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Chapter Twelve

Cody

Autumn sat down in the booth across from me.

Even in her unflattering uniform from the pub, she looked beautiful.

I gave her a smile. “Hi.”

“What are you doing here?”

I shrugged. “I stopped by Bounce and spoke to your friend. Jessie, I think? The girl you danced with the other night.”

She looked away. “That’s creepy. You know that, right?”

I sighed. Maybe she was right about that. “You weren’t answering my texts and I was worried.”

“So you stalked me?”

I opened my mouth, closed it again. “I see now that I might be coming on a little strong.”

“A lot strong,” she said in a deadpan.

“I’m sorry.”

She looked at me, mouth set in a deep frown.

I lowered my gaze. “Really. I’m sorry. I’ve just never felt like this. About anyone.”

Autumn sighed. “It’s just—it’s a lot. I lost out on a good job because of you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I have to pay my rent.”

“I can cover it.”

“What if I don’t want a sugar daddy?”

I blinked. Was that what she thought was happening?

“Autumn, that’s not—”

“This is happening really fast, Cody.”

I nodded. “I understand. But, please, listen?”

She folded her arms on the table, looking seriously at me.

“I don’t want this to be a fling. I want this to be something real, and I want it to be permanent.”

She put her chin in one hand, still listening.

“I want to take care of you,” I said. “I want to make you happy. I want to see you succeed and finish your degree.”

“Okay.”

“Is that all I get?”