“I didn’t like Dickinson a whole lot. It was depressing. Small town living is not for me.”
“I thought it was because you missed Camden and still reeled from the break-up.”
I shake my head slightly. “The break-up would’ve happened regardless. Cam and I are better off as friends. I used to think differently, but after the storm reporting I did with him, I realized he’s not the one for me.”
“And Julius is the one for you.” It’s not a question but stated as a fact. “He’s the difference in your demeanor.”
I want to tell her she’s wrong, but I don’t think she is. Even with everything that’s happened since we met, I’d still take those days over not knowing Julius. “Maybe.” I refuse to say otherwise out of fear I might jinx things. “We like each other, but his life is complicated right now.”
“I read about him in People Magazine. More so, his ex. She seems,” Mom pauses and then says, “busy.”
“She’s trying to make her mark in Hollywood.” As much as I want to badmouth her for everything she’s done, I can’t. I won’t. I promised myself I will always see the good in her because she’s Reggie and Roxy’s mother, and it’s what they deserve. When they’re older, they’ll come to their own conclusions about their mother. Since she went back to California, she’s only called once, and as far as I know, she hadn’t answered when Reggie phoned her.
Mom looks at me skeptically. She can probably see right through the bullshit but knows it’s not her place to say anything. I’m sure, as a parent, the last thing she expected from me was to fall for a single dad going through a divorce and a high-profile one at that. The media is relentless when it comes to gossip, which only increased when someone leaked their divorce documents. I couldn’t help it and looked to see what people said on social media. Most of Julius’s loyal fans sided with him, while Elena’s “wives” all took her side, who feel Julius should’ve paid Elena more money. I hope I am never like that or in a situation where money matters more than love and family.
When we pull up to the stadium, my dad hoots and hollers like he’s some dedicated fan. I doubt he’s ever watched a Pioneers game until I told him about Julius. The driver takes us around back. It’s very cloak and dagger but saves us from having to stand in line and wait for tickets. I learned early that when Julius says will-call, he doesn’t really mean for me to stand at the window while someone searches for my ticket. There is a private entrance for families at this stadium.
A Pioneer staff member meets us at the door and tells my parents they’re getting a tour of the facility, and assures me they’ll bring my parents to the suite when they’re finished. Julius is giving them the royal treatment, which will definitely win my father over.
When I reach the suite, Reggie is standing outside the door, looking at his phone. Across from him is a security guard, watching him. “Hey, Reggie.” I try to make my voice sound as upbeat and happy as possible, even though I know he’s hurting.
“Hi, Miss Autumn.”
I stand next to him. “Whatcha doing?”
He shrugs. “My mom won’t answer.”
“She’s probably on set. I read somewhere that actors sometimes have to be on set from sunup until sundown, and most of the time, they can’t have their phones with them because they don’t want it to ring during filming.” I’m trying—anything I can do to put a positive spin on things for him right now.
“Maybe,” he says with a heavy sigh.
“Guess what?”
“What?”
“My parents are here, and I think my dad is a bigger football fan than you.”
Reggie looks at me. There’s a twinkle in his eyes. It’s short-lived, but I saw it. “Not possible.”
“Oh, I don’t know. He might challenge your knowledge of the sport.”
Reggie looks down the corridor. “Where is he?”
“Getting a tour and probably a hotdog. Oh, and probably one of those foam fingers that everyone has.”
Reggie laughs. It’s a deep belly chuckle that makes me smile. “That’s silly. There are hotdogs inside.”
“Yum! I’m starving. What do you say? Do you want to go in with me?”
He shrugs. “Okay.”
I nod and hold my arm out for him. I signal to the security guard that I have Reggie now. With my hand on the door, he pauses. “Miss Autumn?”
I crouch down until I’m at eye level with him. “How about we stop the Miss Autumn stuff, and you just call me Autumn?”
“Okay,” he says. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being my friend. You’re starting to feel like a mom to me. At first, that scared me, but I think I like it.”
Cue the tears. “Reggie, your words mean everything to me.” I stand, pull him into my arms, and kiss his head. “I’ll be whatever you need me to be. Whatever makes you happy.” His little arms tighten around my waist.
“I’m so glad my dad found you.”
Me too, bud. Me too!
Thirty-Six
Julius
The rest of November and all of December flew by. I swear I think I went to sleep Thanksgiving night and woke up days before Christmas. Whirlwind doesn’t begin to describe my life right now. I’m still embattled with Elena and this ridiculous divorce. Instead of taking the offer on the table and agreeing, she listened to her “fans” on social media and the “wives” and decided to hire her own lawyer. Something she should’ve done from the beginning but didn’t have the money. She still doesn’t, but her counsel is willing to take payment once a settlement comes in. I’ve tried to tell her that means less money for her, but I’m wrong. I’m always wrong. I’m confident a judge will accept the prenuptial agreement as is. She won’t be able to ask for custody of the children either. She’s proven she can’t effectively communicate with them. They haven’t spoken to her since she left this last time.
The only thing Elena is doing is holding up my moving on with Autumn. We’ve talked about her moving in, but she won’t until I’m divorced. She doesn’t want Elena showing up and causing a scene and us having no recourse. As much as I agree with her, I hate it. I hate that Elena still controls my life.
Noah and I are at the jewelers. He’s looking for a gift for Peyton but doesn’t know what. Every time I say, “How about this?” he shakes his head. After the tenth time or so, he finally admitted he doesn’t know what he wants to get her but wants it to be unique. He let it slip a few weeks ago, after one too many drinks, that they’re struggling to get pregnant, and each time they find out they’re not, Peyton begins to shut down. He’s hoping that the trip they’re taking to see family at Christmas will help her because he’s afraid he’s out of options.
It occurs to me that I might be able to help him. “Can I take you somewhere?” I ask him. He nods, and we head out and to my car. I drive us to a part of town I only visit when I can’t get out of a funk, which happens after I’ve had to deal with Elena and her bullshit. I pull up to a row of stores and park along the curb.