room at the sound of everyone’s laughter. She moved next to Autumn and stuck her arm through her friend’s. “I see you met Rykard. It really feels like old times.”
“Excuse me, I better go and check on the food. Be back in a bit.” Autumn slipped from Reggie’s embrace and went back into the kitchen. The food was done and ready to eat. What she needed most was a place to pick up her bruised feelings. Tears stung the backs of her eyes, but she refuse to let them come forward. She was ready to open up to Travis, but apparently, that was a foolish notion on her part.
Autumn offhandedly snatched up a top from a pot when someone walked in. It was Travis. She could tell without turning around. She stirred the contents but didn’t look back or acknowledge him. She heard the refrigerator door open and close, and could sense that he was watching her. However, she refused to give into this game he was playing with her. She waited, hoping he was say something, anything that would force her to turn to face him. A moment passed and then she heard his footsteps leave the room. Autumn dropped the top back onto the pot and then walked out the patio door. The humid air gave her no reprieve. She leaned on the overhang and closed her eyes. When she felt more in control of her emotions, she returned to the house and joined everyone in the den. The conversation was lighthearted and jovial.
“Do you remember the halftime show you did?” Rykard got up and imitated some of Reggie’s old dance moves. Everyone was close to tears in laughter.
Autumn looked from one to the other as they all tried to mock Reggie’s college dance routine. She did smile a little when she saw Reggie egg on Trae. “No, that’s not how it’s done. Bust a move Traekin. Nobody does the dance better than my baby.” Her smile grew a little more when Trae stood and did a few moves, and then wiggled his tail for emphasis.
“Nah -ah, I didn’t do all that!” Reggie slapped his shoulder.
Autumn stood , and didn’t linger long in the background. Her smile soon faded and didn’t quite reach its fullness. Sadness lurked in the corners of her eyes. And although neither had said one word to the other, she knew Travis watched her. She sensed his eyes on her even though she refused to look at him. They played that game the entire evening. So she decided to leave the room again.
* * * *
Travis detected that something wasn’t right. He had to decide whether or not it was worth his while to find out. He’d told Reggie he was no longer interested in Autumn, but that was a lie. He pretended not to give a damn about her, but something inside of him wouldn’t allow him to continue to deny his true feelings.
The ladies set the table, which gave them a chance to catch up. They all sat down for gumbo and more conversations. Autumn made and served coffee with dessert. The conversation slipped from one story to another as soft jazz purred in the background. Autumn had said very little. She eventually stood and went to the kitchen where she started cleaning up.
Standing over the sink full of sudsy water, the same sensation came over her the last time Travis entered the kitchen. “Want some help?” His voice , low and seductive, rose across the short distance between them.
“No, but thanks for asking. I got it ,” she replied just barely looking over her shoulder.
From her side glance, she watched him move closer; she felt the heat of his body even before he spoke. “My mother taught me well, so I’m actually pretty good in the kitchen.” His voice vibrated against her.
“I’m sure that’s true. I’m just about done.” She concentrated on her task but dropped the dish into the sudsy water when he, without warning, touched the side of her face and turned it toward him so they were staring at each other. She trembled beneath his touch.
“What is it about us , Autumn, that has me crazy and you running?” He lowered his lips to her ear.
Autumn
“Excuse me, I better go and check on the food. Be back in a bit.” Autumn slipped from Reggie’s embrace and went back into the kitchen. The food was done and ready to eat. What she needed most was a place to pick up her bruised feelings. Tears stung the backs of her eyes, but she refuse to let them come forward. She was ready to open up to Travis, but apparently, that was a foolish notion on her part.
Autumn offhandedly snatched up a top from a pot when someone walked in. It was Travis. She could tell without turning around. She stirred the contents but didn’t look back or acknowledge him. She heard the refrigerator door open and close, and could sense that he was watching her. However, she refused to give into this game he was playing with her. She waited, hoping he was say something, anything that would force her to turn to face him. A moment passed and then she heard his footsteps leave the room. Autumn dropped the top back onto the pot and then walked out the patio door. The humid air gave her no reprieve. She leaned on the overhang and closed her eyes. When she felt more in control of her emotions, she returned to the house and joined everyone in the den. The conversation was lighthearted and jovial.
“Do you remember the halftime show you did?” Rykard got up and imitated some of Reggie’s old dance moves. Everyone was close to tears in laughter.
Autumn looked from one to the other as they all tried to mock Reggie’s college dance routine. She did smile a little when she saw Reggie egg on Trae. “No, that’s not how it’s done. Bust a move Traekin. Nobody does the dance better than my baby.” Her smile grew a little more when Trae stood and did a few moves, and then wiggled his tail for emphasis.
“Nah -ah, I didn’t do all that!” Reggie slapped his shoulder.
Autumn stood , and didn’t linger long in the background. Her smile soon faded and didn’t quite reach its fullness. Sadness lurked in the corners of her eyes. And although neither had said one word to the other, she knew Travis watched her. She sensed his eyes on her even though she refused to look at him. They played that game the entire evening. So she decided to leave the room again.
* * * *
Travis detected that something wasn’t right. He had to decide whether or not it was worth his while to find out. He’d told Reggie he was no longer interested in Autumn, but that was a lie. He pretended not to give a damn about her, but something inside of him wouldn’t allow him to continue to deny his true feelings.
The ladies set the table, which gave them a chance to catch up. They all sat down for gumbo and more conversations. Autumn made and served coffee with dessert. The conversation slipped from one story to another as soft jazz purred in the background. Autumn had said very little. She eventually stood and went to the kitchen where she started cleaning up.
Standing over the sink full of sudsy water, the same sensation came over her the last time Travis entered the kitchen. “Want some help?” His voice , low and seductive, rose across the short distance between them.
“No, but thanks for asking. I got it ,” she replied just barely looking over her shoulder.
From her side glance, she watched him move closer; she felt the heat of his body even before he spoke. “My mother taught me well, so I’m actually pretty good in the kitchen.” His voice vibrated against her.
“I’m sure that’s true. I’m just about done.” She concentrated on her task but dropped the dish into the sudsy water when he, without warning, touched the side of her face and turned it toward him so they were staring at each other. She trembled beneath his touch.
“What is it about us , Autumn, that has me crazy and you running?” He lowered his lips to her ear.
Autumn
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