . . maybe I’ll go take a shower.”
She still wouldn’t look at him. Fuck. What should he do? Reaching out slowly, he touched her shoulder. “Tutu, would it be all right if I hugged you?”
Before he even realized what she was doing, she was plastered against him. Her arms were around his waist, holding on tight.