The Last Days of Autumn by Donna K. Ford

Author:Donna K. Ford [Ford, Donna K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781635556735
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2020-05-12T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

Autumn looked up from the book she was reading to see Caroline coming down the hall wearing soccer shorts and a T-shirt. Her gym bag hung from her left shoulder. Autumn trailed her eyes down the long lean muscles of Caroline’s legs, which looked powerful and strong as they flexed.

“Ready for the game?” Autumn asked.

Caroline grinned, her eyes flashing with excitement. “I’m always ready for soccer.”

Autumn watched as Caroline tied her shoes. “Can I come? I’d like to see you play.” The words were out before Autumn could think about what she was saying. “Unless you’d like some time away from me. I mean, I don’t want to intrude on your personal time.”

Caroline looked up as she finished tying her laces. “I’d love for you to come,” she said excitedly. “Are you sure you feel up to it?”

Autumn shrugged. “I need to get out. I’m going a bit stir-crazy.”

“It’s settled, then. Can I get you a jacket or a blanket?” Caroline asked. “It can get a little chilly being indoors with the air-conditioning.”

“I’ll get it. I’ll meet you at the car.” Autumn left the book on the coffee table, a sudden rush of excitement causing her heart to flutter. It had been weeks since she’d looked forward to doing something outside the house that wasn’t about work. This felt like an adventure, not just an indoor soccer game. She was going to get to see Caroline play. She felt heat flush her cheeks, an image of Caroline sweat drenched and out of breath flashing in her mind. She shook herself. Since when did a game of soccer become sexy? She laughed. Anything Caroline did would be sexy.

Autumn climbed into the car a few minutes later, noticing Caroline had the heat on low. Autumn had been having trouble regulating her body temperature during her treatments and her hands and feet were always painfully cold. She reached out and brushed her fingers along Caroline’s hand. “Thanks.”

“For what?” Caroline said smiling.

“For letting me come with you, for…for everything.”

Before Autumn could pull her hand away, Caroline clasped her fingers. “Let’s go have some fun.”

The sports complex was only a few miles from Autumn’s house, but she had never been there. She observed the thin indoor-outdoor carpeting through the entryway, an indoor court to her right, and a room to the left with large mats on the floor where several young girls were practicing tumbling. There was a long row of batting cages at the rear of the building, the sharp crack of the bat hitting the ball bursting every couple of seconds as young men and women practiced their swings. They turned right, walked along the batting cages, and turned into one of the indoor courts. Several men and women were already warming up, dribbling and passing the ball, stretching, and chatting about the game.

Autumn took a seat on a low row of benches while Caroline changed her shoes, slipped on shin guards, and stored her bag.

“Are you okay?” Caroline asked, a hint of worry in her eyes.

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