up on my wife’s attitude, and I thought I’d explain. Autumn has a tendency to attract boys who aren’t good enough for her.” His voice was tinged with sadness and it shook me up. It seemed I couldn’t stop coming across the trail of victims left behind by Thomas. “She’s trusting and kind to those who don’t deserve it. The world is full of assholes, but Autumn doesn’t want to live in that kind of world, so she believes the best in people.”
I nodded because I didn’t trust myself to speak. I wanted to be better than the people who had hurt Autumn, but how could I be when I was already betraying her trust?
Her father continued on. “All I’m going to ask is that you don’t hurt her. My wife is worried you’ll be another arrogant jock who treats Autumn like garbage. But I’m going to give you a fair shot and ask you to treat her the way she deserves.”
We wanted the same things. I had never thought of myself as a good guy, but for her, I wanted to be. “I will. When you meet a person like Autumn, it puts things in perspective. Each time I see her, I appreciate all over again how lucky I am to have such an amazing girl like her in my life. I promise that I only want Autumn happy.”
My level of honesty surprised me. But when it came down to it, Carl Dorey was a father who probably felt like he had failed to protect his daughter. He needed reassurance that she’d be safe with me. Above all else, I needed to convey that I’d do anything for her, along with an acknowledgement that she was unquestionably the best part of my world.
Chapter Ten
I had thought our night was going well once we were settled at Valley Amusements, but I understood it wasn’t to be when I returned to our table from the bathroom. I had only been gone for minutes while she waited for the pizza we had ordered from the café. She had pulled me out of my funk as soon as we arrived at the bowling alley. During the drive from her house, I had tried to ask her about what she talked about with her mom upstairs. I picked up on Autumn’s strain over my questions and abruptly changed the subject. If her mom had reservations about me, I didn’t want to bring the issue to the forefront of Autumn’s mind. Touching her and kissing her was exactly what I needed to chase away all the other dark feelings. My need for her burned hot and bright. Autumn Dorey absolutely and positively consumed my entire being.
Kissing her did funny things to me. It made me hope for futures—futures I probably had no business hoping for. It made me want to come up with outlandish schemes to stay forever inside this bubble I had created for us.
I could’ve stayed in the parking lot with my lips on hers for the rest of the night. Begrudgingly, I had allowed her to lead me into the outdated bowling alley. The place still held onto its charm despite not being redecorated since the 1970s. Scuffed linoleum was everywhere—the floors, the tables, the seats. The wood paneling on the walls also looked as though it had seen better days.
Returning to the table and finding Autumn surrounded by three guys had me seeing red instantly. She may not have been mine for good, but she was mine for the moment—and no one was taking her from me without a fight. Moving closer, I was able to make out the deep discomfort on her face, and it made me want to hit first and ask questions later.
“What’s going on?” I asked as I stalked to where she was standing.
She passed me a stricken look, and I wondered what was happening with her and the three jackasses. They looked like complete tools—tall and skinny with almost matching uniforms of jeans hanging off their asses and Abercrombie t-shirts.
One of the douches came up behind me and slapped my back as if we were old friends. My skin crawled from his touch. Before he even opened his mouth, I was ready to end him. “Is Autumn your girl? No judgment here, dude. We’ve all been there, done that .”
Floored by the
I nodded because I didn’t trust myself to speak. I wanted to be better than the people who had hurt Autumn, but how could I be when I was already betraying her trust?
Her father continued on. “All I’m going to ask is that you don’t hurt her. My wife is worried you’ll be another arrogant jock who treats Autumn like garbage. But I’m going to give you a fair shot and ask you to treat her the way she deserves.”
We wanted the same things. I had never thought of myself as a good guy, but for her, I wanted to be. “I will. When you meet a person like Autumn, it puts things in perspective. Each time I see her, I appreciate all over again how lucky I am to have such an amazing girl like her in my life. I promise that I only want Autumn happy.”
My level of honesty surprised me. But when it came down to it, Carl Dorey was a father who probably felt like he had failed to protect his daughter. He needed reassurance that she’d be safe with me. Above all else, I needed to convey that I’d do anything for her, along with an acknowledgement that she was unquestionably the best part of my world.
Chapter Ten
I had thought our night was going well once we were settled at Valley Amusements, but I understood it wasn’t to be when I returned to our table from the bathroom. I had only been gone for minutes while she waited for the pizza we had ordered from the café. She had pulled me out of my funk as soon as we arrived at the bowling alley. During the drive from her house, I had tried to ask her about what she talked about with her mom upstairs. I picked up on Autumn’s strain over my questions and abruptly changed the subject. If her mom had reservations about me, I didn’t want to bring the issue to the forefront of Autumn’s mind. Touching her and kissing her was exactly what I needed to chase away all the other dark feelings. My need for her burned hot and bright. Autumn Dorey absolutely and positively consumed my entire being.
Kissing her did funny things to me. It made me hope for futures—futures I probably had no business hoping for. It made me want to come up with outlandish schemes to stay forever inside this bubble I had created for us.
I could’ve stayed in the parking lot with my lips on hers for the rest of the night. Begrudgingly, I had allowed her to lead me into the outdated bowling alley. The place still held onto its charm despite not being redecorated since the 1970s. Scuffed linoleum was everywhere—the floors, the tables, the seats. The wood paneling on the walls also looked as though it had seen better days.
Returning to the table and finding Autumn surrounded by three guys had me seeing red instantly. She may not have been mine for good, but she was mine for the moment—and no one was taking her from me without a fight. Moving closer, I was able to make out the deep discomfort on her face, and it made me want to hit first and ask questions later.
“What’s going on?” I asked as I stalked to where she was standing.
She passed me a stricken look, and I wondered what was happening with her and the three jackasses. They looked like complete tools—tall and skinny with almost matching uniforms of jeans hanging off their asses and Abercrombie t-shirts.
One of the douches came up behind me and slapped my back as if we were old friends. My skin crawled from his touch. Before he even opened his mouth, I was ready to end him. “Is Autumn your girl? No judgment here, dude. We’ve all been there, done that .”
Floored by the
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