Page 3 of Chains
“I guess in the kitchen. I’ll just put them in the cupboards and figure out what I’ll do with all these gadgets and machines at some point.” Autumn pushed open her front door and held it open with her foot while Sadie passed through.
“How’s your hangover?” her friend asked.
“Better, but a nap on the couch with a cool washcloth across my forehead is my plan for the next two hours.” She hoisted up the bags in her hands to the counter. “I’ll deal with all this later. Do you and Mitch have plans for tonight?”
“We’re going to Vesta Grill with Alicia and Juan. Remember we asked you guys to join us?”
“That’s right, but we already had plans. Maybe next time.” Autumn walked her friend to the front door.
“It seems like we never go out as couples. That’s kind of strange, don’t you think?” Sadie stepped out onto the porch.
Autumn raked her slender fingers through her auburn hair. “Bret and I are both so busy in our careers that when we have time to go out, he prefers to just be with me.” As Sadie stared at her, Autumn cut her gaze to the swaying branches of the tree in the front yard. “That was one of the reasons why I bought this house. I love weeping willows—they stand so firm, yet their branches are flexible and strong, bending without breaking.”
Sadie glanced over at the weeping willow then stepped off the porch. “This has to be one of your better ways of changing the subject when it comes to Bret.”
Autumn lifted up one shoulder and smiled weakly. “Have fun tonight. Let’s get together for dinner one night next week.”
“Sounds good. Let me know how you like the new restaurant.”
Autumn watched as her friend drove away, then she closed her door and climbed the stairs to her bedroom to change clothes. Sadie was right about one thing: whenever she started to probe into Autumn and Bret’s relationship, Autumn steered the conversation away from it. And there was no way Sadie didn’t suspect that Bret was the reason they weren’t joining her friends for dinner. The truth was that Bret didn’t like her friends and didn’t want to hang out with them. They’d gotten into several fights about it, and the few times he’d acquiesced and gone out with her group, he acted like a pouting, spoiled child, so she’d just stopped asking him. Once they got married and were bonded as a couple, she was sure things would fall into place. Sometimes, Bret could be so self-centered and selfish, but other times, he could be so loving and attentive by sending her a bouquet of flowers for no reason or whisking her away to Aspen for an unexpected romantic weekend. It was true that the impromptu acts of love had dwindled in the last several months, especially after they’d become engaged, but Bret had it in him, and when this whole wedding fanfare was over, they’d settle down into their new life and everything would be wonderful.
I hope. Of course it will be. Look at Mom and Dad and how happy they’ve been for the past thirty-five years. Everything’s going to be just fine.It seemed that had become her mantra for the past few months, and she recited it more often whenever doubts niggled at the back of her mind.
Squeezing out the excess water from a washcloth, Autumn decided to forgo the couch in favor of lying on the bed. She pushed aside the many decorative pillows and eased down on the mattress. After several minutes her phone beeped, and she groaned as she reached for it on the nightstand.
Bret:My mom said the shower was great. U’ll have to have her come over & show u how to use all the things u got.
She rolled her eyes and sighed loudly.
Autumn:It was good. Just resting b4 tonight.
Bret:Yeah… well, I can’t make it tonight. Sorry.
She sat upright, ignoring the dull pain of blood rushing to her aching temples. “What the hell?” she muttered under her breath.
Bret:U still with me? My boss wants me to entertain a client who got in this morning. It can’t be helped.
Autumn:Really?
Bret:I resent the implication from that comment.
Autumn:Whatever.
Bret:I’ll come over afterwards. We can have some fun together.
Autumn:No, don’t. I won’t be in the mood.
Bret:Why r u being so difficult? Do u want me to say no and risk my job?
Autumn:I’m not saying that. I’m just disappointed, that’s all.
Bret:Me too. I’ll make it up to you next Saturday. Flanigan’s, okay?
Autumn:I don’t want to go to a steakhouse. I want to try the Indian restaurant.
Bret:We can do that another time. A five-star steakhouse is what my sweet fiancée deserves.
“Such an asshole. It’s whatyouwant,” she muttered under her breath.
