Peace and Love Everyone!
I hope you’ve had a great week.
My was okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. It was a good week and a productive weekend. I was able to work on some ideas for my novel which I think will make it a better read. I believe it’s what was missing.
As I wrote this chapter or Autumn I realized something very wrong with my writing. Not even the program that was suppose to catch my errors caught it. So I’m sure my other posts for this story have the same error. I was blending the points of view. Loving Autumn was supposed to be from her point of view, but I kept inserting a narrator. Not sure if you noticed. I finally caught it on the read through. Not sure why it didnt’ stand out before. It was seemless in my mind, going from first to third person.
I don’t write from first person very often because it limits what I can tell you about the story. Many authors have solved that by writing different chapters from different view points. It works but if you’re not aware it leaves you lost and back tracking to see where you got lost. My goal is the take you through the journey with no concept of time in the outside world. I want my readers to get lost in the journey.
Anyway, without further delay. I bring you the next chapter in Loving Autumn.
Chapter 6
We walked up the stairs quietly, a bottle of Moscato in my hand to celebrate privately. We didn’t say a word until we were in Raj’s bedroom.
He picked me up and swung me around. “We did it. Well, you did it, really. I think you impressed my dad. I’ve never seen him do a complete one-eighty.”
“Surely, you jest.”
“No, Autumn, I really think you impressed him. You’re as good as my wife.”
“We still have to wait for your pundit.”
“No, we don’t.”
Autumn was surprised. “And why not.”
“We’ve already been matched. Just a few issues we need to pay attention to, which he will speak with us about a bit before the wedding. Your mom called last week and asked where to send the copy. I had her send it directly to the temple.”
“I see. Not wasting any time, are you?”
“No, I will waste no time making you my wife. I’ve already let you know what you mean to me.” She smiles as Raj wraps his arms around her. “You know I am head over heels in love with you. I have been for some time.” Raj pours his beloved another glass.
Autumn smiles as she moves closer to him. “I love you, Raj. You mean so much to me.”
Raj smiles. “Are you ready to set a date for our wedding?”
Autumn smiles. “We don’t have to rush.”
“No, but we should set a date before father sets our engagement.”
I nod and sips my wine. Before I could say anything else, my cell rings. I remove it from my pocket and look at the screen. Charlie, I want to ignore it, but knew better. It may be easier to face it head-on.
“My beloved.”
Oh no, was Charlie in love with me too? “Hi, Charlie.” The strain in my voice was already evident. I tried to smile when I heard the laughter loud on the other end.
“I scared you, didn’t I.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Would it be so bad if I loved you?”
“Charlie, you do love me.”
“You know what I mean. Would it be a bad thing if I was falling in love with you?”
“Is this why you called?”
“No, I just landed in London, and I missed you. I haven’t spoken to you since we had our party. How are you and Raj doing?”
“We’re good.” I want to tell my best friend about Raj and me, but I didn’t think this was the time. Things were already changing.
“You still haven’t answered me.”
“Oh, Charlie, you know I love you. We’ve been best friends for over a decade.”
“What if I want more?”
“We’ve done more than most best friends.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“And I want an opportunity to explore what we’ve created.”
“Charlie.”
“I know you and Raj have been together for almost two years. Shit, I know when you first slept with him. These last six months have got me thinking about our relationship. You’re my best friend, wouldn’t it be perfect to be my love as well?”
“Charlie, what are you proposing?”
“I don’t know. I would like time to see if we work. I know you well enough to know you’re not going to leave Raj for me. But that leaves me wondering where I will fit in? Does that leave me visiting New York periodically to climb into your married bed? Does it mean the three of us to live together?”
“I didn’t know you’ve thought about all of this. I really don’t know the answer to that. Raj and I were talking about that last night. I don’t know how it would work,” I was starting to get frustrated. Why now? Charlie had said nothing for years; now, now that Raj and I are getting engaged, he wants to explore our relationship? Now, he had all these feelings for me. How do I feel?
“Just don’t automatically count me out because I’m not there right now. Give me a chance.”
“I hear you.” I didn’t wait for him to hang up. My arm just lowered to my lap, phone, and all. I couldn’t help but think what the fuck?
I had briefly thought about this when Charlie and I first started being intimate. But I just figured it was a passing thing. Just curiosity because we had been friends for so long. We knew everything about each other. We had sleepovers and had never touched each other intimately until six months ago. No one ever believed us, but it was true. I often wondered what had changed in the last six months that didn’t exist before. I didn’t have a clue.
After watching me sitting at the end of the chaise unmoving, Raj sat next to me. When I didn’t move or react, he kissed my neck. He wanted to celebrate in my arms. We had been so excited.
“Autumn, what’s wrong? Why the sullenness?
“That was Charlie.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yes,” I said nothing further.
Raj knew that if Charlie was well, there was only one thing that would rock her like this. He knew they had been best friends from high school and through college. Raj knew they had spent hours on the phone when Charlie was away. He had moved around a lot because he was a freelance photographer. Charlie chose to move around. Autumn said he told her that he loved the experience of living in the cities he worked in. Even if not forever. Since they had been talking and dating, his absence had never shaken her.
After the silence persisted, he sat back on the chaise and helped me move towards him and into his arms. I scooted until I was comfortable. We sat like that for a while, saying nothing. He kissed my neck and my cheek. Then he caressed my hands and arms.
“Mera pyara, kya galat hai?
“Charlie, vah ek mauka chaahata hai.”
“Tum mere ho.”
“Nitya.”
“I thought we were going to explore this. Are we?”
“Haan.”
“Can’t believe he picked today to call. Cut our celebration short. I won’t like sharing you.”
“Right now, you shouldn’t have to.” I turned my body and straddled Raj. I sat on his lap, staring into his eyes. I could see the love in them, and I smiled at him. “I love you, Raj. I am in love with you.”
I smiled and then slowly kissed his full lips. He deserved my full attention right now. How could I have let Charlie break our joyful celebration? I slowly kissed him again, longingly.
Raj began to caress my skin. Running his hands under my shirt and over my bra as he kissed me back. “I’ve loved you from the moment you smiled.” He kissed her cheek. “Let’s go to bed.”
Copyright 2019
Until next week….
Peace & Love
LeticiaEdghill 