Page 79 of Savored Sins
Nah. It’s been three weeks since I submitted my entry to the pilot contest, and I haven’t heard anything back. There’s still a week until they announce the winners, but I’m pretty sure they’d let you know beforehand that you won, before they announce it to everyone else.
I’m not gonna think about it. Dwelling on what could’ve been won’t do any good. What matters now is that I?—
Well,hellothere, douchebag.
If it isn’t Patrick Carroway and his hoity-toity mom, standing in line for the taco truck. Actually, I’m kind of surprised. I didn’t know people like them would have to wait in line like us lowly peons.
Huh. You learn something new every day.
I can tell Autumn sees Patrick the same time I do because she stiffens a bit next to me. Her spine goes rigid, and she laces her fingers through mine. But other than that, she’s calm and collected. She’s got her shit together.
Autumn told me that, a couple days after everything went down between us, she’d been researching other spots she could move her store. She was—duh—sick of staying trapped under her ex’s thumb. So she marched into Patrick’s office to tell him she wanted out of the building lease, but ended up with yet another snarky, sniveling tirade about the sleazy kid she’s banging. Which, honestly? Thanks for the compliment, bro. A man knows when another man’s got game.
As Autumn tells it, the exchange of words ended with her telling Patrick that, in the past three weeks, alone, I’ve already given her more orgasms than he did the entire time they were married. Which has me both shookethandsmug. Suck on that, asswipe.
“You guys should really release that story somehow,” Trey notes, narrowing his eyes in Patrick’s direction. Obviously, Autumn has filled Trey in on what happened with Lena. “Like, I know it’s notPatrickwho killed anyone, butgod. His asshole grandpa was amurdererand he just… got away with it. And to think he had the nerve to come at you with that crap about his family’s reputation. It’s honestly gross.”
Autumn shrugs. “He probably doesn’t know. I doubt it’s a fun little secret they’re itching to pass down to future generations. But I agree. It’s shit. When Zeke has a little more time after his first couple work projects, we’re hoping we can put something together and get the story out there, even if it’s all just alleged and nothing’s proven.”
Autumn and I are next in line, and the dude running the ride waves us forward. As we step up on the platform and wait for our car, Autumn turns back to the crowds of people below. Being up on the platform, we’ve got a better view of the scene around us, of the tents and booths and costumes and carts scattered all up and down Main Street.
The people below also have a better view of us, and as our car approaches and Autumn and I fall back against the bench, I see Patrick’s gaze land right on Autumn. His face is stony, almost immovable, as he watches us together, rising up and up and up, high above the town.
And Autumn—fiery, gorgeous, brazen Autumn—gives a toss of her beautiful, blazing hair, smiles, and flips Patrick the bird.
Yes, ladies and gents.Thatis my girl.
Patrick turns his head, trying to look like he’s not bothered. And maybe he’s not. I don’t know—who cares? But his snooty mom’s still scowling at us, so even though we’re high above the crowd and she probably can’t even see, I tip Autumn’s face toward mine, sweeping my tongue through her mouth. I can’t resist—not when we’re on display like this.
“Get a room!” Benji calls from the car above us. We’re on the other side of the ferris wheel now, making our steady descent back around to the ground.
Autumn flips him off too, and just keeps kissing me. I think we both want Patrick and his mom to see us making out as we roll through the platform and start our ascent again. When I look back down, Patrick and his mom are gone. Good riddance.
I lean one elbow on the safety bar and turn to grin at Autumn. “You think there’s a mile high club for ferris wheels?”
“Hmm…” She says, pretending to think. Her green eyes are sparkling. She’s clearly playing along. “I don’t know. There might be. I mean, we could alwaysstartone. What would it look like logistically? Like, how would it work?”
“You guys do realize we can hear literally everything you’re saying—right?” Trey calls up from below us.
I burst out laughing at the desperate tone of his voice. I can tell he doesnotwant me to start answering Autumn’s question about what sex on a ferris wheel might look like. He knows my answer will be extremely thorough.
“Duh,” Autumn replies, twisting around on the bench to grin down at Trey. “That’s the whole point—to gross you and Benji out.”
“Well, you’ve succeeded,” Benji says, rubbing his temples. “And once again, it’s a good thing Phoebe didn’t join and bring those little kids up here. God, you guys should come with a warning label.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Autumn, whose hand has been creeping ever closer to my junk, feels the vibration, too. She looks at me questioningly, so I fish out my phone and check the number. It’s nothing I recognize, but I answer it anyway. I kinda like messing with random callers.
“Yo. This is Zeke.”
I see Autumn stifle a laugh. I may have to field work calls now, but if someone thinks I’m going to start answering my phone like a professional, that person had better think again.
“Hi, Zeke. This is Josh Mercer, producer at SyFy. Is now a good time?”
My blood goes cold. I can tell the ferris wheel’s still spinning, but every other thought I just had in my head flies right out the window. Everything seems to stop.
“Yeah.” I clear my throat, glance at Autumn. “Yeah, it’s fine. It’s perfect.”
“Great,” Josh says. “Well, I wanted to call and personally congratulate you before we make the announcement. Welovedyour pilot as a concept for a new ghost hunting show, and we’ve chosen it as the winner of our competition.”
