Autumn and Summer Read Free Page A

it. You met him so think about that brief interaction…now imagine it times five for a couple of hours. ”
    “ Yikes! Robert is good-looking and he’s nice so I get why you agreed to go out with him initially. But dammit, if this is the third date and he still keeps forgetting to bring his personality, drop him.”
    “Yeah, that’s what’s happening tonight. I felt he deserved to be let down in person. I’m going to let him down gently. But for the record, if he had more substance, I would be all over him. But he is just so…”
    “ You are the romantic. I’m the realist. So let’s call it what it is. Robert is as boring as Josh is dumb.”
    “Ha! That’s the truth.” When I peeked around the corner again, I saw the waiter drop off the check and Robert looking around as if he were trying to find me. “Robert is looking for me so I need to get back to the table, but I’ll call you tomorrow to give you tonight’s recap. Now seriously, are you okay?”
    “Yes. I am now. Thanks , Auty.”
    “Anytime. And remember, everything happens for a reason. You found out the truth a bout Josh so now you’re free.”
    “ Free falling.”
    “Tom Petty.”
    “And the heartbreakers,” Summer laughed. “See what we did there. Full circle. We are the heartbreakers.”
    Laughing, I responded, “That’s not a good thing.”
    “I’m sorry I ruined your breakup dinner.”
    “Goodbye , Summer,” I said in a sing-song voice before disconnecting the call and dropping the phone in my clutch.
    Squaring my shoulders, I walked back to the table I shared with Robert. He quickly jumped to his feet when he saw me approaching. He smiled a warm smile and I felt a pit in my stomach. I hate hurting people’s feelings. But this needs to be done. It would be even worse for me to lead him on, I thought as I smiled back and took my seat.
    “Robert, dinner has been lovely. Thank you for my meal. Please allow me to pay for it,” I offered.
    “No, not at all. I will not have you paying for your own dinner, let alone my dinner,” Robert countered, scratching his temple.
    “Please. Allow me this one opportunity.” I leaned forward holding his hazel eyes in my gaze, willing him to relent and let me pay for dinner.
    He stared back at me and I saw something cross his face. His lip quirked up and he gave me a lopsided grin. His short dark brown hair looked fluffy and soft as it framed his deceptively young face. He looked like he could be twenty-one; however, at thirty-eight, he was ten years older than me.
    “That’s not the way a gentleman shows respect for his lady,” he answered, his eyes sparkling.
    Time to let him down gently, I thought as I said slowly, “But it is the way a woman shows her friend she appreciates his friendship.”
    Robert’s face slowly shifted from hopeful ness to disappointment at a gut-wrenchingly slow pace. His eyes dropped to the check that lay between us. I hated to hurt such a nice guy’s feelings, but he deserved to find someone who appreciated all he had to offer. I quickly glanced around the room and saw happy couples and dinner companions enjoying each other’s company. Some were laughing and smiling while others were in deeper conversations. When my eyes returned to Robert, he gave me a sad smile.
    “So to be clear, friendship is the only thing you’re looking for out of this,” Robert said sadly as he gestured between the two of us.
    “Correct,” I said with a slight nod. “I think you are a great guy Robert. But there is no romantic future for us.”
    Robert nodded slowly as if he were thinking over what I had said. Then he raised his finger to signal the waiter and pulled out a few bills from his wallet. “I appreciate your honesty, Autumn. A lot can be said about a woman who is direct and straight to the point. It kind of—.”  The waiter appeared interrupting Robert’s sentence.
    “Yes sir?” the waiter asked.
    “Thank you. Keep the change,” Robert said kindly, handing the