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I see her head tilt to the side in confusion, but it hits her quickly. She spins, fast enough that her shoulder hits his chest. I’m annoyed when he doesn’t back away.
She’s so fucking beautiful.
Even as pissed off as I can tell she is, it’s a relief to have her attention on me.
“Hey.” It’s technically a response to him, but my eyes are glued to her.
She turns back to him, whispering something I can’t make out. He smirks and responds in a voice just as quiet, but I read his lips.
Happy to be of service.
My mind is reeling. Instead of acknowledging me further, the two of them move. He heads to the stairs leading up to his place, and she marches for her front door.
I do the only thing I can think to do, and I follow her. It’s the only thing I’ve been able to think for as long as I’ve been away from her. I want to be wherever she is.
The door is left open when I reach it. It gives me a small sliver of hope knowing she could’ve slammed it behind her and locked me out.
I stare inside for a moment, studying details that impressed me since the first time I saw it. The huge wall of bookshelves that are covered in books. My eyes dial in on the exact space I know her own book sits, although I can’t read the spine from out here.
I have my own copy sitting on my nightstand. I bought it as soon as I got home that night.
“You're going to let bugs in,” Autumn says from her kitchen, out of sight. Like she knows I’m standing here without hearing or seeing any evidence of it.
I quickly step in and close the door behind me.
Everything around me goes out of focus when she’s in view again.
“Service?” I ask, and immediately regret it.
As I enter the kitchen, she’s keeping her hands busy, pulling dishes from the dishwasher. She’s trying her best not to look at me, and I understand why.
“That’s what you have to say?”
I rub the back of my neck, searching for some better way to direct the conversation.
“No. It’s not,” I say before clearing my throat. “I’m sorry.”
“Is that why you showed up? To say sorry?” The irritation in her voice is thick.
“It’s one of the reasons.”
She finally glances up to give me a look that tells me she’s waiting for the other reasons.
“I just fucking missed you, A. I always miss you.”
I breathe easier when her expression begins to soften.
“I missed you, too.”
When her eyes linger, studying my expression, I move. Three small steps and I’m pulling her into me for a hug. Of course, Iwantto hug her, but I also don’t need her reading anything in my expression that I’ve chosen not to voice.
“I feel worse when I’m not around you,” I explain. “I keep thinking it might help, but it doesn’t. At all.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling.”
She’s the one to pull away and put space between us.
“I should have let you know I was coming…” I take a second to imagine what it would have been like if I’d knocked on her door ten minutes earlier and I wince. “It was a spontaneous decision.”
