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Great, he’s more than ready to send me on my merry way. This is not how I had pictured the night going, but I can’t fault him for it. I’ve been silent the entire night, just watching him interact with Bethany and wishing he would do the same with me.
I nod and Bethany hands me my crutches and it’s not lost on me that Easton doesn’t offer any assistance. Asshole. I give her a smile before struggling to my feet and wrap an arm around her. She pats my back before pulling away and nudging her head at me. I take a deep breath before slowly following behind Easton to the front door.
As soon as I make it out onto the front porch, something shifts inside of me and I face Easton with a frown. He opens his mouth as if he wants to say something, but I stop him. “No,” I say, lifting my chin high into the air. “I’ve got something to say to you and you’re going to listen.”
Easton sighs and leans against the door frame. “Alright.”
There’s no emotion in his eyes as he looks at me and it throws me off, but I take a deep breath. I will not let him keep me from doing what I came here to accomplish.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Easton
Iknew as soon as I walked through the front door that something was going on, but I chose not to say anything because it seemed as though Bethany was excited. Now though? With Autumn standing in front of me in a sinful green dress, looking more delicious than I’ve ever seen her, I’m wishing I had sent her away immediately.
“I want this, Easton,” she says hurriedly and waves a hand between the two of us. “All of it.”
“I’m not sure what you mean by that.”
I didn’t think I’d have to worry about this again, but I guess I should’ve been prepared for anything.
Autumn steps closer to me and stops a couple feet away. “Do you remember when you asked me where I saw my life going?”
How could I forget? It’s one of the reasons I can’t bring myself to be with her. “Yes.” I’d rather not relive her answer, but if that’s what it takes to get her to leave before I make another mistake, then I’ll deal with it.
“Ask me again,” she says.
“I already know your answer, Autumn.”
She growls low in her throat and narrows her eyes at me. “Just ask me again, Easton.”
“Fine. Autumn, where do you see your life going?” I say with a sigh.
“I see me, you and Bethany sitting at the kitchen table every night enjoying a meal together before watching a movie.” She takes another small step toward me and smiles. “We’ll wait until Bethany goes to bed before you take me into our room and have your way with me, then I’ll wake up to breakfast in bed.”
Can I really stand here and listen to this?
“I see Bethany graduating with you and me at her side, possibly with a baby brother or sister, before we send her off to college together. We’ll make memories in the backyard where we’ll eventually watch our grandkids run around squealing with laughter as we look on with pride from the comfort of the back porch.”
Another step closer and now I can barely breathe. “But before all that happens, I’ll wear a white dress as I walk down the aisle towards you because that’s all I’ve ever dreamed of doing, and we’ll pick each other up when the other is down. If fear tries to push me away again, I’ll be right there to help push that sucker away and I won’t leave your side. Ever. Fear won’t win, Easton.”
She moves in close until there’s only a couple of inches between us and she shakes her head. “I thought I didn’t know what I wanted, but what I wanted was right in front of me all along and I’m not going anywhere. This is where I’m meant to be. In this house with you and Bethany, creating a life together.”
I smirk at her and cock my head to the side. “Are you done?”
“Should I keep going, or do I have your attention now?”
“More kids, huh?”
I watch her cheeks heat up under the porch light and she looks away from me briefly. “That’s all you heard out of all that? But, yes. It’s what I’ve always wanted – a house full of kids.”
I’m not sure about a house full, but the idea of creating another life with the woman in front of me doesn’t sound so bad. “And you aren’t leaving?”
Autumn shakes her head. “Not without you and Bethany.”
I’m about to lean forward, claim her lips with my own, when a squeal echoes through the house and I chuckle. When I turn around, Bethany has a big smile on her face and she’s bouncing on the balls of her feet, clapping her hands together. It seems as though Autumn isn’t the only one who had some grand plan tonight.
“Do you want to come back inside?” I ask with my eyes focused on Autumn and the way her hair curls around her face.
